perhaps somewhere with residences (especially in hotel inventory) will help. hualalai is huge for example, even though it doesnt have any in hotel inventory.
Well, this is the reason we want to find a place that works for all involved. Gregarious Dad needs someone besides the tennis pro to play tennis with, and he also needs some extroverts.
However, 2 of the 3 Moms are business executives who want to rest on their vacation. 1 of the 3 Moms is into yoga and does it actively. Another 1 of the 3 Moms is into triathlons and trains for them actively. The Moms just want it to be chill.
And the girls... they just want to giggle and swim.
The problem is tennis is a difficult sport in terms of a vacation if you play at a higher level (unless you bring your own partner). It's not like golf - where even if you're the only golfer in your party - you can get paired up with strangers on a resort course - and not worry about how they play (because you're playing "against the course" - not the golfers you're playing with). It's easy to find hotels with "tennis programs" - much harder to find programs that appeal to better players. And - although some are at the luxury level - they tend to be specialized "tennis camps" which don't offer much in the way of amenities (like a beach) for non-tennis players. OTOH - I haven't been to a "tennis camp" for perhaps a decade - and maybe there are new places around that I'm not familiar with. FWIW - if you go to a place with a really good tennis program - you'll probably be too tired at 9 pm to do anything except sleep . Robyn
Well, this is the reason we want to find a place that works for all involved. Gregarious Dad needs someone besides the tennis pro to play tennis with, and he also needs some extroverts.
However, 2 of the 3 Moms are business executives who want to rest on their vacation. 1 of the 3 Moms is into yoga and does it actively. Another 1 of the 3 Moms is into triathlons and trains for them actively. The Moms just want it to be chill.
And the girls... they just want to giggle and swim.
You might check out places like the Breakers in Pam Beach - which aren't only hotels - but private clubs with local members. At the tennis program at the Breakers - I recall playing with women at my level on their regularly scheduled clinic/practice dates - as well as participating in special holiday/weekend club events (like club tournaments/round robins). Same happened in some hotel in Hawaii (can't recall the name - doesn't matter because the hotel probably has a new name now -but I think it was during our stay on the Big Island). As I noted above - I was a 3.5/4.0 woman. If you are a strong competitive 4.0/4.5 or better guy - you will have a pretty hard time of it even if you find a club that's associated with your hotel. In which case perhaps you can take a mini-vacation on your own to a "tennis camp". Robyn
P.S. For those of you who are mystified by these numbers - the USTA rates all tennis players on a scale from 1.5 (total beginner) to 7.0 (world class player who is playing at Wimbledon this week). Anyone 5.0 or better is usually at least a higher end college player (currently or in the recent past). You don't find many players like that at tennis clubs - unless they're the club pros. Robyn
I had far more fun at hotels when I was young and poor. I remember with great fondness the night I organised an impromptu karaoke competition in a hotel bar between all of the under-employed prostitutes who were based there and a group of American pensioners whose tour group was staying there, for example. This was not at a Mandarin Oriental, you won't be surprised to hear. However, one mans 'lively' bar and beach scene is anothers mans idea of hell. I don't think that I have ever reviewed a hotel on tripadvisor and ticked 'Yes' by the 'Great pool scene?' box - in fact I'm not even sure what a 'great pool scene' is meant to be! It brings up images of young Americans in Cancun.
You could argue that the wealthy are, in general, quieter and more reserved than Jo Six-Pack. You could argue that the wealthy are often financiers, lawyers etc who are naturally more laid-back types. You could argue that the wealthy work hard for their money and simply want to relax on holiday by doing nothing except spending quiet time with their family. You could argue that the wealthy are generally the older members of society which lead to fewer younger guests to play with.
It is not a coincidence that I am in NYC this weekend for some fun with 3 male friends of mine to celebrate a landmark birthday, and we're certainly not staying at the Four Seasons - we're at Soho House (at a similar cost to the FS) and will alternate between there and the Gansevoort for our entertainment.
A good pool scene is where there are lots of young men and women (or perhaps all of one sex or the other depending on personal preference) who look fabulous in tiny bathing suits (or - in some places- nothing at all) - lots of eye candy . I don't make for a good pool scene (too old) - but don't mind being part of one every now and then.
I don't think that finding scenes like this is necessarily correlated with wealth (or the lack of it). I suspect you're more likely to find such a scene in - for example - the Ritz Carlton in Miami Beach than the Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island. It's a matter of the nature of the hotel - and its patrons.
FWIW - as an older person - I have noticed a pretty big increase in younger people in luxury hotels in recent years. Maybe that's because as I get older - more people are younger than I am .
Also - I am a little bit like extrovert Dad. So I will usually hang around a hotel bar at "cocktail" time - have a few drinks - and wind up meeting and talking with all kinds of people. My husband doesn't usually like to do this - so he doesn't. He doesn't mind my going to hotel bars alone - but we've been married 38 years. I suspect there are younger couples where this kind of behavior might be a point of friction. Robyn
robyng, along the same lines, have you ever stayed at a property where the concierge could reserve court time at exclusive private clubs (with good players) ?
FYI, this is what we will get at Soho House this weekend:
4th of July Party,
Saturday 4 July, 6pm
With July 4th Fireworks moving from the East River to the Hudson this year, Soho House is an ideal location from which to enjoy the spectacle. We’re making a real party of it, kicking things off at 6pm with a DJ, plenty of drinks, some sugary nibbles and a splash of irony at celebrating independence from the British in a club imported from England.
Wimbledon Final’s
Saturday 4 July & Sunday 5 July, 10am
Centre Court has its roof and we have ours where we’re showing both the Women’s and Men’s Finals this year. And if watching tennis under the sun wasn’t enough, we’ll be giving away some of our famed Pimm’s Cup along with strawberries and cream.
Sundown Sunday
Every Sunday, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Beat those Sunday night blues in the best possible way with sweet Afro-Cuban, Latin and Caribbean sounds on the Roof. Come eat, drink cocktails and watch the sun set over the Hudson as you mellow out to the band. It might be Sunday night, but Monday morning will feel like a world away.
Rooftop film screening of Humpday
Sunday 5 July, 8.45pm
robyng, along the same lines, have you ever stayed at a property where the concierge could reserve court time at exclusive private clubs (with good players) ?
I suspect I have - but have never inquired. I just tried to find programs/events with enough players at my level to have a good time. I will note that with tennis - you don't want to play with "good players". You want to play with players at your level (as opposed to golf - there is no "handicap" system in tennis). No 4.5 wants to play with a 3.5 except as a friend (no matter how well meaning a matchmaker - including a hotel concierge - may be).
And you have to be honest about your level of play. From what I've observed - most players from areas where tennis is a seasonal sport (like the northeast) have grossly inflated USTA ratings - or notions of their USTA ratings. Perhaps that's because they tend to play on hard surfaces maybe six months at most out of a year - so they never learn to keep the ball in play. Put them on a slower Har-Tru court (artificial clay surface which is common in the south) - and they look like idiots. I personally could beat many "4.0" guys from the northeast even when I was a 3.5 competitive woman player from Florida. I have not found this to be true of players who play on hard courts - but play all year (like my brother in Arizona - he's a real 4.0 - and - at my best - perhaps I could take a game or two off him in a set if his serve was a little off - or I used my [deadly ] drop shot and his knees were hurting when I was playing him).
Anyway - I'm not sure any of this helps "extrovert Dad" - because I can't think of a single place I've ever been to that would be both to his liking - and the liking of the people he's traveling with. Except maybe the Breakers. Assuming the club hasn't been so decimated by Madoff/the local economy/recent hurricanes that there are many fewer players around these days. There is a wonderful kids' program there (from what I've heard - I don't have kids). I liked the spa (suspect "chill out" Moms would like it too). And although the beach isn't the best in the world (there is erosion) - it's pretty nice. The bar at pool-side was pretty lively too last time I was there. Anyway - that would be my number one pick to explore in Florida (which I know a lot better than most places simply because I've lived here for a pretty long time). Robyn
Well, as many in this thread have pointed out, finding "lively fun" mixed with "luxury" is difficult.
Here's where I'm at. Considering the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki. Do you guys think I can even talk about that hotel on this thread? It's a 5-star Luxury Collection hotel, but do you think it's thread-worthy?
That said (and maybe Robyn is reading this), tennis is killing me. Apparently none of the Waikiki hotels have their own tennis courts (or at least the RH doesn't, the Halekulani doesn't, the Sheraton Waikiki doesn't). No way am I going to be able to book a hotel that doesn't have tennis available. Extroverted dad is probably a USTA ranking 4.0 to 5.0.
So two questions really. Anyone been to the Royal Hawaiian? And does anyone have some clever ideas on how to possibly solve this tennis problem? Because I think I might have to end up in Cancun or something if I can't solve it.
Considering the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki. Do you guys think I can even talk about that hotel on this thread? It's a 5-star Luxury Collection hotel, but do you think it's thread-worthy?
Well, as many in this thread have pointed out, finding "lively fun" mixed with "luxury" is difficult.
Here's where I'm at. Considering the Royal Hawaiian in Waikiki. Do you guys think I can even talk about that hotel on this thread? It's a 5-star Luxury Collection hotel, but do you think it's thread-worthy?
That said (and maybe Robyn is reading this), tennis is killing me. Apparently none of the Waikiki hotels have their own tennis courts (or at least the RH doesn't, the Halekulani doesn't, the Sheraton Waikiki doesn't). No way am I going to be able to book a hotel that doesn't have tennis available. Extroverted dad is probably a USTA ranking 4.0 to 5.0.
So two questions really. Anyone been to the Royal Hawaiian? And does anyone have some clever ideas on how to possibly solve this tennis problem? Because I think I might have to end up in Cancun or something if I can't solve it.
We've only been to Hawaii once a long time ago. On Oahu - we stayed at the Ihilani (at the time owned by a Japanese consortium - it's now a Marriott property). It has tennis:
But I don't recall playing there. Note that the property isn't in Waikiki (I recall it being about a 30 minute drive away). When we stayed there - the place was almost brand new - gorgeous - and had great Japanese food (most of the guests were Japanese). Don't have a clue what it's like today. Robyn
robyng, when in scottsdale, have you heard anything about tennis, like at sanctuary?
In recent years - I've only stayed at the Four Seasons. And - on all but one occasion - in the dead of summer (I go there to visit family). I would walk in the very early morning - but never considered playing tennis. Hitting the malls and museums seemed like a better idea in the summer heat .
I think if I had wanted to play tennis - I would have asked my brother what was available at his tennis club. But - to tell you the truth - when we travel - we rarely played tennis (when we were tennis players) - and we don't play golf now. Sports like that are pretty a much year round thing at home. When we travel - we like to do things we don't have at home. Robyn
for animac - casas are 3BR > 5BR. almost all have private pool. some have private tennis courts with ball machines, so zero additional cost for tennis. the pro is a 5. he said there are definitely some good members, but no way to know when theyre playing. other than NOT in the summer heat. the pro also speaks french.
the pro recommended FL, like robyng. he actually specifically recommended the colony for both the "on and off court" things "gregarious dad" seemed to be looking for.
. Robyn
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