Sport

Whether you’ve been inspired by double Wimbledon champion Andy Murray or world-class golf champion Rory McIlroy, there is a tennis and golf destination holiday perfect to help you begin or continue your sporting prowess. It doesn’t matter if you are an enthusiastic beginner or an advanced tennis or golf expert, as there are luxury destinations with world-class facilities that can be enjoyed by everyone.

If you have been inspired by the Wimbledon Championships, then the best place to channel your enthusiasm is on one of these amazing tennis training camps, where you can practice on world-class tennis courts in stunning wellness destinations. Get fit and healthy whilst improving your game on a tennis holiday with private 1-to-1 coaching and group sessions guided by previous tennis champions and fitness experts.

Reset and relax at one of these calming retreats for the ultimate de-stress holiday experience. Unwind and reboot in a luxurious spa where you can enjoy treatments ranging from hot stone massages and facial scrubs to detoxifying wraps and steam baths. These beautiful destinations offer the perfect setting for you to take some time out to focus on your connection with your inner self with activities like Pilates, yoga and meditation. With all these relaxing and rejuvenating activities at your disposal, you can rest assured that a moment of Zen will never be far away.

Up the ante this Father’s Day and treat the world’s greatest Dad to a healthy activity break. There’s nothing quite like bonding in the great outdoors with a range of active holidays from tennis in Portugal and golf in Cyprus to a yoga retreat in Turkey and a fitness sports break in Tenerife. Choose a tailor-made health and fitness holiday designed around his favourite pastimes and give your father a fun filled break, to make this the best Father’s Day.

All time is precious, but holiday time is priceless. That’s why it is so important to spend every moment of it with purpose. Remember those goals and hobbies you’ve put aside because you were just too busy with work and life in general? Holidays are an excellent way to get back on track, and what better way to do it than on a learning holiday? Whether you’re a beginner or trying to enhance underlying skills, it’s never too late to embark on a new adventure. Stop putting things off and embrace the opportunity to learn something new with these six stunning holiday destinations.

Make the most of your time off and learn a new skill whilst you relax and unwind on one of our learning holidays.  Whether you’re a budding yogi, a keen swimmer, a hopeful diver or an aspiring surfer the following holidays are sure to provide you with the tools and guidance you need to kickstart, and maybe even master, your new skill. With excellent wellness facilities, stunning surroundings and a wide array of fitness and holistic activities to take part it, these resorts make sure there’s plenty for you to be getting on with when you’re not practicing your chosen skill. So, what are you waiting for? Here are our top 7 inspirational learning holidays.

Embarking on a singles holiday offers the perfect chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life whilst meeting like-minded individuals. From Thailand and India to Croatia and Cyprus, there are a host of idyllic locations for you to spend your solo travels. Meet fellow travellers as you take part in a range fun-filled activities including hiking, water-sports and climbing to get those fitness levels soaring. Unwind at the end of the day with one of many luxurious spa treatments, from Ayurvedic therapy in Thailand to salt scrubs in Croatia. So, get ready for an adventure you’ll never forget as we share our top seven life-changing singles holidays.

The Easter break is the best time to emerge from winter hibernation and venture abroad on a fitness holiday. Reconnect to your passion and purpose by embarking on a R&R getaway to make sustainable changes along with like-minded people. Discover our best Spring fitness retreats for self-improvement. From local too long haul, and from the affordable to the luxurious, ditch the Easter eggs in favour of one of our exclusive Fusion Fitness™ Holidays. It’s never too late to set your wellness goals.

Taking your parents to a magnificent retreat to the most beautiful places our world has to offer, will strengthen the family-bond and can be a great way to thank them for all they may have done for you. Not all parents are the same, however there are ones who love nature and animals, there are sporty ones and there are ones who just want to have a relaxing time, not worrying about anything at all. So here are some suggestions for family retreats for every type of parents, from active and adventurous moms and dads to culture and luxury loving parents, we’ve got you covered:

The 10^th to the 16^th of June marks . So whether you’re travelling alone, looking for some peace and quiet, or if you’ve got a fitness boot-camp in mind, we have you covered.

In the swing of hectic daily life it’s rare to find a moment where the whole family is together, let alone all getting along. Too often a family holiday can leave parents more exhausted than when they left. Once you have finished with all the lead up planning, the airport madness and the stressful task of keeping the kids safe and occupied all day, it’s no wonder there’s no time left for you to relax.

Discover the answer to all of your family holiday woes with our inspiring guide to our healthy family holidays, which combine the perfect combination of quality family time, fun for the kids and rejuvenating relaxation for the parents. From learning healthier lifestyle habits as a family, to showing the kids new corners of the world on a cultural wellness holiday, let us guide you through a new kind of family holiday.

Learn Healthy Habits as a Family

Learn to Kayak as a family at Porto Elounda

With Ipad’s and T.V leaving more children inactive and out of shape, the importance of parental influence on the younger generations health is more vital than ever. Revamp your stagnant family holidays lounging by the pool with a healthy change of pace by getting the kids active whilst soaking up the sun.

From ocean kayaking to hiking, set a good example for the kids and get active together with a host of fun-filled outdoor activities on a family activity holiday. Cycle and Zumba on a family fitness holiday or help the kids discover a new hobby with football academy training and tennis programmes on a family sports holiday.

With a selection of family friendly restaurants that offer healthier cuisine, remain confident that your family are eating nutritiously rich and healthy dishes.

A Treat for All Ages

Mother and daughter relax together at Shanti Maurice 

No longer having to choose between family time and relaxation, release stress and revitalise your mind and body with our family friendly spa holidays, where the whole family can indulge in luxury.  With many of our family holidays offering spa treatments specifically designed for children and teens, Mum and daughter can bond over a girly pedicure and massage while Dad and son can play sports together.

Cultural Experience

Kids will love the Kid's club activities at Soneva Kiri

Teach your children about cultural awareness and different traditions around the world as you explore your chosen destination on a family cultural wellness holiday.  Choose from a range of tailor-made activities and excursions from spring roll making in Vietnam and deep-sea fishing in Mexico, to cultural tours in Turkey and mountain biking in Morocco. Special kid’s clubs excursions, including visits to animal parks, dolphin spotting and treasure hunts keep them well entertained.|

Time Out

Enjoy some time for yourselves on a family holiday at Fusion Maia

With professional babysitting services and world-class kids clubs, Mum and Dad can happily opt for some alone time and take the pressure off of entertaining the kids, confident that your children are having fun and learning new skills in a structured and safe environment. Whether making time for a long lunch together, a game of tennis or an indulgent couples spa treatment, our family friendly resorts offer as much for the parents as they do the kids.

Fewer Planning Worries

Enjoying quality family time at The BodyHoliday 

Booking with Health and Fitness Travel means you can relax completely, knowing our meticulous team have organised every aspect of your family holiday and leaving no unwanted surprises.  All our healthy holidays have been hand-picked against a strict criterion to ensure that we offer the most beautiful worldwide destinations that are also family-friendly, safe and easily accessible.

Talk to one of our Travel Specialists on 0203 397 8891 or contact us here to discuss tailor-making your perfectfamily wellness holiday.

I arrived at Tenerife airport to a warm 25 degrees Celsius, blue skies and sunshine; a big contrast to the grey skies, rain and 8 degrees I left behind at London Gatwick the same morning. Abama Golf & Spa resort is set on the untouched western coast of Tenerife and is a destination itself situated across 400 acres of land and only a 20 minute drive from the airport.

Ramon Campuzano Rojas, Director of Puente Romano Tennis & Fitness Club

Ramon is director of Puente Romano Tennis & Fitness Club in Marbella. He heads the Bjorn Borg Tennis School, is a Technical Consultant for both the Norwegian and Estonian Tennis Federations, and has trained many professional athletes in the ATP and WTA. He completes the roster as a Consultant and Director of the Andalusian Wheelchair Tennis Team.

Ramon Campuzano Rojas

Ramon is director of Puente Romano Tennis & Fitness Club in Marbella. He heads the Bjorn Borg Tennis School, is a Technical Consultant for both the Norwegian and Estonian Tennis Federations, and has trained many professional athletes in the ATP and WTA. He completes the roster as a Consultant and Director of the Andalusian Wheelchair Tennis Team.

What is Thanyapura and who’s it for?

Set alongside surrounding mountains in 23 hectares, Thanyapura attracts sports, fitness and health enthusiasts from all over the world aged from their 20s to late 50s. It’s an ideal place for an activity holiday if you have an established fitness-level and training routine or even if you’d like to immerse yourself in a truly world-class sports facility if you are less experienced with training available. Their marketing has an athlete-targeted approach but in reality is open for everyone at all levels.

Getting There

As an international airport Phuket is extremely well-connected in Southeast Asia. Direct flights operate from airports including Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur with a short 20 minute hassle-free transfer to the hotel.

The Hotel & Accommodation

The Sports Wing (aka Sports Hotel) is the modern, spacious and overall better of the two wings with rooms surrounding a pool suitable for nearby access to the sports facilities. The basic Garden Wing (aka Retreat Hotel) is the cheaper lead-in category suitable for solo travellers looking for a secluded and quieter stay situated just a few minutes from the main facilities, making this a good option for a singles holiday.

Most of the main buildings inside are impressive or aesthetically pleasing, but some of the connecting pathways are neglected slightly, although I was reassured this would be changed. Despite the large facilities, distance-wise you’re not far away from wherever you need to access. You can view a map of the resort here.

Families can be catered for with a comprehensive child/babysitting club and service.

Travel Specialist Adam about to start his private tennis tuition (left) and swimming tuition (right)

The Sports Academies & Facilities

There’s always a hub of activity with regular daily group activity classes (click to view example schedule) with usually between 5 to 15 classes to choose from a day ranging from spinning, bootcamp, mind training, Pilates, Zumba, Muay Thai and yoga. Facilities are open daily from 06:30 – 22:00. Additional facilities include a Muay Thai boxing ring offering classes and 1-to-1 training and there’s also a multi-purposed meditation room for optional mind performance training.

Thanyapura makes a great destination for a tennis holiday. During my stay I particularly enjoyed the coaching standards of my tennis tuition run by the accredited PBI association on the plexi-cushion courts – the large cover meant playing tennis was enjoyable without the sun beating down on you.

The main facilities include:

• 3 x Swimming pools (Olympic sized, 25m & 20m)
• Rugby/Football pitch
• Volleyball Courts
• 6 x Tennis courts (4 sheltered, 2 outdoor)
• Fitness, Muay Thai & Spinning Studios
• Fitness Centre (900sqm)
• Futsal pitch
• Athletics Track
• Mind Training Centre
  
  

The Cardio training room (one of the two fitness centre rooms)

Thanyapura features modern and technical-based personal evaluation such as video analysis for tennis, swimming, biking and running; oxidative stress measurement; and hypoxi altitude training. More is available than meets the eye and all accessible outside your normal programme inclusions. Alongside the sports facilities lies the spa occupying a set of plain rooms for normal spa and specialist treatments ranging from heart and cancer prevention, hormone and stem cell therapy and a range of doctors available in fields.

Hidden away is a 17-station bootcamp course – the most impressive of our entire collection of fitness holidays. You can use this in the mornings and request so as part of your personal training.

Most of the sports facilities here cater for children with separate classes, so if you’re interested in any of our family holidays for health conscious, active and sports lovers, Thanyapura is one of the best in our whole collection.

Phuket and neighbouring Phang-nga are routinely used for long-distance Triathlon bike rides

The Food

With primarily one restaurant, DiVine serves a variety of international cuisine with an emphasis on organic options with a selection of juices and smoothies. Two cafés serve up a host of normal café food and some surprisingly sweet offerings. Overall the food at Thanyapura is very good; a la carte is always available with a range of healthy to richly satisfying options or an optional small buffet. The main menu has a handy calorie count, protein, carbohydrate and fat percentages for each meal. Detox & Weight Loss guests receive a unique menu designed from your initial programme consultation.

The healthy organic food (left) and the main lobby area (right).

The Sports & Wellness Programmes

Bespoke sports and wellness programmes are the focal of Thanyapura. The Base Programme is the most basic with access to just the daily group classes while the others offer tailored 1-to-1 programmes and treatments so you arrive with a pre-arranged schedule. Choose from the available packages and durations:

The Staff

As expected from Southeast Asian culture the staff are very friendly and emanate warmth and good hospitality. English from the staff varies between adequate to below-average and so general service has room for improvement. A pleasant experience overall; staff are willing to cater for you wherever possible.

The Scenery & Surroundings

Free shuttle buses run you to the nearest beaches (only 20 minutes away). Phuket’s beaches are quite simply stunning. I highly recommend Layan and Suran beaches. Rental motorcycles or cars can be delivered to the hotel and getting around the 50km north-to-south island is relatively easy with only a few major roads.

My Summary & Verdict

Thanyapura is a new and modern sports hotel and part of the growing health and fitness trend. Year-round events take place at their truly world-class facilities; some weeks the resort can be busy with professional groups training in a particular sport on-site and so giving opportunities to meet the stars such as Maria Sharapova or current British triathletes, but some weeks can feel quiet – great if you want to focus on your personal goals.

►Book through Health and Fitness Travel and receive a complimentary round trip transfer to Naithorn beach per stay for all 5 night stays and up.

How to Book

To request a quote or for more information visit our Thanyapura page. Talk to one of our Travel Specialists on or contact us here to discuss tailor-making your perfect wellness holiday.

Find out Why to Book with Us and further details on How to Book.

We recommend booking a comprehensive sports or wellness programme to keep yourself busy and make the most of their facilities as it’s not the kind of place you go to hit the lounger by the beach.

Enjoy the perfect tennis holiday week at Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus, hosted by former British No.1 Annabel Croft.

Athletes the world over are seeking the extra edge to exceed goals, break records and ultimately win. Hunting techniques to shave a second on their best time; shed kilograms or uncover new strategies to push themselves further and faster. Enter the new healthy holiday advantage from the leading specialists in wellness holidays worldwide Health and Fitness Travel, enhancing professional training programs across the globe.

Raising awareness of the physical and mental health problems impacting the men in our lives, Men’s Health Week (12-18th June) is getting to the gut of the problem this year and focusing on the number one health concern for men; belly fat. While a trim tum is certainly more pleasing on the eye, aesthetics aside, a high amount of belly fat leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer and premature death.

If you’re wondering where to go on your next fitness holiday, look no further because we’ve got the run-down on the best swimming pools in the world for sports training. When it comes to keeping fit and healthy, swimming is undoubtedly one the best, most accessible and easy exercises out there. Not only does it tone muscles and build strength, but it also keeps your heart rate up without having a heavy impact on your body making it perfect for all ages, young and old! This full-body workout also offers a great way to de-stress and relax whilst still burning those calories. In fact, a gentle swim alone can burn over 200 calories in just half an hour and a speedier swimmer going for an hour can expect to burn nearly 600 calories. So, keep on reading to discover the best swimming pools in the world that are sure to challenge your fitness and get you in tip-top shape.

Whether you're a keen tennis player or just taking up the sport, our tennis holidays are a great match for you. Wimbledon, the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, takes place between 24th June and 7th July and sees the best tennis players competing to win the Championships. Wimbledon hosts an incredible tournament for all fans to get involved, whether you want to watch the action from 'Henman Hill', indulge with afternoon tea as you enjoy the atmosphere or even work on your own tennis skills at the local tennis courts.