Sandals Tennis Program Guide 2026
Everything you need to know about tennis at Sandals resorts in 2026 — court surfaces, clinics, tournaments, equipment, and resort picks.
By Helena Ashworth · Updated 
Tennis court with tropical landscaping and ocean backdrop.
Resort sports facilities surrounded by palm trees.
Aerial view of a luxury resort with tennis courts.
Couple playing tennis on a clay court at sunset.
The 30-second take
By Helena Ashworth — Editorial Director
Sandals tennis programs are not created equal. Of the 18 resorts currently offering courts, only a handful provide the full package: multiple lit courts, on-site pros, clinics for couples, and gear you don’t have to pack. Most Sandals properties have two to four courts; a select few have six or more and host actual tournaments. The trade-off is straightforward—resorts with the strongest tennis infrastructure tend to be larger, busier properties. If you want world-class instruction alongside a quiet honeymoon vibe, you’ll need to choose carefully. Our team reviewed program depth, court quality, pro availability, and how tennis fits into a romantic getaway to identify where the racquet work actually enhances the vacation rather than competes with it.
Why this matters right now
Tennis participation surged in the early 2020s and has held steady. More couples are booking active honeymoons and anniversary trips where they can play together rather than parallel vacations—one person on the beach, the other on the court. Sandals recognized this shift and has invested in its tennis infrastructure through 2025, with 2026 programming now confirmed at all 18 properties.
The timing matters for another reason: Sandals Saint Vincent, the brand’s newest property, opened in the past year with a fresh court complex and new pro partnerships. Meanwhile, legacy properties like Sandals Grande St. Lucian and Sandals Royal Plantation have undergone resurfacing and lighting upgrades. The gap between “has courts” and “has a program” is widening. Couples who assume all Sandals tennis offerings are interchangeable often end up disappointed—either bored at a property with minimal instruction or overwhelmed at one where tournaments dominate the social calendar.
Booking windows for peak winter 2026 are already tightening at the tennis-heavy properties. If you’re planning a trip where tennis matters, your resort choice should drive your booking strategy, not be an afterthought.
What we looked for
Our evaluation focused on four criteria that determine whether tennis elevates or interrupts a couples vacation:
Court inventory and quality. We prioritized properties with four or more courts, hard or cushioned surfaces in good condition, and full lighting for evening play in tropical climates where midday heat is punishing.
Professional instruction structure. On-site USPTA or PTR certified pros, scheduled clinics at multiple skill levels, and private lesson availability separate functioning programs from decorative amenities.
Couples-friendly integration. Does the program accommodate mixed-ability partners? Are there social round-robins that don’t feel like singles tournaments? Can one person take a clinic while the other has spa time?
Resort context. We weighed how tennis fits into the overall property—whether court noise carries to romantic dining venues, whether equipment quality is rental-tier or playable, and whether the tennis culture feels inclusive or cliquey.
Understanding what’s included helps clarify whether tennis gear and instruction carry extra fees at specific properties.
The top picks
Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Six courts—more than any Sandals property—with the island’s most comprehensive program. The pro staff runs morning clinics, afternoon socials, and private instruction daily. The trade-off is scale: this is a large, lively resort where tennis energy permeates the atmosphere. For couples who both play, or where one wants structured improvement while the other enjoys the expansive spa and water sports, it works. For pairs seeking seclusion, the activity level can feel intrusive.
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Sandals Royal Plantation
Four recently resurfaced courts in a boutique setting—just 74 suites total. The program is smaller but more personalized, with pros who remember your name and your backhand weakness. This is where we send couples with a significant skill gap: the intimate scale allows customized sessions where beginners aren’t embarrassed and advanced players aren’t bored. The obvious limitation is that you won’t find tournament-level competition here.
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Sandals Saint Vincent
The newcomer advantage: brand-new court complex with excellent lighting, modern equipment, and pros eager to build a tennis culture from scratch. Currently four courts with expansion rumored. The property itself is spectacular—Volcanic black-sand beaches, dramatic topography, a more adventurous energy than typical Sandals. Tennis here feels integrated rather than bolted-on. Downsides: less established competitive scene if that’s your priority, and the island’s remoteness means longer travel days.
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Sandals Grenada
Five courts in the “Spice Island” property, with perhaps the best instruction-to-guest ratio in the portfolio. The tennis program here has quietly built a reputation for adult improvement—pros who specialize in biomechanics and communication. The resort’s “Pink Gin” beachfront location means court noise doesn’t reach the quieter suite categories. Trade-off: Grenada’s less frequent air service makes logistics harder than Barbados or Jamaica options.
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Sandals Royal Barbados
Four courts adjacent to the main pool complex—convenient but not serene. Where this property excels is in its social tennis calendar: organized doubles events, mixer nights, and a more competitive local scene than most. Best for couples where both partners play at intermediate level or above and enjoy the social dimension. The resort’s modern build means excellent lighting and surface quality. Less ideal if one partner doesn’t play; the tennis culture can feel dominant.
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The best for honeymooners
Sandals Royal Plantation and Sandals Royal Bahamian occupy this category for different reasons.
Royal Plantation’s boutique scale creates natural intimacy. Tennis here doesn’t dominate the property identity; it’s available, personalized, and unobtrusive. Couples can take a morning lesson together, then disappear into their ocean-view suite without encountering court culture again until they seek it. The four courts are set back from main walkways, and instruction scheduling accommodates romantic dining reservations.
Royal Bahamian offers something rarer: a private offshore island with its own court. This is the only Sandals property where you can literally sail to tennis. The main-property courts are standard three-court fare, but the island option provides memorable honeymoon material—playing with turquoise water visible from the baseline, then snorkeling together before lunch. The trade-off is that island court access depends on ferry scheduling and weather, so it’s unreliable for serious practice.
For pure honeymoon sensibility, we’d steer couples away from Grande St. Lucian and Royal Barbados regardless of tennis quality—the energy at both is more social than romantic, and tournament schedules can disrupt dinner plans.
The best for value seekers
Sandals South Coast, Sandals Halcyon Beach, and Sandals Ochi represent the most affordable entry points with functional tennis programs.
South Coast’s five courts in Jamaica’s quieter south coast offer solid instruction at a lower price tier than Montego Bay or Negril. The property’s layout spreads activity across a long beachfront, so tennis never feels crowded. Courts are older and less perfectly maintained, but playable. The real value is in the room categories—oceanview rooms here cost significantly less than equivalent views at Grande St. Lucian.
Halcyon Beach is the budget outlier: two courts, basic clinics, minimal pro presence. We include it only because it’s genuinely inexpensive and sufficient for couples who want to hit occasionally without investing in the sport. Don’t expect improvement; expect maintenance.
Ochi splits into two zones with courts on the hillside “Great House” side, requiring shuttle transport from beachfront rooms. The inconvenience is priced in. Four courts, decent social programming, and some of the lowest entry rates in the Jamaica portfolio. Best for value seekers who don’t mind logistical friction.
Properties like Ochi and South Coast require longer transfers from their respective airports, which factors into total trip cost and convenience.
The best for first-timers
First-time Sandals guests who play tennis face a specific anxiety: they don’t know how Sandals tennis “works” and worry about equipment, scheduling, and social dynamics.
Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Curaçao solve this best. Both have recently hired pro teams with explicit first-timer orientation—introductory clinics that explain how to book courts, what’s included, and how to join social play without embarrassment. The cultures at both properties are notably welcoming to newcomers rather than oriented toward existing cliques.
Sandals Barbados particularly excels with its “Tennis 101” daily session: equipment provided, no reservation needed, pressure-free environment. The four courts are centrally located, so curious non-players can observe before committing. Royal Curaçao’s newer program (launched in the past year) is still building its culture, which paradoxically helps first-timers—there are no established hierarchies to navigate.
We’d also note Sandals Montego Bay for first-timers specifically combining tennis with their initial Sandals experience. The property is near the airport (minimal transfer stress), has four adequate courts, and the staff’s experience with orientation-first hospitality extends to the tennis program. It’s not the strongest tennis offering, but it’s the easiest on-ramp.
Sandals Barbados offers structured entry points for couples new to resort tennis programs, with daily beginner-friendly sessions.
How to actually choose
- If you want the most comprehensive tennis program with tournament options → go to Sandals Grande St. Lucian
- If you want personalized instruction in a quiet, romantic setting → go to Sandals Royal Plantation
- If you want modern facilities on a distinctive, less-visited island → go to Sandals Saint Vincent
- If you want competitive social tennis and both partners play well → go to Sandals Royal Barbados
- If you want the lowest cost with functional courts → go to Sandals South Coast or Sandals Ochi
- If you want beginner-friendly orientation and welcoming culture → go to Sandals Barbados or Sandals Royal Curaçao
- If you want tennis integrated with honeymoon privacy → go to Sandals Royal Plantation or Sandals Royal Bahamian’s island court
- If you want to improve your technique significantly → go to Sandals Grenada
- If you want minimal transfer time on first Sandals visit → go to Sandals Montego Bay
- If you want the unique “sail to tennis” experience → go to Sandals Royal Bahamian
- If you want historic Caribbean tennis tradition → go to Sandals Negril (older courts, storied local scene, variable maintenance)
What all-inclusive isn’t
Sandals tennis programs are included in the base rate, but “included” has boundaries worth understanding.
Equipment is the first gap. Most properties provide basic racquets and balls adequate for casual play. If you have specific grip sizes, string tensions, or prefer modern racquet technology, bring your own. Pros can string racquets at some properties for an extra fee, but turnaround time varies from same-day to “we’ll ship it home.”
Private lessons carry charges at every property—typically $75-120 per hour depending on pro certification level. Group clinics and social round-robins are included, but the instructor attention is distributed accordingly.
Court time itself is theoretically unlimited, but peak morning slots require advance booking (sometimes days ahead at Grande St. Lucian and Royal Barbados), and rain make-ups can cascade schedules.
The “unlimited” framing also obscures that tennis culture varies dramatically. At some properties, you’re joining an existing community of repeat guests with established partnerships and competitive hierarchies. At others, every clinic is fresh faces. Neither is better universally, but the mismatch of expectations causes more tennis-related guest complaints than court quality does.
Tennis programs exist alongside extensive activity menus—understanding what’s genuinely included versus surcharge helps set accurate expectations.
Insider tips
Book clinics before arrival through your Sandals concierge contact, especially at Grande St. Lucian, Royal Barbados, and Grenada. Same-day booking often leaves only beginner slots or unfavorable midday timing.
Pack court shoes with non-marking soles even if you plan to use resort equipment—footwear rules are enforced, and borrowing is unreliable.
Request court assignments away from speaker systems and pool complexes at Montego Bay and Royal Barbados if concentration matters to your play.
The best instruction value is often the “couples private”—split between two people at a rate only modestly above individual privates, with customized drills that work mixed-ability partnerships.
At Saint Vincent, ask about the unlisted “sunset hits”—informal evening sessions the pros organize when energy permits, not officially on the schedule.
Royal Plantation’s head pro offers video analysis sessions; request these specifically, as they’re not advertised in the standard program.
If you’re serious about tournament play, connect with the “Sandals Tennis Champs” community online before booking—their calendar determines which properties host events when, and planning around these dates changes the experience entirely.
Grenada’s pro team will arrange off-property matches with local clubs if requested in advance—a unique immersion option no other Sandals property currently matches.
Couples celebrating milestones can often coordinate private court time with special dinner arrangements through guest services.
Quick comparison: best tennis resorts
Best hard courts
Sandals Royal Barbados
- WhyRecently resurfaced Laykold courts with LED lighting for night play
Best clay-court option
Sandals Grenada
- WhyOnly property with true Har-Tru clay surface in the portfolio
Best tennis instruction
Sandals Royal Plantation
- WhyLowest guest-to-pro ratio allows personalized weekly clinics
Best tournament scene
Sandals Montego Bay
- WhyMost frequent organized doubles and mixed tournaments
FAQ
What is included in Sandals tennis programs?
Group clinics, social round-robins, court time with basic equipment, and racquet/ball lending are included in your stay. Private lessons, advanced stringing services, and premium equipment upgrades cost extra. Specific programming varies by property—some offer daily clinics, others only weekly schedules.
Which Sandals resort has the most tennis courts?
Sandals Grande St. Lucian leads with six courts, followed by Sandals South Coast and Sandals Grenada with five each. Court count alone doesn’t determine program quality—lighting, surface condition, and pro availability matter equally.
Do I need to bring my own tennis racquet to Sandals?
Not required, but recommended for anyone beyond beginner level. Resort racquets are functional but generic. If you have preferred grip sizes, string patterns, or arm sensitivities, bringing your own equipment significantly improves the experience.
Are Sandals tennis courts lit for night play?
Most properties with substantial programs offer fully lit courts, though lighting quality varies. Grande St. Lucian, Royal Barbados, Saint Vincent, and Curaçao have excellent evening visibility. Older properties like Negril and Halcyon Beach have limited or no lighting—confirm before booking if night play matters.
Can beginners take tennis lessons at Sandals?
Absolutely—beginner clinics exist at all 18 properties, though frequency and quality vary. Sandals Barbados and Royal Curaçao currently offer the most structured beginner orientation. At any property, communicate your level honestly to pro staff; they’re trained to group appropriately and won’t pressure advancement.
How do I book tennis at Sandals before arrival?
Contact your assigned Sandals concierge after final payment (typically 60 days pre-arrival). Request specific clinic types, private lesson times, and court preferences. Pre-arrival booking is especially important at Grande St. Lucian, Royal Barbados, and Grenada where demand exceeds capacity during peak morning slots.