When is the Best Time to do a Pickleball Trip?
I am asked this question quite frequently: When is the best time to do a Pickleball trip to an amazing destination? Well, that's a very good question, and a lot of factors contribute to the opinion.
The Caribbean and Mexico: December Bliss
Firstly, let's talk about the Caribbean and Mexico. I remember being in Negril, Jamaica, a couple of years ago in December, during a dream-like week in which days passed, almost unbelievably, with blue skies and sunshine; each of the eight full days I was in Jamaica. I remember seeing the news of my hometown in South Dakota, with a blizzard at that time, and thinking, as I floated in the Caribbean Sea (seemingly without effort due to the saltwater), that life could, indeed, be worse.
I determined that my time there in mid-December was absolutely ideal. For one, the prices at the resorts were really nice and out of the peak season of January through March. Secondly, the hurricanes were long gone. Thirdly, there was very little rain.
So, December is my favorite month to travel; however, it also coincides with the holiday season, which can be busy and hard to work in a vacation. But I can tell you that for that particular spot in the world, mid-December is really nice because it is just mild enough not to feel like an oven and just hot enough that, at certain times during the day, you really feel like a dip would be a fresh relief.
Of course, there are some people in Louisiana or "Hotlanta" that could probably use a little bit more heat and would be fine, but for me, it was absolutely perfect.
Summer Travel: Heat and Humidity with a Side of Storms
How about an all-inclusive pickleball vacation during the summer months, or perhaps going into September and October? These months, of course, can be fraught with stormy weather and hurricanes, but these are not constant. One thing I noticed the past couple summers, is that bees are quite a bit more prevalent in the summer months. The poor bartenders serving the super sweet drinks that all of us, including the bees, like.
I booked a group last year in September in Jamaica, and they had a terrific time playing from 7 AM to 10 AM. Yes, it's more humid and hot, but the good thing about an all-inclusive resort is nice cool water is just steps away.
I also was in Jamaica and the Bahamas at Sandals Resorts this year in the summertime, and it was hot when I needed to dress up for business. But, when I was in a swimsuit or shorts and could hop in the pool or the Caribbean, it was just fine, especially since there was a nice cold drink just a call away.
Surprisingly, our group that went in November just missed out on a hurricane, which was a late-season one. So, in November also, it can be hotter and can actually have hurricanes, although they're more rare.
So, in places like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, or St. Lucia, summers can be quite hot (especially when playing pickleball), but many people don't mind the hot, humid weather. But, come midday, you're not going to want to be playing pickleball, necessarily.
Peak Season: December Through March
December through March are really nice weather months for pickleball and vacations, and, of course, the prices are higher in January, February, and March.
How about a Pickleball Getaway to the Bahamas in January, February, and March? Well, there you're getting into areas that are close to the US, so now, in those winter months, it can actually be chilly at night. So that's one thing to know about the Bahamas: if you're going there, be wary of the cooler winter temperatures.
Pickleball in Europe: Variety of Weather and Destinations
How about in Europe? Well, here we're talking about quite the variety of weather throughout the year, from scorching hot in Rome in the summertime, to the slightly milder Barcelona temperatures (which is such a nice destination), to the more mild temperatures in Paris and Cologne, Germany, to the Dublin and Galway of Ireland (which don't often exceed 70°), to even cooler summer temperatures of Iceland.
And, oh boy, could it be windy there. My mom and I were in Iceland in May this year, and we actually saw a waterfall go backward. It was so windy! Of course, in these wilder climates of Iceland and Ireland, pickleball is indoors.
I'm waiting for pickleball in Nuuk, Greenland. It would also be indoors, but that would really be something to go to Greenland.
In the wintertime, most of these places we would play indoors, but I suppose we could play on the Amalfi coast or Malta. I have heard they have a terrific pickleball scene in Malta, and I've communicated with them, but I've never been there myself.
Pickleball on Cruises: Balancing Weather and Wind
A note on cruising and the weather: cruises and pickleball are nice, but wind is often a factor for outdoor courts.
A Holland America cruise to Alaska? Yes, it's doable for pickleball if it's not too windy and if it's in the summertime. I remember being on a Holland cruise last July-Aug, and thinking with the amazing sunny 65-70 degree weather, that I must do this every year! Caribbean cruises are nice as well, and even when it's hot, to have a breeze on a cruise line is fantastic.
I played on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity when it was a bit too windy to play most often but I did find an indoor court on the MSC Meraviglia and we had a great time there cruising and playing pickleball. Weather and Pickleball--one good thing about it is for people that don't mind playing under the lights, many of the resorts are having lit Pickleball courts so some late night Pickleball is possible! It was just plain sublime a couple weeks ago in Ocho Rios with the cooler temperatures under the lights. Can't wait to return to that place.