Sun, sea and sliced backhands – on a budget

Feeling bitten by the credit crunch? In today’s chilly economic climate, planning any sort of break seems practically unthinkable, but thanks to Affordable Tennis Holidays in the Sun, going on a tennis holiday doesn’t have to break the bank.

With no restrictions on time or date, the ethos of Louise and David’s innovative concept is to allow their guests to control both the cost and itinerary of their holiday. Guests are free to choose their own dates, book their own flights, select their own rental property, and plan their tennis and other activities as and when they wish. Affordable Tennis Holidays prides itself on offering a bespoke service open to anyone and everyone, with something for every guest.

Based on the beautiful Costa Blanca, Villamartin is just 20 minutes from Murcia Airport, and 45 minutes from Alicante Airport. Leaving Britain on a wet and windy afternoon in November, I arrived in Murcia to brilliant sunshine, and a welcoming warmth that was noticeably absent from the UK for much of this year’s dismal summer.

Home to an eclectic group of European expats alongside the locals, the Costa Blanca has no shortage of beautiful properties to choose from. I was housed in a sparkling two-bedroom apartment on the country estate of Campoamor, the focal point of which is one of the region’s primary golf clubs, the Real Club de Golf de Campoamor. With a spacious living room, large bathroom, fully-stocked kitchen, and a terrace, the air-conditioned apartment was the perfect place to settle in and relax after an action-packed day’s tennis or golf.

On average, nine out of ten balls flew past the vicinity of my head

There are four tennis venues to choose from, all of which offer something a little different depending on your mood. The first I visited was the Montepiedra Sports Centre, located just 15 minutes drive from the apartments. Home to three excellent all weather astro-turf courts based around an enticing swimming pool, the coaching at Montepiedra is co-ordinated by the ebullient Gareth Pritchard.

Gareth offers social tennis sessions three days of the week for the expats of the Costa Blanca, which are open to any guest of Affordable Tennis Holidays. Montepiedra is also sought after for its six Padel courts. Incredibly popular throughout South America and Spain, Padel is played on an enclosed court with walls, which is roughly half the size of a tennis court. Played almost exclusively as a game of doubles, Padel players use smaller synthetic rackets similar to beach bats, but the scoring is the same as tennis.

Having warmed up with a set or two on the tennis court, I decided to try my hand at Padel. Getting used to the smaller court wasn’t a problem, but learning when to let the ball bounce against the back wall was far harder than it looked. My efforts may have been rather tame, but when played at speed, Padel is incredibly entertaining, and an excellent alternative to tennis for those who fancy learning something new.

At the end of the social tennis session, Gareth invited me to join in a private lesson with his regular junior, a 15-year-old by the name of Ryan. On average, nine out of ten balls flew past the vicinity of my head, but every now and again I managed to bash one back, which although erratic, was immensely satisfying.

The second tennis venue open to guests is at the Campoamor golf club. Situated below the clubhouse, and looking out onto the glittering Mar Menor and the La Manga strip, Campoamor’s three hard courts are half concrete, half marble, and once the temperatures get going, are surprisingly fast.

Resident coach Steve Durie runs a number of social and group tennis coaching sessions throughout the week, and so I joined in with two fellow guests, Chris and Roger, and Sue, one of Steve’s regular players.

A former coach at the reknowned La Manga Club, Steve provided plenty of insights into volleying during the two-hour session, which although scorchingly hot, was immensely enjoyable. If guests are after a spot of extra tennis, David and Louise are happy to arrange extra singles or doubles matches, and private tennis coaching is also available at all the tennis venues.

So after a bite to eat at the golf club, we took to the court again for some doubles. Unfortunately, the heat got the better of us and we called it quits very soon. It made me wonder how hot it must be in July and August!

The third venue open to guests is the stunning Orihuela Costa resort. Run by David Ashwood, an LTA-registered coach, Orihuela Costa is an idyllic place to play tennis.

The three hard courts are situated next to a beautiful pool and a pool-side café provides much-needed refreshment afterwards. As at Montepiedra and Campoamor, expats flock regularly to social tennis sessions with David, who also offers private coaching, open to all of Dave and Louise’s guests.

Although not the venue with the best courts, it was certainly the most charming, and with a vast refurbishment scheduled for next year, the Orihuela Costa is sure to become one of the region’s most popular venues. The owners plan to replace the hard courts with three all-weather astro turf courts, and add in some Padel courts as well.

The fourth venue, which I didn’t get a chance to visit, is the Club De Tenis Horadada, which is the super-cheap option. You can hire a hard court for just four Euros, and a clay court for only eight Euros for the hour. A popular venue among the Spanish, it hosts a junior tournament during the year, and is perfect for large groups keen to get a game at the same time.

After my stint at each venue, I concluded that they provide the perfect mix of tennis, at a level you can adjust to suit your needs. Starting next year, Louise and David are planning to host specialised tennis holidays for groups, such as over 50s, beginners/improvers, singles holidays, ladies tennis and spa, and competitive matchplay, which will open up their fantastic concept to larger numbers.

If tennis isn’t necessarily the be-all and end-all, there are plenty of other activities on the Costa Blanca. First and foremost is the huge choice of beautiful blue flag beaches. I paid a visit to the nearest, La Zenia, which was just a 10 minute drive from the apartment, and to which you can walk from the Oriheula Costa.

Typically, being November, the Spanish were well wrapped up, and any sun-bathers were few and far between. But undeterred, I took to the sea for a dip. After the initial cold shock and a lot of kicking, it was very refreshing, and a great way to relax after a few hours on the court. Other beaches worth a visit are the Guadamar beach, 20 minutes north of Villamartin, and the beaches of the Mar Menor, 30 minutes to the south.

As far as other activities go, it’s hard to know where to start. Golf is very popular in this part of the world, and there are three top quality courses within five minutes’ drive of the accommodation.

You can also go horse riding, quad-biking, fishing, mountain biking, walking and hiking, and even try your hand at some water sports. If you fancy travelling a bit further afield, you can head to the vibrant coastal town of Torrevieja, or even to historic Murcia.

For the younger guests, a trip to Terra Mitica, Europe’s largest theme park, is considered a must. With all activities, Louise and David are happy to provide further details and arrange transport. No need for boredom in Spain!

The food in this part of Spain is excellent. I visited the famous restaurante Meson del Lago, situated in the grounds of El Castillo del Conesa, which served typical Spanish fare, such as Paella, as well as delicious meat dishes. One of Louise and David’s favourites is also the Casa Manolo, just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Orihuela Costa. Run by a friendly family, Manolo’s has a great tapas selection and delicious home made pizzas.

So, well-exercised, well-rested, and well-fed, it was almost time to head home, but not before being treated to a sports massage, courtesy of qualified practitioner Adrienne Hallam. Since moving to Spain 18 months ago, Adrienne has worked at the prestigious La Manga Club spa and has set up a clinic from her home.

She is able to offer guests of Affordable Holidays sports injury treatment, aromatherapy treatments, Indian Head Massage, and a range of other treatments. In the calm light of the apartment, with some tennis on the TV in the background, it was the perfect end to an action-packed, and most importantly, affordable, holiday.