Pickleball in Paradise: Why a Tournament in Venice Is the Ultimate Bucket List Experience

In today’s fast-paced world, wellness isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, and it’s just as important for travel advisors. Wellness should be a cornerstone of both personal and professional practice. We're not only tasked with bringing in clients, but also with keeping them happy, managing countless moving parts, handling emergencies mid-trip and inspiring loyalty and re-bookings. Many of us operate as one-person powerhouses — booking flights, researching hotels, creating marketing content, managing client expectations, handling social media and more. This hustle, while rewarding, is undeniably stressful. That’s why wellness — whatever that looks like for you — is not just self-care; it’s professional sustainability.

Wellness doesn't have a one-size-fits-all definition. It might mean stepping away from the laptop for a long walk, curling up with a book, heading to a meditation retreat or doing absolutely nothing on a beach for a few days. For some, it means a detox or a juice cleanse. For others, it’s enjoying a fine meal and a glass of local wine without guilt. The key is recognizing your limits, your needs and your ideal version of “reset.” As travel advisors who often create dream vacations for others, we sometimes forget to design one for ourselves. But taking the time to recharge is how we continue to show up as the best version of ourselves — both personally and professionally.

Wellness Can Be Restful — or Active

Wellness looks different for everyone. Some recharge through serenity, while others feel most alive in motion. That’s what makes the concept of active wellness so powerful. Yes, there’s the classic yoga or spa retreat, but for others, rejuvenation comes through activity: think hiking through rolling hills, kayaking on a still lake, biking through vineyards or dancing your heart out in a class. These experiences release endorphins, clear the mind and spark joy.

And Then, There's Pickleball

One of the fastest-growing sports in the world, pickleball is the perfect fusion of fitness, fun and connection. It's engaging, social and — best of all — accessible to players of all skill levels. Now imagine combining this thrilling game with the timeless charm of Venice, Italy. That’s exactly what Pickleball Oasis’, a tour operator specializing in pickleball-inspired vacations based out of Italy, Pickleball Challenge: Venice Edition delivers. It’s a unique blend of wellness and wanderlust, offering the best of both worlds as travelers get their hearts pumping with morning clinics or international tournament play, then spend their afternoons relaxing by the pool, enjoying curated excursions or wandering the romantic streets of Venice. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure vacation that speaks directly to each person’s version of balance.

The Pickleball Challenge: Active Play Meets Italian Indulgence

Pickleball Oasis’ pickleball tournament in Venice, Italy is far more than a sports tour, it’s a holistic wellness experience that lets participants engage their bodies, indulge their senses and explore at their own pace. Taking place over nine days and eight nights, this journey offers full-board accommodation at the Green Garden Resort just outside of Venice, including access to pools, tennis and soccer fields, a fitness center and more.

Activities include pickleball clinics led by seasoned coaches, tailored to all levels. After building their skills and bonding with fellow travelers, the afternoons are vacationers’ to explore. They can relax with a glass of wine by the pool or join in optional excursions like a classical Venice walking tour, a rooftop aperitif experience along the Grand Canal or a private guided trip to the famed La Fenice Theater. The highlight is the “Italy-USA Challenge Cup,” an international tournament held over the weekend that adds a layer of excitement and friendly competition to travelers’ stay. And while players will appreciate the elevated level of play and training, they can bring their family or friends as non-playing guests, to enjoy the culinary delights, cultural experiences and resort amenities. This tour is community-focused, designed to build connection both on and off the court.

Beyond pickleball, the itinerary offers a rich menu of optional experiences to enhance travelers’ trip:

Gondola rides with wine and appetizers, artisanal glass-making workshops, photo walks with a professional photographer, a sunset boat tour with aperitifs … Guests can customize their trip exactly how they want — opt in for more activity or spend the day wandering solo. The beauty lies in the flexibility.

Venice: The Ultimate Wellness Destination

Venice is a feast for the senses. From the moment you arrive, you find yourself enveloped in old-world romance, surrounded by winding canals, historic bridges and sunlit piazzas. The city itself invites you to slow down. Here, walking is the norm, and every corner reveals something new: a tucked-away trattoria, a dazzling mask shop, a centuries-old church with marble floors and golden mosaics.

To make the most of their 10-day Italian escape, travelers should consider building in a few extra days before or after the main tour. Venice offers so much to explore, and extending your stay can enhance both your sense of adventure and relaxation. Here are a few pro tips:

• Book a wine tour in the Veneto countryside to savor local varietals like Prosecco or Amarone.
• Take a Murano and Burano boat tour, where you’ll discover Venetian glass artistry and vibrant, colorful island homes.
• Enjoy a cooking class to bring home authentic skills and flavors.
• Make time for a rooftop aperitif — Venice at sunset from above is unforgettable.
• Indulge in a romantic dinner in a private Venetian home or simply enjoy gelato on a quiet canal bench at dusk.
• From exquisite Murano glass to handcrafted Venetian masks and designer boutiques, Venice is a shopper's paradise.
• Immerse yourself in the city’s rich artistic heritage with visits to world-class museums, stunning churches and historical palaces.
• Indulge in authentic Venetian cuisine, from cicchetti (Venetian tapas) to fresh seafood and delectable pasta dishes. Sample local wines at charming bacari (wine bars).

Venice invites travelers to lose track of time — and in doing so, find their sense of peace. The food is exquisite, the culture is rich and the atmosphere is magic. Whether they go to reset, reconnect or reenergize, Venice meets you exactly where you are.

Wellness isn't just about rest, it’s about renewal, and as travel advisors who often run on high alert, this kind of immersive, tailored getaway offers us — and our clients — the chance to reconnect with our joy, health and creativity. Whether you pick up a paddle and dive into the game, savor a rooftop cocktail or wander into a sun-drenched alley with no destination in mind, Venice, Italy, is the place where you are invited to play, pause and feel alive.

Travel advisors, do you have clients who are ready to pack their bags and paddle? Pickleball Oasis’ exclusive 2025 itineraries are more than just pickleball tournaments — they’re unforgettable Italian adventures. If you’re interested in selling this tour — and receiving up to 12% commission — contact the company’s founder, Lorenzo, at lorenzo@pickleballoasis.it. And feel free to utilize this customizable Canva template I created to promote it.