The fastest-growing sport in the world is finding its Caribbean home, and it’s not where you’d expect.
Antigua, long known for its 365 beaches and low-key luxury, has become a magnet for traveling pickleball players looking for a destination that takes the sport seriously.
The Signals Are Everywhere
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit recently named The Verandah, one of the island’s Elite Island Resorts properties, a top luxury pickleball property, a signal of what’s been building on the island for a while: purpose-built courts, resort investment, and a growing calendar of tournaments and retreats.
This past June, The Verandah hosted the Pickleball Pro Series, headlined by 2022 U.S. Open champion Frank Solana, following an earlier event at the property featuring Ben Johns himself.
The momentum builds into December, when Pickleball Getaways, the travel company co-owned by Ben Johns and Dekel Bar, the two most recognized names in professional pickleball, returns to Antigua for consecutive tournament weeks, with Dekel Bar personally on-property December 9–15. That the biggest names in the sport keep choosing Antigua says something about where pickleball is heading in the Caribbean.
The Ecosystem: Four Properties, 19 Courts, One Island
Elite Island Resorts anchors the scene, with four Antigua properties and 19 dedicated pickleball courts between them, the largest resort-based pickleball footprint on the island. Every property is all-inclusive, most have courts lit for night play, and each fits a different kind of trip:
Hammock Cove Antigua: 5-star, adults-only, 6 courts. The luxury pick, with personal guest ambassadors and all-inclusive court access.
The Verandah Antigua: 4.5-star, adults-only, 4 courts lit for night play. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit recently named a top luxury pickleball destination.
Pineapple Beach Club: 4-star, adults-only, 6 courts lit for night play. A relaxed beachfront pick with room to run tournaments and clinics.
St. James’s Club: 4.5-star, family-friendly, 3 courts. The one to book if pickleball is part of the trip but the family’s coming too.
Why Antigua Specifically
The Caribbean has no shortage of beautiful islands. What sets Antigua apart for pickleball:
Investment. Resort partners like Elite Island Resorts have committed to real pickleball infrastructure, not just repurposed tennis courts, but courts, programming, and pro-level play.
Scale. Small enough to feel curated, big enough to host serious events.
Accessibility. Direct flights from most major US East Coast hubs, making a long weekend or week-long trip realistic.
Weather. Year-round conditions that make outdoor play reliable, with fall and winter shoulder seasons that are ideal for tournaments.
What’s Ahead
More tournaments, retreats, and brand partnerships are already in the works for 2027, building on the ecosystem Elite Island Resorts and its partners have quietly put in place.
If you’re a coach planning a retreat, a brand thinking about how to reach this audience, or a player looking for your next pickleball trip, Antigua is the conversation worth being in right now.
Interested in hosting a pickleball retreat in Antigua, or bringing your brand into Antigua’s growing pickleball scene? Get in touch with me: [email protected]
