Play pickleball every day in Slovenia and Croatia, with 12+ hours of instruction from our top coaches! These two countries are situated in Central Europe, just north of the Adriatic Sea. Come explore all that Slovenia and Croatia have to offer! You will stay at 4-5-star hotels and sightsee with a private, English-speaking tour guide.

Croatia and Slovenia are clean, organized countries, and they are among the safest in Europe. Slovenia is known for its fascinating medieval cities, architectural wonders, and implementation of dragons (the capital’s flag emblem) in its culture, buildings, products, and more. Croatia is known for its beautiful beaches along the Adriatic Sea, waterfalls, national parks, and scenic historic cities.

No visa is needed for traveling to either of these countries. The weather is typically in the 65-80-degree range during the summer.

The trip will include visits to Ljubljana (the capital of Slovenia), Bled, Zadar, Split, castles, national parks, and many more beautiful sites!

We will set up temporary pickleball courts for our use. There will be instructional clinics, observed play time, minigames, and open play.

Pricing Information

Single Occupancy: $5,090

Double Occupancy (two guests in one room): $9,360 ($4,680 per person)

You can make a $1,200 initial deposit to reserve a single room, or a $1,800 initial deposit to reserve a double room. Please note that only one $1,800 deposit is necessary to reserve a double room for two guests. These initial deposits will be deducted from your grand total (listed above).

After placing your initial deposit, your full payment is due by February 5th, 2024.

Guests who will not participate in the pickleball activities are eligible for a $750 discount. Use the discount code NONPB750 on your initial deposit to redeem this. Please note that using this discount code will remove a guest from the pickleball clinics, and they might not be able to reregister for the clinics if spaces sell out.

Included: 9 nights and 10 days of accommodations in 4-5-star hotels, all breakfasts (provided by the hotels), a lunch, 2 dinners, a wine + smoked ham tasting, tours with private guide, entrance fees, a boat ride, private driver and bus, 12+ hours of pickleball instruction, court access, and 24/7 assistance in English.

Not included: airfare, most lunches and dinners, and alcoholic drinks.

Our Team

The pros on this trip are TBD. To see who might be there, check out this link: Guest Pros

There will be a designated Trip Coordinator on the trip, to keep everyone on track and resolve any questions or issues our guests might run into.

We welcome guests of any and all skill levels! We will match you with other players so that you are playing with guests at your approximate skill level. This getaway is limited to 32 players, so it will sell out quickly!

Lodgings

We will be staying in three different 4-5 star hotels throughout our trip:

• Austria Trend Hotel

• Hotel Pinija

• AC Hotel Split by Marriott

If you have booked this trip and you would like to add extra nights before/after the dates of the getaway, please let us know! We would be happy to add extra nights to your booking.

Transportation

The airport you fly into is different from the airport you fly out of. You should fly into the Ljubljana Airport on June 5th, and out of the Split Airport on June 14th. For your arrival flight, please note that you might have to fly out on June 4th in order to arrive on June 5th.

We will provide the ground transportation to and from the airport! Before the trip, we will send you an email with a form where you can enter your flight information—based on these details, we will set up ground transportation.

If you book extra nights (see the previous section), we will still provide ground transportation to/from the airport.

Additional Information

• You will need:

  • your passport

  • an EU outlet adapter (available on Amazon)

  • your pickleball paddle!

• Recommended:

  • a portable charger for longer tour days

  • travel insurance—for this trip or any other trip you take! We do not have a specific recommendation for travel insurance; this is up to you.

  • 50-200 Euros to have on hand. We recommend withdrawing Euros from an ATM once you arrive. Euros will be useful for street souvenirs, cash-only shops, tips, etc.

• You will not need:

  • a Visa

  • a Covid test or vaccine

• Tips are not expected by drivers/servers/staff in Europe. If you would like to tip, though, 5%-10% on your bill or a few Euros is the typical tipping range.

Itinerary

Arrival Day (June 5th)

Arrival to Ljubljana Airport

We will have ground transportation waiting for you! Once you collect your bags, you will see a group of drivers holding up signs to collect various passengers. Look for the sign that says “Pickleball Getaways”! If you cannot find it, contact your Trip Coordinator.

Check in to the Austria Trend Hotel

Get settled in, explore the hotel, and rest up from jet lag!

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant

There will be a welcome dinner in the evening so that you can meet the other guests and our team.

Day 2 (June 6th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

9am: Pickleball Clinic

12:30pm: Departure to Ljubljana Tour

You will have time for lunch, followed by a walking tour with a private tour guide. After that, you’ll have free time to explore! In the evening, we will have a guided tour of Ljubljana Castle.

Make sure to bring lots of water, sun protection (sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, etc), fully charged devices, and comfortable walking shoes.

Day 3 (June 7th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Pickleball Clinic

12:30pm: Departure to Bled

Discover Slovenia’s most spectacular sites—the famous Bled with its iconic lake and the one and only island in Slovenia. Enjoy unique natural scenery and learn about local crafts and traditions from one of Europe’s most picturesque alpine regions. A visit to Bled Castle and a private boat ride is included! In the evening, we will see Vintgar Gorge, a stunning natural canyon. This pleasant hike will end with a view of the largest waterfall in Slovenia.

Day 4 (June 8th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Pickleball Clinic

2pm: Departure to Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

Discover the magnificent underground Postojna Cave, the most prominent karst cave in the world. Learn about the most famous cave-dwelling creature, the "human fish" (also known as an olm), and explore beautiful underground passages with spectacular stones, pillars, limestone, and other natural stone formations.

In an idyllic village of Predjama is a medieval, stone castle that has been perched in the middle of a 123-meter-high cliff for more than 800 years. It is famous for its dramatic setting in the gaping mouth of a cavern halfway up a hillside and the legend of the knight Erasmus, also known as “Slovenian Robin Hood”. Inside the castle, you will see a variety of original items and hear the impressive story of a natural vertical shaft (secret pass) with an exit on the top of the cliff. Interesting fact: The Predjama Castle is listed as the World's largest cave castle in the Guinness World Records!

Day 5 (June 9th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Check out of the Austria Trend Hotel

8am: Transfer from Ljubljana to Zadar (Croatia), with a stop at Plitvice Lakes National Park

On our way to Zadar, we will stop at the enchanting Plitvice Lakes National Park. You can explore the beautiful park at your own pace, and you will also have time for lunch at a local restaurant.

7pm: Check in to Hotel Pinija

Day 6 (June 10th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Pickleball Clinic

Midday is free time for whatever you would like to do!

2pm: Departure to Zadar City Tour

Meet your private local guide and explore the historical capital of Dalmatia, a charming Mediterranean city full of legends and interesting stories! You will see People`s Square, City Market, Sea Gate, St. Donatus Church, the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, the famous Sea Organ, and more!

Day 7 (June 11th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Pickleball Clinic

12:45pm: Departure to Etnoland Dalmati

The Dalmatian town of Pakovo Selo hides Croatia’s most awarded family-run tourist and cultural attraction. Learn the family’s story, see how the amazing family-style "peka" meal is made, and enjoy a tasting of local wine and the famous Drnis "prsut" (smoked ham). We will end our visit with a family-style peka lunch made in the traditional way.

In the evening, we will continue on to Sibenik, a historic city in Croatia. The most important historical building here is the Cathedral of St. James, with its 32m high dome that was under construction for 105 years and is built entirely of stone. Since it is the most significant architectural achievement of the 15th and 16th centuries in Croatia, it was listed on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2000. The medieval town is surrounded by 4 fortresses and charming narrow cobbled streets—with lots of stairs!

Day 8 (June 12th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Pickleball Clinic

The rest of the day is free time for anything you would like!

Day 9 (June 13th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

8am: Pickleball Clinic

10am: Check out of Hotel Pinija

12pm: Transfer to Split, with a stop for a Split city tour

Alongside our private tour guide, we will explore Diocletian’s Palace, one of the eight UNESCO protected sights in Croatia. It is considered one of the most stunning Roman ruins. You can then wander the magical streets of Split, which is the second-largest city in Croatia!

Check in to the AC Hotel Split by Marriott

8pm: Farewell dinner in Split

Departure Day (June 14th)

Breakfast buffet in the morning

Check out of the AC Hotel Split by Marriott

Departure to Split Airport

We will arrange ground transportation to the Split Airport for you, depending on when your flight is.

Cancellation Policy

The Initial Deposit is non-refundable.

If you are canceling 91 days or more before the trip: 50% refund of total deposit

If you are canceling 61 days or more before the trip: 30% refund of total deposit

If you are canceling 60 days or less before the trip: No refund