Guide · Holidays · French Riviera

Tennis During Your Holidays
on the French Riviera:
What to Expect

Massimo Bettini  ·  July 2026  ·  5 min read

Staying on the Riviera and want to play tennis as a family, at different levels? Here's exactly how a private lesson works during a holiday.

Contents
  1. What I always ask before the first session
  2. When the family has very different levels
  3. How the session works on site
  4. Why language really changes the experience
  5. Frequently asked questions

What I always ask before the first session

Before we even talk about level, I ask every new family two simple questions.

The first: do you already have rackets? Many families on holiday don't think about it before arriving on the court — it's not a minor detail, it directly shapes how the session is organised.

The second, more important: what's the goal of this lesson? Level alone isn't enough to prepare a good session. An intermediate player who simply wants to stay active during their holiday doesn't need the same work as an intermediate player who wants to fix a specific movement before returning to competition in the autumn. Two people at the same level can need two completely different sessions.

When the family has very different levels

This is a very common situation on holiday: a beginner parent, a child who already plays well, sometimes a grandparent who just wants to move. No one should leave having received less attention than the others.

My solution is simple: I split the session into two equal parts, so each level gets a dedicated, proportionate amount of work. It's not a group lesson where the more advanced player gets bored and the beginner feels overwhelmed — each part of the session is designed for the person receiving it at that moment.

"The goal isn't for everyone to play the same amount of time. It's that everyone leaves feeling they've genuinely improved, at their own level."

How the session works on site

I come directly to the court at your villa, residence or hotel — no organisation needed on your part beyond the court's availability.

Why language really changes the experience

A tennis lesson isn't just technical movements — it's also quick instructions, encouragement, sometimes fine adjustments that require precise communication. For a family on holiday who isn't fluent in French, being able to communicate in their own language (English or Italian) directly changes the quality of the session, especially with children.

That's one of the reasons I offer lessons in French, English and Italian depending on each family's preference.

M
Massimo Bettini — FITP Certified Tennis Coach, Level 2
10 years teaching at Tennis Palladio 98 (Vicenza) · ATP Challenger Coordinator 2023–2026 · Based in Nice, covering the entire French Riviera

Frequently Asked Questions

It's the first thing I ask before the session. I always bring the balls; if rackets are missing, we discuss it in advance to arrange a solution.

Yes — it's a very common situation on holiday. I split the session into two parts, each adapted to the level and goal of the person concerned.

Absolutely. Many families on holiday book a single session; others prefer 2–3 sessions spread across their stay. No commitment is required.

Yes, in all three languages — French, English and Italian, according to the family's preference. It's especially useful with children.

Nice, Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, Cap Ferrat, Valbonne, Mougins, Biot and surrounding areas — I come directly to the court at your place of stay.

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