Luxury Padel Retreat in Koh Samui : Inside the First Palaestra Experience

What Really Happens Inside a Luxury Padel Retreat in Koh Samui

When people hear “luxury padel retreat in Thailand”, they imagine sunshine, cocktails and social matches.

But what really happened during our first Palaestra experience in Koh Samui?

We sat down to break it down honestly.

No hype.
No filters.
Just the reality of the week.

Was it serious training… or just a padel holiday?

It was serious.

From day one, the structure was clear.

The week didn’t start with matches.

It started with defence.

Understanding positioning.
Understanding patience.
Understanding control.

Only once the foundations were stable did we move into transition play, net dominance and overhead control.

Each day built on the previous one.

60% technical drills.
20% structured game situations.
20% controlled matches.

No ego.
No score pressure.
Only application.

That alone made it different from a typical padel camp.

How was the coaching structured?

We kept one non-negotiable rule:

Maximum 4 players per coach.

And in addition, one Head Coach fully dedicated to supervision and tactical analysis.

The coaches came from Malaga — young, high-level competitors, passionate about detail.

But what surprised participants most wasn’t just their level.

It was their involvement.

They didn’t just feed balls.

They corrected positioning.
They adjusted decision-making.
They explained why.
They played with participants to maintain rhythm and control.

The Head Coach analysed short video sequences during the week, ensuring players understood the game, not just the technique.

Because improvement without understanding never lasts.

Was the level balanced?

This was one of the biggest concerns before the retreat.

Nobody wants to feel out of place.

Before the week started, each participant had a direct call.
Expectations were discussed.
Level was assessed.
Objectives were defined.

Groups were built carefully.

On court, there was no judgement.

Only progression.

Did players actually improve?

Yes.

But not because of intensity.

Because of clarity.

Something happened mid-week.

A shift.

Players stopped rushing points.
They stopped forcing winners.
They started controlling exchanges.

Unforced errors decreased.
Rally tolerance increased.
Confidence grew.

Several participants described it as a “click”.

That moment when the game starts making sense.

That’s the objective.

What about the atmosphere?

Serious training does not mean rigid atmosphere.

Quite the opposite.

Participants spent full days together.
On court.
Over lunch.
During recovery sessions.
At dinner.

Coaches were accessible.
Conversations went beyond padel.
Trust developed quickly.

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The final evening was held in a refined gastronomic restaurant in Koh Samui.

The atmosphere felt less like a sports camp and more like a private gathering.

Premium.
Intelligent.
Relaxed.

Several participants asked about the next edition before dessert was even finished.

Was it really a luxury padel retreat?

Yes, but not in the flashy sense.

Luxury meant:

• Small groups
• Individual attention
• Structured progression
• High-level Spanish coaching
• Premium recovery environment
• Time to reflect and connect

Koh Samui provided the setting.

But the structure provided the value.

What Participants Were Initially Worried About

Before joining, most asked:

Is this serious?
Are the coaches legit?
Will the level be balanced?
Is this just marketing?

At the time, there were no reviews.

Now, there are multiple 5-star Google reviews.

But what reassured participants wasn’t the stars.

It was the structure.
The transparency.
The direct access.
The seriousness.

So… What Really Happened?

It wasn’t a holiday.

It wasn’t a social event disguised as training.

It was a structured luxury padel retreat in Thailand focused on one thing:

Real progression.

If you want sun and matches, there are many options.

If you want to understand the game,
reduce unforced errors,
control the ball,
and elevate your level seriously—

This is what really happens inside Palaestra.

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