A week of tennis vacation at the Vitality Hotel Punta on the Croatian island of Lošinj has come to an end. During this week, Tom completed a 5-day intensive camp at the Ljubicic Tennis Academy , which we documented with daily blog posts in our Camp Diary. This should give you a good idea of what such an intensive camp is like. Of course, what would a return be complete without a conclusion and a review of the camp, the academy, and, naturally, the tennis hotel? With this review, we're writing the final chapter of the Camp Diary. The diary is now closed, but unforgettable memories will remain.
Read it for yourselves!
Tom was integrated into the "normal" Academy program, meaning he trained in the same "system" as the kids and teens who train regularly at the Ljubicic Tennis Academy. The training schedule was as follows:
The training week runs from Monday to Saturday, with no training on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The intensity of such a week is quite high, but Tom found it manageable.
During the camp week, there were many, many rhythm drills , especially from the baseline. These weren't just mindless cross-court or down-the-line drills, but rather specific changes of direction were practiced. These drills were really long and demanding. It was also noticeable that almost every training session included serves and points (tiebreaks or sets). There was also some setting from the basket, but very infrequently. Technical corrections were limited to a few key points. If something was technically problematic, it was emphasized again and again. For example, Tom was told to stand still while hitting the ball and not always jump. I didn't see any completely new drills on the tennis court, but that wasn't really necessary. Instead, simple things were practiced over and over again.
Typically, two players train with one coach per court . Sometimes, three players train together, and then there are even two coaches on the court. As soon as training begins, there's only one thing on the agenda: full concentration and high intensity. The drills are clearly explained beforehand. During the drills, there are many corrections, with the same instructions sometimes being repeated almost like a mantra. But this is anything but annoying; in fact, I find it extremely efficient. Things are learned much faster this way. When matches are played, there are plenty of tactical tips . One-on-one discussions also take place. Plays are analyzed concisely and to the point, and suggestions for improvement are made.
I have rarely seen such focused and highly motivated coaches. Every single day, they were incredibly enthusiastic about getting the best out of the boys and girls. And they didn't discriminate based on the individual player. This shows that many of the coaches have worked with professionals (Jannik Sinner, Marin Cilic, etc.) or still do. The coaches get along very well with each other. And their communication with the kids is direct and clear, always with a touch of humor. A great mix that, in my opinion, was exactly what the kids needed.
The sessions with fitness coach Oskar Amančić were one of the highlights for Tom. Intense, but not overwhelming, the exercises and focus were varied. Despite the numerous sessions, Tom's muscle soreness was minimal, even though he's completely unaccustomed to this level of training. Recovery exercises were always included in the sessions, which certainly contributed to this. I also appreciated the emphasis on proper form. Better to perform the exercises cleanly and with a few fewer repetitions than sloppily and quickly.
The tennis facility is immaculately maintained and beautifully landscaped. The nine clay courts are spread across several terraces, each court practically private. Immediately after training, the courts are watered and maintained. The four covered indoor hard courts are also excellent and can be opened up in the summer. Thanks to the coverings, training is always possible. The Academy has priority over all other players or groups using the facility. The clubhouse, with its bar and lovely terrace, makes watching matches a pleasant experience. A
relatively new addition to the tennis facility is a track and field course with a tartan surface, where the afternoon warm-up takes place.
The Academy's gym is equipped with everything needed for modern athletic training. Most of the Academy players also had a physiotherapy session . A separate room is available for Academy members in the hotel's Vitality Spa for this purpose.
The Academy staff are all incredibly dedicated to ensuring our complete satisfaction. From the booking process, where all our questions were answered quickly and informatively, to the daily updates via the Academy WhatsApp group, and the hospitality manager and social media coordinator who regularly took photos and videos at the resort, everything was top-notch. Tom received a lovely memento upon our return: a video from the Academy that included clips of him. Fantastic!
Our camp hotel, the Vitality Hotel Punta , was located right next to the tennis courts. We had a beautiful room with a large balcony and a sea view. It was absolutely spacious enough for the four of us. Since the hotel is quite large and consists of several buildings, we walked a lot every day. The rooms, as well as the hotel itself, are bright and quite modern.
The breakfast buffet left nothing to be desired: freshly prepared egg dishes were available upon request, along with a wide selection of breads and rolls, muesli, plenty of fresh fruit, various juices, yogurts, and all kinds of cold cuts and cheeses. My absolute favorite was the morning chia pudding from the Vitality Corner . In the evenings, there was a diverse buffet with plenty of fresh fish and regional meat dishes. The salad bar was a delight every evening. Perhaps a little more variety in the appetizers and desserts would have been welcome. The cheese counter was also a nice touch, offering a welcome alternative to the sweet desserts. The quality of the food was consistently excellent. The service in the restaurant, as throughout the entire hotel, was good and very friendly. On some days, the restaurant was almost full, making it quite noisy. But that's simply unavoidable given the size of the hotel.
We used the sauna area ; it's not very large, but very stylish and elegantly designed. It was never overcrowded, which is partly due to the fact that access to the sauna area is only possible with a separate chip, which can be picked up at the spa reception. Advance reservations for sauna use are also possible. The indoor pool is filled with saltwater and is quite large. We didn't use the outdoor pools because it was simply too cold for us.
A definite highlight of the hotel is the gym , equipped with state-of-the-art fitness equipment. There are always one or two trainers on hand to introduce you to the equipment or answer any questions. With a view of the sea, you can really enjoy working up a sweat on the cardio machines!
The bar and lounge area was also very nice, where we ended each camp day with board games and a nightcap.
Before the camp, I sent the Academy some video clips of Tom at their request so they could assess his playing strength. However, there was no initial or final discussion. That certainly wouldn't have been a bad idea, and I've been told it's usually done. It wouldn't have been a problem at all to ask for feedback, but Tom was so happy with the input I received that I didn't insist. Frankly, it would have just been the icing on the cake.
Some of our friends had already been to Lošinj, and they were all absolutely thrilled with the island. And so were we. Despite the somewhat challenging journey, the verdant island immediately captivates you. The hotel, and especially the academy, is a fantastic and idyllically situated holiday destination for us TennisTraveller . You can't help but feel at home here. And the academy doesn't just offer camps for ambitious kids and teens. Recreational players also train here according to the same principles and with the same high quality. Be Your Best – that applies to all TennisTraveller !
We will definitely return to the island. Tom thought the camp was simply AMAZING. And the rest of the family thoroughly enjoyed the hotel and everything surrounding it. Next time, perhaps we'll have better luck with the temperatures and can also use the fantastic infinity pool. And explore the island even more by bike and on foot. See you soon
Anyone interested in the Academy's various camp offerings can find information in our camp listing. The Academy offers tennis courses for all ages and skill levels
to the tennis courses of the Ljubicic Tennis Academy
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