Learn from the pros: 6 destinations where you can train with star athletes

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora

If your family is more likely to hit the hotel fitness centre than the beach, why not try out one of these active holiday retreats with expert training from some of the world's best sporting professionals?

1. Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Help make your children's football fantasies become a reality and whisk them off to Dubai this Easter, where ex-Premier League stars Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora will be running a Football Academy this April (17-21) for budding sports stars.

There are spaces for up to 75 children and the course will include two training sessions a day, a Football Escapes kit, a medal and a certificate for all their hard work on the pitch.

In the meantime, adults can partake in a variety of training programmes, including tennis, squash, rock climbing, aerobics and Talise X, a bespoke outdoor training area for those who are serious about fitness training.

For those visiting on a superyacht, there are berths at the hotel's Pavilion Marina for yachts up to 60 metres.

BodyHoliday Wellness Resort, St Lucia

Keri-anne Payne & David Carry

Head to St Lucia this Autumn for the Wellfit + Swimfit bootcamp events at The Bodyholiday, which will be hosted by two medal-winning Olympic swimmers. Keri-anne Payne won the silver medal for the inaugural 10 kilometre marathon swim in 2008 and has won the World 10 kilometre Open Water competition twice. Her husband David Carry has represented Great Britain in the Olympics three times and is a two-time Commonwealth swimming champion.

Wellfit + Swimfit will be held from October 29 — November 19 and the programme includes beach training, seminars in nutrition and fitness, motivational speeches, a gala dinner for guests and the One Mile Swim challenge. A four-day Swimfit programme is also available on either November 7-10 or 14-17 if you're really looking for a holiday challenge.

The nearby IGY Rodney Bay marina can host superyachts up to 87 metres, while larger yachts can anchor in the bay and tender in.

Wellcode at La Radiuse, Toulon, France

Divan Kombrink

Former professional rugby player Divan Kombrink is the head of fitness at the Wellcode La Radiuse retreat, one of the best spots for luxury wellness and fitness, which takes place this May (21-28). Kombrink, after leaving rugby for person training, specialises in Swiss ball training, Pilates, pre- and post-natal exercise and aqua rehabilitation.

Aside from cookery classes, innovative work outs, spa treatments and one-on-one sessions, guests will receive DNA testing in order to create a tailor-made wellness plan for the retreat and beyond.

Superyachts up to 30 metres can moor in Le Lavandou marina and larger vessels can make use of the protected anchorages off Cap Bénat.

destinations where you can train with star athletes

TBC

The annual Necker Cup, which takes place this year (November 27 - December 2), is famous for its star-studded list of participants. This fun-focused competition comprises teams made up of one pro and two amateurs and has a handicapped scoring format to make it competitive for all players.

In previous years, the likes of Novak Djokovic, Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic and Alex Dolgopolov have taken part, among many others.

Though the 2017 players have not yet been revealed, you can guarantee that Sir Richard Branson would only invite the best of the best to partake in his event on Necker Island.

Superyachts can easily anchor off the coast of Necker Island and tender or take a private helicopter in for the competition.

D-Hotel Maris

Goran Ivanisevic

Improve your tennis skills this season at the hand of renowned Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, who set up a tennis school at the D-Hotel Maris in Turkey in 2015. Ivanisevic won the prestigious competition in 2001, defeating Patrick Rafter.

Lessons are available for a range of players and his trained coaches provide everything from intensive competition training to beginners' lessons, which focus on the development of technique.

The D-Hotel Maris has it's own fleet of luxury yachts available for charter, including the 16 metre Open Seas, 30 metre sailing yacht Paşa and the 44 metre Ubi Bene.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, London

Ruben Tabares

Get your fitness levels up to scratch by working with Ruben Tabares on vacation in London. Tabares started out as a student at the Royal Ballet School before turning his hand the athletics, competing for England and Great Britain internationally as a 400 metre hurdler.

Nowadays, he can be found at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London and is known for training the likes of David Haye, Tinie Tempah, P Diddy and Naomi Watts. He covers basic fitness to intensive training, as well as nutrition and coaching.

Superyachts up 40 metres can now moor in the St Katherine Docks, or yachts up to 170 metres can berth at the West India Docks in Canary Wharf.

Picture courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / George Apostolidis

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