Choosing a training camp: which destination suits your team?

Short answer: do not let the choice depend on the destination, but on three things. What surface do you want to train on, how much travel time can your squad handle, and what is included in the package? If you want to play on natural grass during the winter break because the Dutch pitches are closed, then Turkey and Cyprus come into view first. If you are looking for a short flight and a large complex, then Salou and Malta are strong. If you do not want to fly at all, you stay in Belgium and travel by coach. Below we place the five destinations from our range side by side, including the pitches, the package and the flights.

Training camp or training break: what is the difference?

There is no difference. Coaches and board members use both words for the same thing: a few days away with the whole squad, several training sessions, set meals and time to grow as a group. We use the two terms interchangeably, so that you find the same range under both words.

The five destinations side by side

Destination	Where	Pitch	Standard package	From
Turkey	Belek, Side, Antalya	natural grass	5 days, all inclusive	20 people
Cyprus	Paphos	natural grass	5 days, all inclusive or full board	20 people
Spain	Salou, Cambrils	artificial grass, natural grass optional	4 days, full board	20 people
Malta	St. Julian's, St. Paul's, Sliema	artificial grass	4 days, half board	20 people
Belgium	Barvaux, Tubize	natural grass and artificial grass	3 days, room only or full board	20 people

Turkey: the widest choice and natural grass in January

Turkey is the most chosen destination of the winter season for Dutch clubs. On the Turkish Riviera your squad trains on well-kept natural grass pitches and stays all inclusive. We have resorts in Belek, Side and Antalya, and of all our destinations Turkey has the most accommodations in the range. So you can choose on budget without giving up on the quality of the pitches. In Belek the resorts train at the Arcadia Sports Center, with nine pitches including six natural grass pitches of 70 by 105 metres. The standard package is five days, all inclusive, with one to six training sessions of ninety minutes. You can read more on the page about a training camp in Turkey.

Cyprus: quiet, short distances and everything on one complex

Cyprus is smaller and easier to navigate than the large Turkish sports regions. Travel times on the island are short and in winter it is quieter than in Belek or Salou. All three of our hotels in Paphos train at the same complex, the Geroskipou Municipality Sport Centre, with a natural grass pitch of 68 by 105 metres rated 9,0 and a second natural grass pitch of 56 by 80 metres rated 8,5. At 800 metres, Louis Phaethon Beach is the closest to the pitches. Unlike in Turkey, the practice match including a trio of referees is included in the package as standard here. You can read more on the page about a training camp in Cyprus.

Spain: the largest complex, an hour from Barcelona

In Salou and Cambrils your team trains at the Futbol Salou Sports Center, part of the Mediterranean Sport Village about an hour's drive from Barcelona. That complex has eleven pitches: six artificial grass pitches of 70 by 105 metres and five natural grass pitches, all rated 8,5. Your team stays within walking distance of the pitches. The standard package is four days on a full board basis, with one training session and one match of ninety minutes on artificial grass, including a refereeing trio. Training on natural grass can be added. We have three accommodations: MSV Aloha and MSV Mediterrania in Salou and MSV Villa Bonita in Cambrils.

Malta: a short flight, artificial grass and plenty to do off the pitch

Malta is quick to reach with a direct flight from Amsterdam and is attractive for teams that want to combine training and relaxation. Training takes place on artificial grass: the Luxol Sports Club and the Tarxien Rainbow Stadium each have a pitch of 68 by 105 metres rated 8,5, and in Kirkop there is a pitch of 65 by 102 metres rated 8,0. We work with seven hotels, spread across St. Julian's, St. Paul's and Sliema. The standard package is four days on a half board basis, with a training session of ninety minutes; a practice match with a refereeing trio can be added. Examples are the five-star Corinthia at St. George's Bay and the AX Odycy Resort on the promenade of Qawra.

Belgium: no flying, travelling there by coach

If you do not want to fly, Belgium is the short option. Martin's Red in Tubize is located on the grounds of the National Football Center, the headquarters of the Red Devils. There you will find the Belgian Football Center with six pitches, of which three natural grass pitches of 68 by 105 metres rated 8,5, two artificial grass pitches of 70 by 90 metres and an indoor pitch. That indoor pitch means that the training programme goes ahead even in bad weather. Azur en Ardenne in Barvaux is the quiet option, with apartments on the estate and a sports park 300 metres away. Both packages are three days with four training sessions of ninety minutes.

Natural grass or artificial grass?

For most coaches this is the decisive question. In Turkey and Cyprus you train on natural grass. That is exactly why clubs head that way in January: it is the only period in which their own pitches are unplayable and the squad can still play on grass.

In Spain and Malta artificial grass is the standard. In Salou natural grass can be added, on Malta training is on artificial grass. If your team trains on artificial grass all year at home, the switch is small and you keep budget for extra training sessions or a practice match. In Belgium you can do both: at Martin's Red natural grass, artificial grass and an indoor pitch lie side by side.

If you wonder what is sensible just before the second half of the season, choose the surface on which you play the first matches after the winter break.

How many days and how many people?

All packages apply from twenty people, and staff and support count towards that number. The length differs per destination:

Turkey and Cyprus: five days with four nights.
Spain and Malta: four days with three nights.
Belgium: three days with two nights.

Extra nights and extra training sessions can be added everywhere. So when comparing, do not only look at the number of days, but above all at the number of training sessions included. In Cyprus that is three training sessions plus a practice match, in Belgium four training sessions, on Malta one training session, and in Turkey you decide yourself how many you want.

Flying or by coach?

For the 2026/2027 winter season these are the direct connections:

Antalya, for Turkey: SunExpress from Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bremen, Münster/Osnabrück and Brussels, Corendon Airlines from Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and Cologne, and Pegasus Airlines from Düsseldorf and Cologne.
Paphos and Larnaca, for Cyprus: Ryanair to Paphos from Eindhoven and Cologne, Transavia to Larnaca from Amsterdam and Eurowings to Larnaca from Düsseldorf.
Barcelona, for Salou and Cambrils: Vueling from Amsterdam, Düsseldorf and Brussels, Transavia from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam, Ryanair from Brussels and Cologne and Eurowings from Düsseldorf.
Luqa near Valletta, for Malta: easyJet and KM Malta Airlines from Amsterdam and Ryanair from Cologne.
Belgium: no flight. A return transfer by coach from your club can be added.

When preparing the quote we look at which airport and which flight days suit your training schedule, the winter break of your league and the place your players come from.

This is how we take it further

Every club is different, so every training camp is different. After your no-obligation request we take stock of your wishes and budget and work out a concept in a quote. If you want to see the accommodation and the pitches with your own eyes first, we plan a pre-trip. For the recruitment of participants you receive presentation material and free use of our online reservation system. During the camp we are available 24 hours a day and our local tour guide keeps an eye on the programme. Afterwards we evaluate together with you. The full six-step method is on the training camps page.

eSCe Reizen has been organising training camps for more than twenty years and has guided over 600 satisfied teams in that time. You have one fixed contact person and receive personal travel guidance.

20+ years of experience
600+ satisfied teams
Personal travel guidance
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Frequently asked questions about choosing a training camp

What is the difference between a training camp and a training break?

There is no difference. Both words mean the same thing: a number of days away with the whole squad to train. On our site you will find the same range under both terms.

Which destination has natural grass in winter?

Turkey and Cyprus. In Belek you train at the Arcadia Sports Center with six natural grass pitches of 70 by 105 metres, in Cyprus at the Geroskipou Municipality Sport Centre with a pitch of 68 by 105 metres and a second pitch of 56 by 80 metres. In Salou natural grass can be added optionally.

What is the minimum number of players?

All packages apply from twenty people. Staff and support count towards that number.

How long does a training camp last?

Five days in Turkey and Cyprus, four days in Spain and Malta and three days in Belgium. A longer stay is possible everywhere and we include it in the quote.

Is a practice match included in the package?

In Cyprus and Spain a match of ninety minutes including a refereeing trio is included in the package as standard. In Turkey and on Malta you book it separately. Let us know with your request and we will arrange the opponent and the pitch reservation.

What does a training camp cost?

The price is on request, because it depends on the destination, the accommodation, the period, the group size and the number of training sessions. You receive a no-obligation quote with a fully worked out concept.

Can we go on a training camp without flying?

Yes. Our two Belgian locations, Martin's Red in Tubize and Azur en Ardenne in Barvaux, are reached by coach. A return transfer by coach from your club can be added.

Other destinations

Do you already know where you want to go? Then have a look at the page about a training camp in Turkey or a training camp in Cyprus. The full range is at football training camps. If your club practises another sport, have a look at all training camps.