The No Excuses Guide to Staying in Shape While Traveling

As someone who needs to work out, I am at the gym nearly every single day. Working out is a non-negotiable for me and has been for years. At home in Arizona, I belong to a gym where I take a variety of classes from HIIT to circuit training to strength, and sometimes a Pilates or Yin yoga class.

As much as I love working out, I also love to travel. However, I can't exactly take my gym with me so have had to figure out travel workouts over the years. From travel-friendly equipment you can pack in a suitcase to body-weight-only workouts, here is a no-excuses guide to staying in shape while traveling:

Walking or Jogging

While renting a car or using public transportation is helpful when traveling, I love exploring a new city on foot. If I'm by myself, I will only go for a long walk or jog in the daytime, and that's as long as the area around my hotel or vacation rental is safe. Not only is it a great way to get those steps in but also a way to discover different neighborhoods, murals, cafes, and attractions you may not have noticed if you were getting around via a vehicle. Having a fitness tracker is a great way to track your steps and your heart rate as you explore a city on foot. A comfortable pair of shoes like Hoka or Allbirds is a necessity as well.

Rent a Bicycle

Another great way for staying in shape while traveling is to explore a destination on bike. You can find bike rentals and bike tours all around the world so you can get a great workout in while checking out the sights. Mountain biking is another option for those of you who are a bit more adventurous! If you prefer a group bike tour during your travels, check out what's available on Viator.

Hiking

I always love hiking when I travel somewhere I haven't been before. I've done a guided hike in Nicaragua and have gone on hikes with family and friends throughout the U.S. as well as overseas in countries like Turkey, Scotland, and Ireland. If you have the AllTrails+ app, you can find a trail practically anywhere you travel to. Depending on where you hike, prepare your hiking backpack with essentials ahead of time.

Hotel Gym Workouts

If you enjoy working out at a gym and plan on staying at a hotel in your travels, make sure to check the amenities list before booking. Among the hotel chains that have a good probability of having a gym are both Hilton and Marriott. However, I have been boutique hotels in both the U.S. and abroad that had gyms as well.

Now, I get a better workout if I have an instructor so I try to watch a YouTube video when at a hotel gym. There are hundreds if not thousands of workout videos on the platform. I just pop in my AirPods and play a video on my iPad or phone and I'm good to go. However, maybe you're the type who can workout on your own using the available equipment which usually consists of free weights, workout mats, and perhaps a treadmill or stationary bike.

In-Room Hotel Workouts

No gym at your hotel or maybe you're staying at a vacation rental? No problem, as there are plenty of workouts you can do without all the fancy equipment. I would supplement walking, jogging, hiking, or biking with an in-room workout using nothing but body weight or with simple packable pieces of equipment like workout bands. You can check YouTube or another platform like MasterClass for a body weight workout, or find a digital download of a workout on Etsy.

Packable Workout Equipment

For travel workout equipment, here are a few options you can easily pack in your luggage:

• Jumprope: Go outside to a park or, if your room is big enough, get your cardio in with a jumprope.
• Resistance bands: These are my favorite for working out and they are so lightweight and barely take up any room in my bags. You can try this resistance band workout during your travels.
• Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat: This is great for doing yoga or an ab workout in your hotel room, and it comes in a variety of colors and patterns.
• TRX GO Suspension Trainer System Bundle: I love a good TRX workout as it's mostly body weight and suspension exercises that can help with balance, core strength, and mobility. You can get a great full-body workout with TRX.

Now, I am by no means a fitness expert but I have been working out most of my life and know what works for me. As one of my favorite instructors says, "Exercise is for everybody but not every exercise is for every body." So, do what works for you whether that's a high-impact workout like HIIT or a low-impact workout like yoga.

Luckily, there are resources out there for travel workouts from digital downloads from Etsy to Masterclass workouts, not to mention YouTube workouts as well. Like anything health-related, check with your doctor before starting any new workout routine.