Whether traveling for business or just for fun, staying fit is one thing that seems to fall to the wayside when on the road. A new study by Expedia found that only 53 percent of Americans feel it’s important to exercise while traveling. Here are some tips fo staying fit on vacation.
Hotel Gyms
Photo: Zorro2212 / Wikimedia Commons
This is probably the easiest and most convenient way to exercise while on vacation – although not necessarily the most fun. For those people whose main form of exercise happens outdoors – running, biking, or hiking – getting on a treadmill or stationary bike is not quite the same.
But the gym should not be overlooked – as many major chains always have at least a few machines. It may not be the most fun, but it’s there, close to your room, and ready for you to use.
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Running Outdoors
Photo: Todd Horner / Wikimedia Commons
Unless it’s the dead of winter (or even if it is), running outdoors can be a fun experience to see a new city and get outdoors. Whether it’s the streets of London or a small town in Wisconsin, keep in mind there are runners in every city, and there are always outdoor spaces to run.
Download an app like Map My Run, it will show you the most popular routes and reviews of different trails.
Join the Community
Photo: Derschueler
Even if you are not professional runner, looking at the local calendars to see if there are any races coming up is great motivation to exercise while also learning about the local culture. For an upcoming trip to Prague, I looked at the local race schedule and found out the Prague Marathon is actually the same week I will be there. I am definitely not a marathoner, but they have a fun run the same weekend.
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Walking or Biking
Photo: Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious
With any trip, seeing the city you are visiting is always exciting. Even though it may be easy to do this through a local subway/metro, cab service, or Uber, walking lets you see the city in a whole new way. Bring your best pair of tennis shoes and make a commitment to walk to anything within a few miles.
You could also bike it. Most major cities these days have a bike-share program, and for a few dollars you can usually rent a bicycle for the whole day – or drop it off at one of their many stations throughout the city. As someone who has done this in New York City, Chicago, and London, I can tell you it’s not as scary as it sounds – drivers in major cities are generally very polite and stay a good distance away from you.
According to the Expedia study, 47 percent of people said they enjoy walking and exploring a new city – which makes it the most popular exercise during travel.
Whether you plan to walk, run, or bicycle, some good motivation is to bring along a fitness tracker. Not only does this exercise keep you in shape, but it will also track out a map of everywhere you have gone that day, including the distance and steps.
