When it comes to travel a few things spring to mind straight away, accommodation, restaurants or sightseeing. If you’re like me, then one of the first words that pop into your mind is the gym. Travelling away from home and your routine doesn’t mean you need to give up your fitness routine as well. Travelling and going to the gym can go hand in hand, you just need to know how to do it right. To learn how to go to the gym while you’re travelling, consider these points to get you organised.
Plan ahead for the session
Being prepared for the gym when you travel is 90% of the battle. There is no greater motivation killer than preparing for a workout while you’re away only to discover you don’t have anything you need with you. Before you leave for your trip, make sure you pack the essentials:
- Gym clothes
- Gym Towel
- Gym water bottle, and
- Your runners
If you have all of these essentials with you then no matter where your trip takes you, you’re always prepared for a workout, no matter what it looks like. Be sure to check in with your current gym to see if they have locations where you’re going. With more and more franchises popping up, there’s a good chance you might be able to access your current gym on your travels. Be sure to check when gyms are open in Melbourne or if there are gyms open in Sydney, as the times may be different away from your home gym.
Find the right accommodation
One of the easiest ways to go to the gym while you travel is to book a hotel with gym facilities. I always make sure to book a hotel or apartment with a gym attached. There is nothing easier than getting the elevator downstairs in the morning to do my workout before I set out for the day. Most hotels offer some form of gym facilities these days, be sure to check it out before booking. What qualifies for a ‘gym’ can vary significantly from accommodation to accommodation. If there isn’t anything specific mentioned on their website in terms of equipment, don’t be afraid to make a quick call so you can learn if they have a fully equipped gym or just a modest yoga room.
Be sure to ask about the gym opening hours and rules as well. Hotels can have specific times for guests to work out and if these don’t align, you’ll want to know about it before you leave. Finding a hotel with everything you need makes working out while you’re travelling that much easier and doesn’t interrupt the sightseeing or work reasons you might be travelling.
The location is key to using a gym while travelling
Travelling doesn’t always mean you’ll be heading to a metropolitan area where gyms are in abundance. You may be travelling regionally or rurally which can present a different challenge. If you are travelling to a regional or rural location, check the area for any gyms online or with Google Maps. These gyms are often small businesses rather than franchises, which can make working out even easier. On one of my last visits to a regional town, I checked out the local gym and the friendly owner was only too happy to sort me out with a short membership price. This allowed me to workout on the days I was there, without the need to sign up for anything. Make sure you chat to the local gyms about their gym day passes or even a gym weekly pass, depending on how long you’ll be in town.
Exercise in your hotel room or hit the streets
If there is no gym nearby where you’re staying, that isn’t an excuse to carb load and skip leg day. Working out doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym, there is plenty of work you can do in the great outdoors, or even in your accommodation. A simple circuit workout with bodyweight exercises can be done in any living room or even a balcony. Push-ups, sit-ups, burpees and high knees are all exercises that require no more space than your own body height but deliver a killer workout. Get familiar with some great floor work outs that you can take on the road with you.
If circuit work isn’t your thing then try going for a good old fashioned run. Running while your travelling is not only an amazing way to keep up your workouts, it’s a great way to see the location you’re in. Use the best running apps like the Strava app or Map my run and you’ll likely find a local running path you can do saved by the locals. Running is even more helpful for your luggage, as all you need is some clothes and runners to be active while travelling.
A little added motivation
When you’re travelling it can be so easy to skip those workouts and find yourself regretting those extra kilograms you come home with. If you’re like me, the allure of the restaurant is sometimes much stronger than the call of the gym. A great way to stay focused when you are without your usual personal trainer in Caufield North is to organise a session or two in advance with a local gym where you are staying. Depending on your destination, you can check out the local trainers in the area to book a few sessions. Just tell them that you are travelling, as they too have probably wondered how to go to the gym while travelling before.
Paying for a trainer on set days is a useful way to stay committed to your training, especially if you pay upfront. Local trainers will often be able to get access to the local gyms as well, so you can kill two birds with one stone. Even though you won’t have a history with the local trainers, you can still communicate your current progress and fitness levels in the time leading up to your trip. Melbourne has some of the best personal trainers and parks around, which makes working out a breeze.
Use social media
Networks are a powerful thing, and social media makes those networks even more accessible to you no matter where you are. A great way to work out while you’re travelling is to use social media to find local groups. If you are part of a Bootcamp in Melbourne or a running group in Melbourne, you’ll find a good array of options in the place you are travelling to as well. These groups are very inclusive and they have the benefit of local knowledge. Before you book your accommodation, check out the local fitness groups and see if any are located close by. Get in touch and see if they welcome any out of town visitors to join them. Be sure to check the groups and the local pages as well, this way you give yourself the best chance to find a local group to work out with on your travels. You can also follow some fitness social media influencers to get you thinking about working out on your trip.
How to go to the gym when travelling
Working out while you’re travelling can seem a daunting and sometimes not so attractive prospect. The last thing you want is to lose that precious progress you’ve been making on your fitness journey. No matter where you’re travelling, for how long or what workouts you enjoy doing, there is an option for you. Contacting your gym franchise, speaking with local gyms or groups and even going for a run are just a few of the many ways you can keep up your workouts. The key to any good trip away is planning, and the best way to work out while you’re travelling is no different. Add it to your plans, be prepared and make sure you pack everything you need. The rest is as easy as taking the time for your holiday workouts.
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