Fitness centers for those who Travel?

[Tbars4]

..I have a question for all that travel for work and pleasure..

..Has anyone looked into joining a large franchise gym? The reason I ask as I too am on the road a bunch and well, gained a few pounds..

..I am just now looking into this and need some help and suggestions on what is out there and their amenities..

[2TimingTom]

I just go running when I travel. And where I travel to, I haven't even noticed any of the big franchise gyms. Your mileage will obviously vary. Most of my travel takes me to Cocoa Beach, FL. Running on the beach might sound kind of fun, but it's actually very boring.

Probably not a bad idea though.

[Joe Dirt]

If you're looking for a decent solution without bells and whistles, one of the 24-hour fitness places like Snap Fitness, etc., are easy- when you join they give you a keycard that basically unlocks the door to get in. They're generally unmanned by an actual "staff" most of the time, but might be an option if the cards work wherever you might be...

[wood1]

I just make sure the hotel has a gym. Treadmill or elliptical is all you need, throw in some squats burpees, pull-ups whatever. I try to use body weight exercises, if no gym P90X is good to have on your laptop

[LONO100]

im traveling for work tomorrow and i usually will find a hotel that has a gym in it. im a member of 24 fitness, but i never go to it outside of the one in the city i live in. just find a hotel with a decent gym and you should be good to go.

[toypaseo]

Problems I see about joining a gym franchise...

• will they be in most towns you are in?
• how close will they be?
• will they be a dump?
• will their clientele make you want to leave as soon as you walk in the door?

I say just hit the hotel's gym. You're paying for it anyways. Some of the gyms in places I have stayed look actually decent, with decent equipment.

[mattadams]

I travel a lot for work, almost every week actually, and rarely to the same place more than one or two weeks, so I see the frustration. Most hotels I've stayed in, even decent ones, don't have much in the way of a "gym". In fact many hotels have just the bare minimum - one treadmill, one eliptical, one stationary bike, if that much... been to some with just two of those and nothing else and they call it a "fitness center". Ugh. Some hotels I've stayed at that have treadmills, the treadmills are like home versions that were never intended to be used commercially but they offer it and often times they can be glitchy or downright unsafe. Unfortunately theres really no way of knowing until you get there. If you tend to work out at popular times (like I like to work out first thing in the morning, then take my shower, have my breakfast and go to work) they tend to be packed and if there is only one treadmill, you probably just won't get it. I also hate having to learn new machines, because on some even just telling it manual mode takes a few minutes of pushing buttons to figure out. i have ran outside, but as my workout times are often when it is dark, and I don't know strange areas and would prefer to not end up lost or on the wrong side of the tracks, etc. I generally opt for a treadmill even if I have to drive to get there.

I don't actually belong to a gym because I do so much travelling and I hate to pay a membership fee when I'm never there, but I've been thinking about it. The two chains that I seem to see the most of on the road are Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness. both are the same basic idea - "open" 24 hours a day, but staffed for a fraction of that... once you are a member you get a keycard or a fob or something to get in after hours. i've actually been thinking about both of those as no matter where I am, I tend to be reasonably close to one or the other, just haven't decided which one to join yet. I have went into two seperate anytime fitness locations and used their facilities free - generally asked the manager how much it cost for a day pass and they see I'm out of town and let me use it for free... but would like to join one at some point.
The major perk to planet fitness is the price - for $20/month you can use any planet fitness location, use the tanning beds (not like I would) and some other perks, so that will likely be the winner...

I try to stay away from some of the "trendy" gyms, like the Bally's and some others, mainly because I am there to get fit, not to get beefy and make all kinds of grunting noises while I lift way too much weight (which I don't do, LOL), and not to pick up chicks.

[Tbars4]

..I hear you on the hotel gyms..

..and I'm not wanting to sign my life away to some local center that I may only see a couple times of year due to my traveling and they want a yearly commitment..

..Other than 24 hr fitness I haven't heard of most of these others mentioned but I think planet fitness is just moving in out here and their fee is like $39 dwn and $10 a month if paid on a open credit card account..

..Do any of the fitness clubs take cash anymore for a 1-2 day pass or any of there passes?

[joecrna]

24 Hour Fitness has like 400 locations but in very limited markets. On the plus side they sell a reasonable package at Costco. Many of their locations are very nice but some are just basic. All tend to have an adequate amount of equipement. If they are in the markets you are traveling to, it might be a good option.

I am away from home about 150 days a year still, but up until the last few years it exceded 250 days. I've got to agree that the fitness facilities at the vast majority of hotels are nearly useless. I couldn't agree more with Matts statements above.

By the way, eating-out at new locations every night is only fun for about a year. Then it just sucks. So I choose Hotels with at least a microwave and fridge now and fix food there. If you do this too, an outside gym will at least get you out of the hotel a little.

[mattadams]

There have been a few times I've gone in to fitness centers on the road and asked about day passes, honestly every time I've asked, they've just let me in for free... I think it is because they are trying to sell me a membership but they know I am only there for a few days.
Eating on the road is hard to do well and stay in somewhat reasonable shape... but the last few months I've been working on it a lot because most of the time I have no access to freezers or anything other than maybe a basic fridge and maybe a microwave. Honestly, it might sound lame but I've been eating a LOT of subway lately. You can always find them, they have breakfast lunch and dinner, and you can get a decent tasting sandwich for under 500 calories, pair it with a bottled water or light lemonade and you are doing much better than a meal just about anywhere else. I am on the road most weeks of the year from Monday-friday and home on weekends and last year I spent more days on the road than I did at home.

[Tbars4]

..Hopefully you guys will share all your traveling food secrets over here...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=356777

..Definitely something else I've been looking into..

[96ZJBeast]

If you join any Gold's Gym you are able to use any other Gold's Gym across the country (or around the world) for 14 calender days per year per gym. Just pick up a Travel Pass at your home gym and present it to any Gold's Gym you travel to. Check the website to see if they're located where you normally travel.

You can also go to this website: http://www.healthclubs.com/passport and check into the IHRSA passport program. If your local healthclub is a member, you can at least get discounted day passes to affiliate clubs around the world.

[mattadams]

Well I didn't have much time for working out while on the road while I was taking my algebra and calculus classes, but now that I'm looking at a lighter class load, decided to join up with planet fitness since there is one not too far from my house and I seem to see them more than other gyms when out on the road. Ironically I'll probably get to use my membership for the first time while I'm out on the road this week rather than my "home" gym.
Their rate is $10/month if you just use your one location, or $20/month and you can use planet fitness locations anywhere in the country and some other perks I probably won't use much (free tanning, free massage chairs, etc.)

[mendy]

Get a couple of kettle bells a skipping rope.
Can do lots of exercises with the bells and skipping rope can fit in the glove box.
May sound a bit prmative but you can use your spare wheel/tyre for bench press you just need to find a bench. You can do dips from a park bench aswell as decline/incline pushups.