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6 ways to stay fit while traveling

Although traveling can be a lot of fun, it can also be pretty disruptive to your normal lifestyle. If you’re a fitness enthusiast (or just like to stay active), you may find yourself struggling to find time to exercise during your adventures. After all, between plane rides, taxi trips, and eating out, staying fit may seem like an impossible task. 

Fortunately, with the right mindset and a little planning, fitness can be within reach, no matter where your travels take you. We’ve compiled a list of six ways to stay fit while traveling, so lace up your sneakers, fill your water bottle, and let’s get to it. 

1. Walk and Bike Whenever Possible

As a rule, cities in the United States are built with cars in mind. However, places like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago are all very pedestrian-friendly. So, when planning your itinerary, you may want to look for attractions and restaurants within walking distance of your hotel. 

If you’re traveling internationally, walking and biking are much more commonplace. Many European cities are much smaller than the sprawling urban centers of America, so it’s easier to get around and see more sights. Plus, some cities offer cheap bicycle rentals so you can expand your range of exploration and still get plenty of exercise. 

Another point to remember is that you can mix walking, biking, and riding. For example, maybe you can take a train to a different part of the city and walk around there. Don’t feel like you have to pick one mode of transportation over another. 

2. Hike and Explore Nature

Walking around a city is one thing, but exploring nature via hiking is another. In fact, you may want to plan your entire trip around natural elements that allow you to stretch your legs and take in some incredible scenery. 

Many tourist destinations have parks and preserves where you can hike, like Poon Hill or Everest. In some cases, you may be able to spend the day exploring a mountain, forest, or jungle. That said, before heading out into the wild blue yonder, make sure you plan accordingly with these tips: 

• Know Your Route – If you get lost in a forest or jungle, it’s much harder for people to find you. When possible, follow marked trails and download maps so you don’t have to worry about an internet connection. 
• Bring Snacks and Water – It’s easy to get dehydrated when hiking for hours. You must also maintain your energy levels by snacking on healthy foods whenever possible. 
• Don’t Forget About First Aid – Even if you’re an experienced hiker, accidents can happen on the trail. A basic first aid kit can help you clean and dress minor wounds and scrapes. This way, you can prevent infections and further injury. 

3. Wear the Right Clothes and Shoes

One of the biggest challenges of staying fit while traveling is that your clothing and shoes may not be comfortable after a full day of walking, biking, or hiking. Fortunately, you can maintain your sense of style and comfort with a pair of barefoot dress shoes. These shoes are designed to provide as much natural comfort as possible. In fact, you may feel like you’re not wearing shoes at all. 

Barefoot dress shoes are perfect for a night on the town or just exploring a new city. They pair well with all kinds of clothing, and they’re built to last. So, even if you wind up walking several miles in a day, you don’t have to worry about repairing the soles when you get back home. 

If you haven’t tried barefoot dress shoes, they offer tangible health benefits, so you should wear them in your daily life. They help strengthen the feet, reduce joint stress, and improve your overall posture and gait. After walking a few days in these shoes, you should notice a remarkable difference. 

4. Find Gyms and Fitness Centers Wherever Possible

Although walking and biking are fantastic ways to stay fit, they’re not always available during your travel. However, many hotels and airports have fitness centers. You may even want to plan your itinerary accordingly. For example, check with your hotel to see if it has a proprietary gym, or look for gyms nearby. 

If you’re traveling domestically and have a gym membership, you may be able to find local sites to do your workout. Brands like Planet Fitness have locations all over the US, so it should be easy to find what you need. 

That said, many hotel gyms have limited hours, so verify when you can use the facilities before finalizing your plans. This way, you can fit a workout into your itinerary much more easily. 

5. Find Other Active Travelers

If you’re traveling solo or with your partner, knowing where to exercise in a new city can be hard. Fortunately, thanks to social media and meetup apps, you can find fellow fitness enthusiasts wherever you go, from the Marathon Des Sables, 200km ultra, or the North Pole Marathon.

In some cases, you may be able to join a local fitness group before your trip. You can ask questions about where they work out and if they have planned events or outings while you’re visiting. The best resource is someone who lives in the area, and these groups can help you stay on track, no matter how busy your travel schedule. 

Alternatively, you can plan a trip with other fitness buffs focusing on exercise and physical activity. For example, you can organize a trip to hike mountain trails or explore untamed wilderness. You may even want to plan a camping trip where you have to hike to your destination and hike back out. 

6. Stick to Your Usual Fitness Routine

As any fitness enthusiast will tell you, maintaining a routine is one of the best ways to ensure consistency. If you stop working out for several days or weeks while you travel, it’s much harder to get back into the swing of things. 

So, rather than pause your daily workouts, you can incorporate them into your travel plans. For example, if you exercise in the morning, you can schedule some time to visit the hotel gym before you head out for the day. If a gym isn’t available, you can develop a workout routine with substitutions so you still exercise the same muscle groups, just not with the same machinery or weights.