Keeping up a fitness routine is always a challenge for travellers.
Time is a major hurdle, but there's also the packing conundrum. How do you squeeze stinky runners, gym clothes and an MP3 player into a bag that's already bursting with toiletries, shoes and everyday clothes?
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts announced this week that they have a way to eliminate the extra weight — and potential airline baggage fees — by offering its President's Club guests Reebok clothes, shoes and other fitness gear while they work out. All they have to do is order the gear online when booking or call ahead, and it will be waiting for them in their room upon check-in. Part of the existing Fairmont Fit program, each hotel will start offering the new perk this fall and winter.
"Many of our guests have told us that they want to stay active during their travels," said Brian Richardson, Fairmont's vice president of brand marketing and communications, in a press release.
While gym facilities used to feel like a second thought and were typically found in the bowels of a hotel, increased competition for guests has made several chains rethink — and often revamp — their offerings. Now, many of them boast state-of-the art machines, trainers at guests' beck and call, special menus for diet-conscious travellers and innovative programs that set them apart from other hotels.
We've rounded up a list of some of the best gym facilities in the world, but it's by no means complete. Have you ever had a hotel gym make your stay better? Let us know in the comments section below.
Burj Al Arab in Dubai
It's no surprise that a hotel known to be one of the most luxurious in the world will also have a top-notch fitness facility. This one offers two wellness gyms, infinity pools, solariums and a squash court.
Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas
Find your centre doing yoga while overlooking the hustle and bustle of Sin City, or work off the excess calories with a vigorous pilates class. This gym features Technogym amenities including chilled towels and fresh fruit, as well as wellness seminars.
The Standard in Miami Beach
Whether you want to unwind with a yoga class or go hard with the kettle bells, reward yourself afterwards with hydrotherapy in the spa's Turkish and Roman baths.
One Aldwych in London
With mood lighting and underwater music, a chlorine free 18-metre swimming pool is the main attraction at this UK hotel. There's a gym with motivation demons (trainers), but why would you bother if you could burn off the calories doing laps in the stunner?
Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver
How's this for seeing the face of an organization? Guests at this hotel can meet the hotel's general manager, who will guide them on a morning run around the city's scenic seawall in Stanley Park.
Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monaco
Truly a room with a view, the hotel's fitness centre and spa gives guests an opportunity to take in the breathtaking scenery while they work up a sweat. Great excuse to prolong your workout when you're staring at the Riviera.