Image courtesy of Angama Mara
A fabulous hotel gym can make all the difference on your vacation. Travel is notorious for interrupting health routines, as it can can be difficult to find the time or a decent gym while away from home.
Luckily, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Below are some of the best hotel gyms, designated as such due to their quality fitness equipment, diverse selection of group classes, fantastic amenities or impeccable views (a breathtaking landscape makes any workout more enjoyable). And of course, you can decide to forgo the gym altogether and hit the spa or cocktail bar — because that’s wellness, too.
Equinox Hotel New York
Image courtesy of Equinox Hotel New York
New York’s ultra-sexy Equinox Hotel is the latest venture of the exclusive Equinox brand, a collection of swanky gyms, known as "clubs," and spas. Wellness is baked into the brand’s DNA, and its designation as the “fittest hotel on Earth” is indeed merited. Here, hotel guests have access to 60,000 square feet, spread across two floors, of designated fitness space, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Hudson River. Modern cardio equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes...), kettlebells and weight machines abound. Relax by the heated outdoor swimming pool, or opt for a faster pace in the saltwater indoor lap pool. Personal training is (of course) available, as are fantastic group fitness classes ranging from HIIT to yoga to barre. Guests can also complement their workout and boost recovery in the on-site infrared sauna or cryotherapy chamber before heading to the spa for a well-deserved deep-tissue massage. Who knew traveling to New York City could be so stress-relieving?
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Puente Romano Beach Resort, Marbella
Image courtesy of Puente Romano Beach Resort
This luxury hotel’s sleek and modern fitness facilities reflect the resort’s overall appreciation of an active — and fun — lifestyle. It's a fabulous choice for any Spain vacation. Here, hotel guests can use the latest TechnoGym equipment, or take a class at one of the spinning, boxing or barre studios. On-hand medical professionals can consult on fitness longevity, while a certified sports psychologist offers mental coaching to help level up your tennis game (the tennis courts are, unsurprisingly, beautiful). The resort’s outdoor jungle gym is a unique, light-hearted and effective environment in which to train — a stimulating change of scenery. Afterward, the sauna and steam room beckon.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Venetian Las Vegas
Image courtesy of The Venetian Las Vegas
The famed health-centric hotel collection Canyon Ranch helms the over 100,000 square feet of fitness and wellness space (which includes two gyms) at The Venetian, a favorite stay for any trip to Las Vegas. Free weights, kettlebells, battle ropes and cardio machines equip this well-appointed health club. Guests can work out in the dedicated interval training room, or scale the 40-foot rock climbing wall before indulging in a self recovery session augmented by Hypervolt percussive therapy devices. You also have the option to get granular about your physical fitness: the 80-minute comprehensive fitness assessment on offer includes a heart rate test, body composition analysis and musculoskeletal evaluation, the results from which are reviewed by an exercise physiologist, who then designs a tailored exercise regimen for you.
1 Hotel South Beach
Image courtesy of 1 Hotel South Beach
The 1 Hotels are thoughtful about everything — their airy, soothing design, their commitment to sustainability, their farm-to-table food — and, of course, their gyms. Indeed, they are a paragon of wellness travel, on numerous fronts. The gym at this sexy Miami location is helmed by Anatomy, the community-centered health club focussed on sports performance and holistic strength training and conditioning. Hotel guests can sign up for numerous complimentary group classes, from boxing to yoga classes, meditation to weight training. Personal trainers are available, too. But the sleek 14,000-square-foot space is itself a fabulous place in which to execute your own routine. And with ample cardio equipment, punching bags, treadmills, weights and yoga mats, you’ll have everything you need to do so.
Fora’s Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Amanpuri
Image courtesy of Amanpuri
At Amanpuri, an ultra-luxe getaway in Phuket, Thailand, wellness can be front and center, if you desire. The resort offers various wellness immersions, depending on your goals — weight management, detox, life reset, stress management — all of which integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern medical interventions. For those looking for something a bit less intensive, however, its gym is a breathtaking oasis overlooking the glistening Andaman Sea. The view is difficult to beat, especially with the floor-to-ceiling windows. The handsome, tasteful space, accented with dark wood, houses free weights and cardio equipment (the ocean view renders workouts significantly less painful). Guests can also partake in group classes (Muay Thai, Pilates, HIIT, TRX, bootcamp...), play tennis at one of four beautiful courts, book a session with a personal trainer or swim laps in the 60-foot lap pool.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Image courtesy of Santa Monica Proper Hotel
It’s not difficult to find wellness-dedicated spaces when visiting California’s chic Santa Monica neighborhood, but few execute to the level of the Proper Hotel, whose gym is, unsurprisingly, fantastic. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow in plenty of natural light, which bathes three separate spaces, all tastefully designed with wooden floors and oversized mirrors. Top-tier exercise equipment abounds: Peloton bikes, dumbbells and barbells and kettlebells, a Peloton treadmill, a Tonal Mirror, water rowers, floor machines, stretching equipment...The hotel does not mess around when it comes to fitness. Private classes and personal training can be arranged, but complimentary daily and weekly programming with local experts — think yoga, HIIT and bootcamp — make fitting in a fulfilling sweat session seamless and enjoyable (the gorgeous rooftop and terrace settings don’t hurt, either).
Fora Perks:
$50 daily food / breakfast credit, a welcome amenity & an upgrade whenever possible.
Honorable mention: Angama Mara
Image courtesy of Angama Mara
The gym at this luxurious, bucket-list-worthy tented safari camp is small but mighty. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in design: the sleek open-air space overlooks Kenya’s Maasai Mara, a breathtaking, expansive savannah. It’s well-equipped, too. Hop on a stationary bike, treadmill or elliptical, choose from a selection of strength training equipment (dumbbells, kettlebells) and roll out a yoga mat for a Vinyasa flow with one of the most stunning views you’ll likely ever encounter. Or, swim laps in Angama’s infinity pool flanked by red lounge chairs on a chic wooden deck — which, of course, also allows you to take in the savannah below.
Honorable mention: Capella Ubud
Image courtesy of Capella Ubud
This luxe hotel's state-of-the-art gymnasium tent is known as The Armoury, a sleek, refined space with wooden floors and tasteful patterned wallpaper. It's open 24 hours, so you can come and go as you please. But you can also book a personal training session or join Pilates, yoga and barre classes. Fitness extends beyond the gym, too: partake in group boot camps, aerial yoga, guided mountain bike rides and jungle hikes.
Fora Perks:
Complimentary 50-minute massage for two, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.