Modern life sometimes puts an unrealistic amount of stress on us. Whether you travel for work or recreation, staying healthy and keeping fit can be a challenge.
We must not forget how important exercise is for us. In fact, it is one of the three pillars of health, the other two being sleep and diet.
But getting to the gym can be quite hard for folks who travel often. In most cases, it can be difficult to follow a strict schedule. But worry not. This is where traveler-friendly gyms come in.
(Also, if you have to skip the gym for a few days because of your travels- don’t worry. You won’t lose muscle or anything like that for taking a short travel break, thankfully.)
Read below to learn more about gyms that give you the flexibility and amenities that you need as an active traveler- here are our top 6 gyms for travelers.
The Best Gyms for Travelers
#1 – Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness gyms, as the name suggests, are open anytime, i.e. 24/7. That means you can walk in anytime and get your routine going. This is perfect for busy travelers with hectic schedules. You don’t have to worry about following a strict schedule or anything.
- Read: Anytime Fitness Review
Anytime Fitness has over 4000 locations worldwide. This makes it one of the best gyms for international travelers. So whether you’re traveling within the US or between countries, there’s a very high chance that you’ll have access to a gym through your Anytime Fitness membership.
Anytime Fitness doesn’t break the bank either. They are considered a mid-range gym, with a good balance between facilities and prices. You get access to ALL locations with a basic membership. If you would like to give them a try before committing, most locations offer a free 7 day trial.
- Read: Anytime Fitness Cost
Facilities:
- Showers for when you need them
- Group classes
- High-quality equipment
- Access to up to 4500 locations worldwide
#2 – 24-Hour Fitness
Like Anytime Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness is also open all day (and night), which makes it a very good choice for travelers. In terms of locations though, 24-hour fitness falls short. They have just over 400 locations across the US. This means it’s great for domestic travelers but not so much for international ones. They do have locations in popular travel destinations such as California, Hawaii and Texas.
The memberships are all access, so even with a basic membership, you get access to all their locations. It’s quite common to find a 24-hour fitness location near business locations. Their locations are generally rich with amenities including pools, sports facilities, and more.
24-hour fitness again, is a mid-range gym and shouldn’t cost you more than 50 bucks a month. With that money, you get access to all their locations, with all their amenities, any hour of the clock. Some locations might not have all amenities though so it might be worth checking beforehand. They offer a 3 day free trial, that way you can see if 24-hour fitness is right for you!
Facilities:
- Showers
- Fresh towels
- Pools
- Sports facilities such as basketball, etc.
#3 Planet Fitness
If you’re just getting started with your fitness journey, or are just looking for a very basic gym membership, Planet Fitness might be the best option for you. They don’t offer much in terms of classes but they are very good for basic training.
Speaking of locations, they have over 2000. So no matter what corner of the country you are in, chances are you can find a Planet Fitness in less than 15 minutes of drive. The thing is though, that their basic membership does not give you access to all their locations. You will need a PF Black card membership for that. Considering the other entries on this list, Planet Fitness is the cheapest. The Black Card costs around $25 per month, and as said before gives you access to all the locations.
Oh and did we mention, Planet Fitness is also open 24/7, so even if you’ve had a busy day, feel free to hit the gym at late hours with a Planet Fitness membership.
Facilities:
- Showers
- Weight equipment
- Cardio equipment
- Free Wi-Fi
#4 – Equinox Gym
This is the most expensive entry on this list. But Equinox does offer a wide range of perks and amenities to compensate for the extra money. But before we get into their facilities, let’s talk about the pricing first. A basic membership at Equinox costs around $180 per month. But as a traveler, you want to look into their ALL ACCESS PASS that comes at an even higher price.
In terms of facilities, Equinox is the pinnacle. From showers, to pools, saunas, sports and much more; they have the whole experience. If you can pay their fees, Equinox is totally worth it.
About locations, Equinox has about 300. Which is not exactly the highest, but you are guaranteed to find a top-of-the-line experience at each location. You can try them without a full-time commitment with a free pass which they offer from time to time.
Facilities:
- Showers
- Fresh towels and toiletries
- Saunas and pools
- Personal trainers
- World-class equipment
#5 – SNAP Fitness
SNAP Fitness is a great gym for travelers as well. It boasts many locations, has great equipment and weights, but the drawback is that not all locations offer showers. While it is certainly a great gym for cardio and weights- you might have a hard time finding all the amenities needed for travelers.
Regardless, some locations do have those amenities. And a big pro to SNAP Fitness is that their gyms are all access, meaning that any pass you have works everywhere- no extra fee. Furthermore, most SNAP Fitnesses are pretty high level gyms, so you won’t have to compromise on your usual workout.
Another big pro to SNAP Fitness is that it is really inexpensive in terms of gym membership, with most prices ranging from $35-55 a month. That’s really good considering you get access to all SNAP Fitness gyms.
- Read: SNAP Fitness Review
While you may have to do research on the SNAP Fitness you’re visiting, it’s a solid choice around the board if nothing else is available.
#6 – LA Fitness
LA fitness is another highly popular fitness chain in the US. They offer top-of-the-line lifestyle experience quite similar to Equinox. LA fitness is found not only in the US but also in Canada, so you’re covered in both countries. Combined, they have around 700 locations which should be ample for most people.
Amenities include sports sections, world-class equipment and more. For travelers, they do offer fresh towels, toiletries, and obviously showers.
Price-wise, a single-state access costs $34.99 per month plus an initiation fee. All-state access costs a bit more.
Facilities:
- Showers
- Fresh towels and toiletries
- Weight equipment
- Spas
- Pools
- Various types of training, such as cardio and functional training
Conclusion
It can be quite difficult to manage your exercise game when you’re traveling frequently. But these gyms make the process easy for you. Travelers often need facilities such as showers and free wifi, which most of the gyms we stated provide. Hopefully, it helps you make a better decision.
Enjoy your travels and let me know where you travel to below- I’m a huge traveler myself and would love your insight on the best gyms or places to visit!
