5 ways to stay active on holiday

You’ve established an exercise routine and it’s going great. You’re getting active and feeling good, but uh-oh, you’re travelling soon.

Whether you’re travelling for work or play there’s no reason why your exercise routine needs to take a break. You’ve worked hard to maintain good exercise habits but here’s the good news: you can take them with you. Check out these tips on how to exercise while you travel.

Factor in how much walking you’re doing

If you’re away from home there’s a good chance you’ll be without your car so consider it a chance to walk more. There are many health benefits associated with walking and it’s getting active without necessarily thinking of it as exercise. If you’re visiting a tourist destination you’re going to be doing a lot of walking around, so tick it off as your daily exercise. Take the scenic route if possible, you’ll be seeing the sights and staying active at the same time; it’s a win-win.

READ MORE: 7 reasons walking is good for you

Explore the hotel gym

Most hotels are equipped with gyms with the latest and greatest equipment that’s usually available to guests. If you’re staying at a hotel with a gym, ask if it’s available and what the opening hours are (some are open 24/7 to cater to international guests). The gym may be better than your regular one back home so take advantage of all great equipment while you can.

Look up local fitness groups

Do a little research before you travel to find out if fitness classes are available near where you’re staying; they might be hosted at your hotel. If you’re a member of a gym, they may have locations nearby where your membership is eligible. If you’re travelling in Australia, Medibank’s Free + Active offers free activities each week .

Try a new activity

When travelling it’s always good to try new things, so why should your workout be any different? Try a surfing lesson, go for a bike ride or a hike. The more it feels like part of your trip the less it will feel like exercise. You’ll be keeping fit and you won’t even know it.

Use the pool

How many times have you looked out the window at a hotel pool but never used it? The pool is often an option that gets overlooked when it comes to exercise. Take the plunge this time. You might want to do a few gentle laps or try a simple pool-based workout .

READ MORE: Michelle Bridge's pool-based workout