Hotel gyms may be a clever idea, but in actuality, they’re typically small enough to be thought of as an afterthought and have marginal adequate equipment. That said, why settle for a stuffy gym in a hotel when you could otherwise be out experiencing life?

Let’s take a look at other ways to get your exercise while traveling, as well as how to get rewarded for it.

Fitness Rewards

We’ll start with how to get rewarded for being active. There’s an app you can get that tracks your activity, and it even offers fitness rewards for your heart rate being over a certain number for a certain period of time. This app will link with your smartwatch and keep track of your activity. There’s even a credit card that goes with it.

Athletic Shoes

It’s said that if you put athletic clothes on, you tend to be more active. Try to make sure there’s room in your suitcase for your athletic shoes. In fact, if you have room for two pairs, you’ll always have a pair ready to wear. Switching your shoes up gives your feet the break they might need, especially if you get a blister from all the walking that goes with traveling.

Explore

When traveling, you might spend a lot of time on a train, in a car, or even on a plane. It’s critical that you get out frequently to stretch your legs. One way to exercise when you’re on the road is to take a walk in the neighborhood around your hotel. Maybe seek out local coffee shops or cafes. Even this small exploration can reward you with breakfast and coffee…and that’s on top of the other rewards of exercising, such as better health, better sleep, and an improved state of mind.

Passeggiata

Italians practice Passeggiata daily and have been for generations. This is a time-tested tradition where locals take a stroll through the local central plaza. In olden times, the purpose of this activity was to aid in the digestion of dinner (another reward for activity). That said, it has turned into a before-dinner social gathering that people engage in to see and be seen.

Italians will put on their newest clothes and flaunt whatever their style is while deciding where they’ll go to enjoy their aperitivo. This isn’t just a way to show off their style though, it also helps to work up their appetite before dinner.

Active Tours

While you’re traveling, it’s a fantastic time to try new things. You should be able to find at least a few active tours no matter where you travel through a variety of websites and tour booking agencies. The options can be endless too. You might try your hand at fly fishing on a river, guided bike tours, and more. You may even choose to try out a salsa class in Latin countries. Then again, what about stomping grapes if you travel to Tuscany? All of these experiences and more are on offer and quite rewarding.

Remaining active while you travel doesn’t need to be boring and can be rewarding in ways you may have never considered. Just bypass your hotel gym and add a bit of experience to your adventures when you explore the area. Become a part of the community and try something new, all while reaping all of the rewards that come with staying active.

There are quite a few interesting methods of seeing a new city and exploring a new destination. Being active is rather easy and some of the rewards include burning additional calories, better health and sleep, a better ability to stave off sickness and disease, lower stress, and even rewards from fitness apps.