Exercise can be fun and enjoyable, even when you’re away from home!

Sticking to an exercise regimen when you’re at home can be fairly straightforward when you incorporate it into your daily routine. Whether that means jumping out of bed and exercising before work, or taking a brisk walk to burn calories after dinner, everyone has their preferred time and place to exercise. So, when you travel, either for business or for pleasure, your home-based routines evaporate, which isn’t conducive to maintaining a regular exercise regimen.

Here, we’ve compiled some tips for developing and sticking to a physical activity regimen while you’re away from home, as well as some fun and creative ways that you can continue to incorporate exercise into your away-from-home activities. Exercise can be fun and enjoyable, even when you are away from home.

Tips for incorporating exercise

• Give the issue some thought before you travel. Having a plan in place will ensure you stick to your workout regimen, whatever your destination.

• Ensure you pack the right equipment. If you’re travelling for business, you wouldn’t dream of leaving your laptop computer or cellphone behind. The same should hold true for workout gear; be sure to pack the items you’ll need, based on what you’ve decided to do (for example, sneakers for walking or jogging, or a swimsuit for some pool exercise).

• Don't be rigid when it comes to your fitness routine. When you travel, even the best-laid plans can be disrupted by flight delays, traffic snarls and scheduling changes. If you miss your scheduled workout, a short exercise routine is better than nothing. Consider doing sit-ups or yoga stretches in your room, or walking or running up and down the stairs in the hotel a few times. Even 10 minutes of activity can make a difference.

• Just as you schedule business meetings or car rentals when you travel, be sure to include workouts in your itinerary.  Put it on your calendar and e-mail yourself a reminder so you won't forget.

Exercise suggestions for while you’re away

• Most hotels have a gym or fitness area, as well as a pool.  Call ahead, or check your hotel’s website to determine what facilities they have, as well as their range of equipment. Once you know what a hotel offers, you can decide what you might like to do.

• If you’re travelling to an urban destination, consider a walking tour. So many towns, and certainly larger cities, offer walking tours that highlight interesting cultural, historical and architectural landmarks. You’ll get some great exercise, and you’ll learn something too!

• Pack your bike, or rent a bicycle. Long, leisurely bike rides are a great way to explore your surroundings, while getting in some low-intensity exercise.

• If a sunny, tropical locale is your destination, take a daily walk along the beach. Walking in soft sand is an excellent workout; in fact, it burns more calories than walking on flat ground (some fitness experts suggest that you can burn twice as many calories walking in soft sand than on hard surfaces). Make sure that you stay safe by wearing proper footwear, though. And take it slowly as well; for the first day or two, stop for a quick break every 5 or 10 minutes to let your legs and feet get used to the sandy terrain.

• If time is tight, consider stair climbing. All you need for this exercise is a sturdy pair of walking shoes plus a staircase, which is certain to be available in your hotel or resort!  Whether you run or walk as briskly as you feel comfortable, stair walking is an excellent aerobic and cardiovascular workout.

• Along with private golf courses at hotels and resorts, there are often many public golf courses that you can visit for a fairly modest fee. Did you know that the average 18-hole golf course is between three and five miles long? If golfing is your thing, that’s a pretty terrific way to get some walking exercise in! Even If you’re not a duffer, consider walking along the course with a friend or family member someone who is. Alternatively, many golf courses allow people to walk along the greens without playing. Check to see if your hotel’s course, or a public course near you, allows this type of activity.