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Prior to the pandemic, I swore off even packing workout clothes while traveling, because I knew I’d never put them to use. It was nothing but a waste of precious carry-on space. This wasn’t a sustainable approach though as my international schedule ratcheted up to the point of being gone for three weeks per month, and it took a toll on my health and wellbeing. Exploratory, hour-long city walks are wonderful but only get you so far.

Flash forward five years, and while nobody would accuse me of being a fitness freak, a solid hotel gym is now among my top personal priorities. A great hotel gym, though? It’s an oasis. A place to maintain my routine and find my rhythm, and an essential lifestyle component as I leaned into the fully nomadic lifestyle once covid restrictions began easing up.

Excellent hotel gyms are the way I stem the tide against the very first-world problems of eating and drinking for a living. There’s no doubt I overindulge, but with the right hotel gym by my side, I can at least find some measure of redemption for myself.

In recent years, more luxury hotels have sensed a broader shift in travelers’ interest in getting a satisfying workout in, even if it’s amid an otherwise relaxing, R&R-filled retreat. Perhaps especially when it’s amid such a getaway, because a little bit of balance can do a whole lot of good.

Plan your next getaway without the fear that your gym routine will be hijacked by a single bike or a collection of mismatched weights. Stay at a property that boasts one of the best hotel gyms in the world.

Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

madinat jumeirah gym featuring different gym equipment and light wooden walls and floors and bright green plants
Courtesy of Jumeirah Al Naseem

The 100-acre Madinat Jumeirah consists of a handful of different luxury resorts housed within one collective property. It’s all linked together by a sprawling series of pathways, as well as a canal system that combines with the sunny environs to make the resort feel a bit akin to the Mayakoba of the Middle East.

While the exclusive beach club beckons, don’t overlook a workout at the J Club. If this was your local gym, you’d be enrolled at the best place in town. It’s a full-sized, multi-purpose, everything-you-need facility. Cutting-edge cardio machines are available by the dozens, along with scores of specialized pieces of strength training equipment. For good measure, there’s a Peloton studio and an Olympic-sized indoor lap pool, too. There’s also a fleet of individual and group training options and classes, along with facilities such as an outdoor and numerous tennis, squash, and padel courts.

The Ritz-Carlton, Portland, Oregon

crystal clear blue pool surrounded by gray lounge chairs and a view of portland
Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Portland

When the NBA has contracted that visiting teams from across the league stay at a particular luxury hotel due to the quality of its fitness center, you can be assured your morning routine is covered too. That’s the case with The Ritz-Carlton, Portland, where its professional-grade, 19th-floor gym also comes with a killer view of Mount Hood and the Cascades.

The 4,000-square foot gym here features a yoga room, Peloton machines, and high-end cardio, cable, and plyometric gear. When it comes time to move some heavy things around and then put them back down, check out the dumbbell rack loaded all the way up to pairs of 100s, as well as multiple squat-rack and bench-press stations with complete weight-plate sets.

End your session with a visit to the adjacent indoor pool and sauna area, dubbed the Hidden Mountain Lake. Signature wellness journeys and massages at the spa, which has expansive, serviced locker rooms for men and women, are certainly recommended too.

TWA Hotel, JFK Airport, New York

Think the TWA Hotel is all about its retro-chic shtick? Think again. The health club-sized fitness center may just be this property’s best selling point.

The cavernous 10,000-square-foot space boasts a cycling studio with 14 Peloton bikes, a yoga studio, dozens of cardio machines, and all the strength training equipment you could conjure. That includes power-lifting racks and stations with full Olympic barbell sets, a diverse collection of machines, and dumbbells up to 100 pounds.

While the gym — and the hotel — is a great choice for those with an overnight layover at JFK, it’s more than that. It also offers monthly memberships for locals, and is included for guests purchasing the hotel’s Daytripper passes. Or buy a $25 day pass to the gym itself, and you’ll have access to the facility, as well as full locker rooms with showers and bathroom amenities. Consider your next five-hour JFK layover riddle solved.

The Cotton House, Mustique Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

the cotton house on mustique island building exterior with lush green grass and trees
Courtesy of The Mustique Company

While Mustique has become the playground of choice for some of the world’s wealthiest and most famous families, ranging from British royals to rock stars, the island’s The Cotton House hotel makes a visit a bit more accessible in comparison to renting out a mega mansion for a week. One recent addition to its offerings is a standalone fitness building that’s open to guests booking one of its 17 bedrooms, as well as those staying at any of the island’s 100 or so opulent villas.

Multiple cable machine stations, weight racks, and bench presses are available, along with a full suite of strength-training equipment, cardio machines, yoga and flexibility gear. There’s also dedicated staffing in place if you’d prefer a personal training session.

Four Seasons New Orleans, Louisiana

Nobody is heading to New Orleans to stay in shape. But a few po boys or muffulettas later, amid all manners of fine dining and down-home country cooking — and who knows how many cocktails — and you’re sure going to feel like you need a good workout.

The Four Seasons New Orleans has you covered. The property opened at the end of 2021 and decked out its immersive fitness center with high-end cardio machines and strength-training gear, and all of the accompanying free weights you’d ever need to go along with it. The icing on the cake is not only a swanky spa, but also a rooftop pool. The Four Seasons brand, on the whole, has put elevated fitness centers at the forefront. A few other standouts from recent visits include the Four Seasons New York Downtown featuring a loaded weight room along with an indoor lap pool and separate yoga and movement studios, and the Four Seasons Tokyo at Otemachi.

Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts

umana bali sauna with light wooden slat walls and benches
Courtesy of Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts

The Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts, opened at the end of 2023, features 72 extravagant and enormous clifftop villas showcasing wonderful ocean views and supreme seclusion along with the best in Balinese style. Dining, culture, and relaxation opportunities abound at Umana, but health and wellness is at the core of its offerings as well. That includes a two-story fitness center including an array of strength and cardio machines, as well as a power-lifting rack and dumbbells ranging to more than 80 pounds. There’s also a separate studio space that can be utilized for yoga, sound meditation, and other classes, while the adjacent spa offers traditional Indonesian and Balinese treatments.

Bulgari Milano, Italy

bulgari milano hotel black and off white building exterior with lush trees and a palm tree and bushes
Courtesy of Bvlgari Hotels

Bulgari hotels have developed a brand-wide fitness approach dubbed the Bulgari Gymnasium, with high-tech studio spaces outfitted with Technogym equipment. Each has a range of cardio and strength gear, along with dedicated power-lifting stations with Olympic weight sets, along with in-house trainers offering personal sessions and consultations.

Most of the properties in the brand’s portfolio are outfitted with the concept. Take the Bulgari Hotel Milano, which may not have an enormous space, but a well-equipped one with a diverse set of equipment to suit any gym -goer’s needs. Here, the gym is adjacent to the subterranean spa, with an indoor pool, full hair and beauty salon, and sauna, ensuring that your every health and wellness objective is within reach.

Featured image courtesy of The Mustique Company. We may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.