A little while back, I participated in a really fun Twitter chat all about healthy travel tips, hosted by US News Travel. It should just be a given, since I’m Australian, that I love to travel. It takes such a long time (and costs so much) to get just about anywhere else in the world from Australia, we tend to make the most of it once we go off on an adventure and it becomes second nature to want to explore new places. (Case(s) in point: I went to Italy for 3 months when I was 21 and came home 7 months later. Then, I headed to NYC for the summer of 2000. I’m still here 14 years later. 😉 )
If you want to get the US News Travel round-up of all the best tips from the Twitter chat, you can check that out here. Here are some of my favorite exercise-related questions and answers from the chat:
Should travelers keep their exercise regimens on vacation, even though it’s time to relax? How?
I have a couple of clients who tell me when they go on vacation, they’re more likely to work out than when they are in their regular routine at home. It makes sense! You have so much more time on vacation and a lot of the time you have no concrete plans. It’s easy to fit in a walk, or a run, or have fun taking advantage of something you have little or no access to at home. Whether it’s surfing, swimming, paddle boarding, hiking, tennis, golf – there’s always going to be some activity you wouldn’t normally do that you can try on vacation.
What are some easy exercises travelers can do anywhere?
I loved these responses ↑ on what exercises are easy to incorporate when traveling. Some others I thought were great answers included packing workout gear like resistance bands and jump ropes, which are light and portable. Yoga anywhere was another popular answer. But really, isn’t walking everywhere in a new place the best way to discover it and get your exercise done at the same time?
What are the best cities or countries that may lend themselves to a healthier overall vacation?
Amsterdam got a LOT of thumbs up from different participants! Obviously the biking culture has something to do with that, also I’m guessing because it’s so beautiful you want to explore either on foot or bike as much as possible. Other places which got mentioned more than once included Bermuda, Australia, Vancouver and anywhere tropical or beachy.
Here are some more healthy travel tips for your next trip away:
- Enjoy indulging, but don’t make it a free-for-all. Remember that exercising and eating healthy most of the time keeps you feeling good.
- Do all your research on your destination BEFORE you get there. Don’t just rely on a generic travel guide, either. Ask people who’ve been there or live there for advice on where to eat, what to do, how they stay healthy.
- Wear comfy shoes. And walk everywhere you can. 🙂
- For city vacations, think about doing a walking tour, so you get the sightseeing and the exercise all rolled into one without having to plan it out yourself.
- Remember, it’s a vacation. Even if you pack the workout gear and never use it, don’t beat yourself up. Enjoy your time away.
Do you work out while you’re on vacation?
Do you try new activities, or stick to your tried-and-true workouts?
Where did you go on your last vacation? And where are you planning to go next? (I am trying to organize a spring vacation now, so this question is just to give me ideas, hee hee! 😉 )
Great post! I almost always continue my exercise routine on vacay as if I’d never left. The last trip we went on we tried ziplining and sea kayaking for the first time. We’re heading to Mexico, Belize and Honduras in a few weeks and we’ve got cave tubing planned (new for us). We return home 5 days before my half so I won’t be slacking on running!
Marcia recently posted…Who Inspires You?
That sounds like an AMAZING vacation!! So fun! I love that you try new things on vacation. Hopefully it won’t be too hot or humid for running (or if it is, maybe your half will feel a million times easier as a result!)
I pretty much always workout on vacation. It helps justify all of the extras during the vacation.
Our last vacation was last summer to FL – so much fun – ready to go back!
Kim recently posted…Time to Make a Few Changes
FL is definitely towards the top of our list, Kim! It’s so close and easy for families.
I also work out more on vacation. That is a vacation for me. Something about all the opportunities and really being able to relax.
I would never had thought of Amsterdam. Hmmm….
Carla recently posted…Heather Runs Disney
Amsterdam really does look beautiful and they have a great bike culture!
This is great, Carly! When I travel for business, I love to run first thing in the morning. Otherwise, it’s hard to fit it in with long hours and late business dinners. Plus, it’s a great way to see the places I’m visiting. I’ve seen castles in Germany, waterfalls in Quebec, and canyons in Colorado. On family vacations, my husband and I usually take turns working out in the morning and then try to incorporate family fitness throughout the day. It’s a good way to balance all of the indulgent dinners and extra desserts!
Nicole @ Work in Sweats Mama recently posted…5 Ways Motherhood Makes Me a Better Runner
Definitely going for a run is a great way to explore the place you’re staying! And I’m all for working out first thing so it’s done and you don’t need to plan around a workout for the rest of the day.
Hi Carly! Great subject! But I have to admit that I’ve never found the way to continue with my training during vacation… I don’t find the time or the energy to do it… As a matter of fact we jet came back from our vacation in Atlantis (Bahamas) and Orlando: too much to do with the kids and we all ended up exhausted!!! We did some pool laps though… Happily exhausted 🙂
That Atlantis place looks amazing! Super fun for the kids, I’m sure. I bet you got more of a workout than you realized just running around with them. 😉