Travel Fitness Tip: Choosing a Fitness-Friendly Location

My apartment in Belgrade was irreversibly booked when I realized that I’d made a terrible mistake – the city’s castle was not within convenient running distance.

You see, whenever I have the option, I prefer to live near a castle so I can run and occasionally perform other exercises within its grandeur. If this sounds like a spoiled statement, that is because it most certainly is. I have been spoiled by a string of outstanding fitness locations.

It started in Granada, where I would run to, around, and through the magnificent Alhambra castle – famed for its luxuriant gardens and intricate Islamic architecture. Then there was the beach in Puerto Escondido, Mexico – a mere ninety-second walk from my home – where I would run and swim every evening flanked by eyegasmic sunsets.

I’ve learned that – for the fitness-conscious traveler – choosing the right location within any given destination can have a major impact on your fitness experience while there.

To that end, here are a few considerations to keep in mind while choosing the location for your habitation.

Opportunities for Outdoor Fitness

Look at a map of your destination, and see if there are any outdoor spaces that could be particularly opportune for fitness. This could mean a large running park, a place to swim, hiking trails, or – as I’ve already mentioned – a castle or similar landmark.

Some cities also offer outdoor gyms. While these can vary wildly in quality, sometimes they are surprisingly good. In Granada, for example, there is an outdoor gym that runs along a length of the river that provides a fairly wide selection of calisthenic apparatus. No one uses the one on Zicatela in Puerto Escondido, however, because it’s poorly equipped and it’s too damn hot. Besides, Zicatela is a drinking beach, not a fitness beach.

In a few days I’m arriving in Paris where I’ll spend two months. During the first month I’ll be in Montmartre – where I can run the steps of the Sacre Coeur – and for the second I’ll be on the other side of the river where I can run through the Luxembourg Gardens and along the river itself.

Outdoor fitness and amazing running scenery. Planning pays off.

A Nearby Gym

Don’t make the mistake of booking a place only to find that the closest gym is on the other side of town.

I always check to see if I can get an Airbnb with a gym in the building (you can select it under “amenities” when searching). If that’s not an option, then I make sure to do a bit of research into local gyms before I book a place.

That means not only ensuring that I check a particular neighborhood for the presence of a gym, but that I read the reviews to make sure I find a good one. Always read the reviews.

I once booked a hotel in Cartagena, Spain, based on the fact that it advertised a gym, but I didn’t look too closely. When I got there, it was extremely limited in terms of equipment and generally disgusting. Later I checked online and, sure enough, previous users had warned against it.

Before I arrived in Belgrade (where I’m writing this), I was careful to find an apartment with a highly rated gym nearby. The gym I ended up at – Iron Republic – turned out to be the most competitively motivating gym I’ve experienced yet. It also has an affordable monthly rate, which can be hard to find.

Proximity to Quality Food

This is a huge one. There’s nothing like showing up in a city only to find that your neighborhood offers no food options but fast food and gas stations.

Again, go to the map and look for grocery stores, restaurants and cafes with healthy menus, and if possible local farmers’ markets. Otherwise you’ll end up trekking long distances to secure healthy supplies, or be at the mercy of canned and fast food.

I learned the importance of considering this in New Orleans, a city that is renowned for dank food – dank food that is mostly fried. Depending on the neighborhood you end up in, finding fresh ingredients can be a bit of a hike. And it’s a hike through steaming-humid heat.

(NOLA Tip: If you happen to visit New Orleans, try to end up near the Circle Food Store, which is famous for three reasons: first, it’s been a cornerstone of its community in various forms since the 1850’s; second, their butcher purports that they can acquire any exotic meat as long as it’s not endangered; third, their signature fresh green bell pepper deal, which if I recall is firmly set at four or five for $1.)