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For some folks, a vacation means a week off from the gym. But for others, vacations make an ideal time to hit the gym — after all, there should be no urgent messages from co-workers to respond to between sets of squats. And you won’t need to rush through your morning workout to beat your boss into the office.
Plus at some hotels, the gym is fancier than anything in your hometown anyway.
As a self-professed fitness buff and travel Nerd, I’m always in search of high-quality training facilities while I’m on the road. I’m a competitive powerlifter and weightlifter (in fact, I hold a national bench press record with the United States Powerlifting Association and won the USA Weightlifting North American Open series in 2022).
Any gym that has a barbell and a squat rack automatically gets props in my book — yet such a basic gym setup is surprisingly tough to come by at hotels.
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Here’s a guide to the best hotel gyms I’ve found during my quest to fulfill my travel and fitness needs.
Yes, I have a bias for a squat rack, but I also uncovered gyms with unique amenities, like rock walls and pickleball courts. Others were selected for stunning views, considering it’s a lot easier to power through a treadmill run when looking out at a stellar landscape than a sad slab of drywall. And some made the list for being well-stocked with all the equipment, including brand-name spin bikes from companies like SoulCycle and Peloton.
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Best hotel gyms on the East Coast of the U.S.
Equinox Hotel New York
New York City
The Equinox Hotel New York is owned by the same company that runs the luxury gym of the same name. Hotel guests get access to the adjacent Equinox Hudson Yards Fitness Club. The 60,000-square-foot gym features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Hudson River, an indoor pool and a large outdoor pool and sun deck.
Best hotel gyms in the U.S. Midwest
21c St. Louis
St. Louis
Sure, it's located in a former YMCA. But this hotel gym is far fancier than any YMCA you'd ever see. Its gym is called Locust Street Athletic and Swim Club — a gym so good that locals buy memberships.
There are two separate rooms for cardio and strength training — one more focused on machines and the other one more focused on athletic training with squat racks and ropes. The four-lane lap pool maintains the historic design, plus there's a sauna, steam room and hot tub.
It's part of a small hotel chain called 21C.
Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Owned by Marriott and a part of Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel’s 5,000-square-foot Anda Spa Fitness Center and Studios features treadmills, stationary bikes, Concept2 rowers, Ski Ergs, a Peloton bike, dumbbells, barbells, squat racks and Rogue benches.
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Chicago
Before the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile opened, the building served as an athletic club. While most of the original facilities at this IHG-owned hotel are gone, the junior Olympic swimming pool remains, making it one of the best hotel gyms for swimmers.
Related read: How to stay fit on a cruise (and save money doing it)
Best hotel gyms in the U.S. South
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside includes a 100,000-square-foot athletic center called HealthClub by Hilton. Activities include indoor courts for tennis, racquetball, squash, volleyball, basketball and pickleball.
» Learn more: The best credit cards with fitness perks
Tommie Austin, part of JdV by Hyatt
Austin, Texas
JdV (short for Joie de Vivre) is a Hyatt brand of boutique hotels, which means every hotel is pretty unique — and the Tommie Austin one stands out for its gym.
Besides a swanky pool with cabanas and views of downtown Austin, there’s a 6,700-square-foot fitness center with Peloton bikes, a squat rack, TRX resistance bands, medicine balls and other machines. There’s also a sports simulator, where you can engage in virtual games including golf or baseball.
Best hotel gyms on the West Coast of the U.S.
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Phoenix
Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is among the most upscale of the Hilton brands, and the Arizona Biltmore is no exception. The hotel itself gives off old Hollywood glamour vibes, largely due to its Frank Lloyd Wright architectural style. But the 30,000-square-foot fitness center is more modern, packed with equipment including a squat rack with bumper plates, four Peloton bikes, an Assault AirBike, a TRX resistance band station and free weights.
Outside, there are tennis courts as well as dedicated pickleball courts.
Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
Sedona, Arizona
The indoor gym, outdoor tennis courts and lap pool are certainly delightful, but the real magic for fitness buffs is in the resort’s “Warrior Pit.”
This cross-training facility is filled with tires, ropes, sledgehammers and anchors, and it's accessible for resort guests to train through instructor-led classes or at their leisure.
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
San Francisco, California
When you stay at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, you get complimentary access to Equinox Sports Club San Francisco, which is located in the same building (there’s even a separate gym entrance just for hotel guests).
The gym offers the usual Equinox features — group fitness classes, squat racks and eucalyptus towels. But this gym in particular also offers some bonus features that are tougher to find, including a boxing studio, full-sized indoor basketball court and a junior Olympic-sized saline pool.
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
Huntington Beach, California
Weightlifters, powerlifters and CrossFit-style athletes will love the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort's gym, which feels more like a playground. There’s a squat rack, Rogue bumper plates and both 15-kilogram (33.07 pounds) and 20-kilogram (44.09 pounds) barbells. There’s also a Peloton bike, kettlebells and medicine balls.
Mix up your training by taking a turn on the rock wall. Or, use the free loaner bikes to get your cardio in with a ride down a nearby bike path that straddles the Pacific Coast Highway and the beach.
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles, California
This one is more of a gym first and then a hotel. And it's a historic one at that — set in a private athletic club dating to 1880. But though it's old, it's also completely modern. The hotel unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation project in March 2024, giving a massive overhaul to much of its 88,000-square-foot facility.
There, you'll find cardio machines, free weights, squat racks and a new indoor track surface. You could also engage in a range of sports thanks to the squash, handball and racquetball courts. There's also an indoor pool and basketball courts.
Also inside comes all sorts of fancy tech, including an advanced air filtration system, an improved Audio-Visual system and six new televisions. Two of those TVs are 98 inches and surrounded by wallcoverings made from vintage footballs.
Whitney Peak Hotel
The Whitney Peak Hotel takes a slightly different approach to the “hotel gym” — and it’s a fun one. While the standard fitness center (which hotel guests can access 24/7 for free) covers the basics, the real draw is BaseCamp Climbing Gym, located inside the hotel.
BaseCamp is home to what’s billed by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall, rising 164 feet along the exterior of the building. Inside, you’ll find additional climbing walls, fitness classes and community events.
Climbing does cost extra, but it’s relatively affordable compared to many hotel add-ons. Hotel guests can score discounted rates, including a $15 day pass (with gear and auto-belay access) or $40 for a “climb to the top” experience. Weekly memberships are also available for $30, and group fitness classes like yoga and strength training typically run about $10 (or are included with a pass).
Notably, the Whitney Peak Hotel doesn’t charge a resort fee — making it easier to justify spending a little extra on a workout that’s far more memorable than a standard treadmill session.
Best international hotel gyms
Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre
Chengdu, China
If boxing is your thing, head to the Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre’s 32nd floor. Besides views of the city skyline, dumbbells and cardio machines, the 24-hour fitness center offers a boxing ring.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan
It’s a toss-up whether the highlight of the Park Hyatt Tokyo gym is the pool inside or the city views outside. Even if you forgot to pack workout clothes, that’s no excuse to skip a visit to the hotel’s 47th-floor gym. The hotel offers athletic wear available for rent.
Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Cancun, Mexico
This adults-only, Marriott all-inclusive resort supports sports of all sorts via pools, tennis and basketball courts. There’s even a Spartan-inspired obstacle course. Inside, there’s an impressive setup with multiple squat racks, barbells, bumper plates, medicine balls, benches, dumbbells and machines.
Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Buccament Bay, Buccament, St. Vincent & Grenadines
If working out solo is more your style, then consider booking one of the hotel's Lady Palm Club Suites. These two-room suites feature a separate exercise room with workout equipment by Technogym including two exercise bikes, athletic programming, yoga mats, stretch kit and blocks, and an assortment of free weights. Then again, if you do want to flex in front of other people, there are some unique ways to stay active beyond your room. Offerings include sunset paddle boarding and bat cave kayaking.
It's also surprisingly affordable, with nightly room rates at the all-inclusive starting at $486 per person.
Editor’s note: The author has a part-time job teaching group fitness classes at Equinox, a company mentioned in this story.
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