Fiona Falkiner’s Travel Workout Tips

Trying to squeeze in a gym workout while you’re on holiday can be a bit tricky and sometimes the last thing you want to do. Here are my tips on how to stay active when you’re travelling.

Look at what your hotel has on offer

Most hotels have gyms but some even offer classes. If you’re struggling to motivate yourself for another session on the hotel treadmill, do a little research into classes around the area where you’re staying. Most major cities will have gyms and private studios where you can practice yoga, spin classes and Pilates. The best part is you’ll get to meet some of the locals while you’re at it!

Get on your bike

One of my favourite ways to see a city is to get on a bike! Bike tours allow you to really get up close and personal with the city, usually so much more so than via a bus. And you get your cardio in! Some hotels have bikes you can borrow for the day, otherwise you can usually find bike hire shops in the tourist hubs of most cities.

Walking

I love hiking and I always make sure to look up spots I can hike before I go away. Do some research to find a hiking spot that suits you – whether it’s walking to waterfalls or climbing to secluded lookouts, it’s a great way to take in the natural beauty of the place you’re visiting. Another way to keep that step count up is by discovering cities on foot. Even just opting to walk instead of taking trains or cabs can be great incidental exercise!

Swimming

Most hotels have pools – but if not it’s usually not hard to find one nearby, or even open water to swim in. I always pack my goggles and ensure I find a good place to swim. If it’s the ocean, you have the benefit of seeing some of the marine life at the same time!

Climb the stairs

There’s always a lookout with an amazing view somewhere, but next time why not take the stairs? Instead of taking a cable car or a lift, give it a go on foot and burn some serious calories while you’re at it! Places like Montmartre in Paris and Cape Town’s Table Mountain are definitely opportunities where you can really feel the burn!

Take a skipping rope

Skipping ropes are especially great for holiday fitness as they’re easy to pack and very lightweight. You can pretty much skip anywhere and know you will almost always be breaking a sweat, as ten minutes of skipping can have you burn up to 135 calories!

Fitness retreats

There are myriad fitness holidays that focus on health and wellness that will have you leaving feeling like a new person. There are boot camps that will boost your metabolism through intensive physical training, to health retreats that focus on improving your physical, mental and spiritual health –  and everything in between!

Tennis

Tennis is a great way to mix exercise and socialising when travelling with friends –  it’s also a great opportunity to make some new ones! The Mediterranean boasts multiple tennis courts on the beaches of Greece, Turkey, Corsica and Sardinia, all offering coaching and supplies. If you’re lucky enough to steal a court, get a game going and feel the calories melting away.

Water sports

I’m still very much a beginner at this but whenever I am on a tropical holiday I try to hire a board and head out for a paddle. Even if you aren’t riding pipelines, it’s a lot of fun and you’ll definitely feel the burn the next day! Stand-up paddle boarding is almost always available at the beach. If you have the opportunity, I definitely recommend trying it as it’s much harder than it looks to balance on the board.

Kayaking

Kayaking is a great exercise to do either on your own or with a group of friends; it’s a great day out in the sun and a good chance to be at one with nature. If you’re like me and still a novice, make sure to take a spare pair of clothes, as at times it can be a bit rocky and wet! The Everglades in the US are nearly impossible to access without a kayak, and I’m keen to hopefully see this beautiful place soon!

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