Buzz
During a recent trip, I stayed at two different hotels. One featured a gym that was nearly perfect for a workout, at least if you don’t need barbells. It had a dual cable machine, dumbbells up to 75 pounds, competition-grade kettlebells(!), two pull-up bars, various suspension trainers, medicine balls, and even a real Peloton bike among the cardio machines. The other gym? A small set of dumbbells, a couple of treadmills, and the kind of climate you’d expect from a tropical swamp.
When I get the chance to choose between hotels, I always make it a priority to research the hotel gyms and factor that into my decision. But sometimes, I don’t have many options—maybe there’s only one available hotel in my budget range. Even then, I’ll check out the gym before booking. Knowing what to expect helps me plan my workouts and decide if I should bring extra gear, like resistance bands. And if the gym falls short of my needs, I can start searching for places with day passes as part of my travel plans.
How to Evaluate a Hotel Gym
First, when you're booking your hotel, make sure to check out all the pictures. After browsing through the images of bedrooms and conference areas, you’ll typically find at least one shot of the gym. Save that photo, but don’t stop there. Head over to Google Maps, where you’ll often come across the same professional images, alongside those taken by visitors. The key difference is that these user photos tend to have dates attached. So if one image shows a cable machine and another doesn’t, you can figure out if it was added or removed.
If I can’t find enough recent images, my next step is to check hotel review websites and use Instagram’s map feature. Usually, these sources give me a decent idea of what to expect when I arrive.
You can also call the hotel directly and ask about the fitness center. This is a straightforward option, though the front desk staff might not be able to describe the equipment in detail, especially if they’re unfamiliar with all the names of the machines. However, it’s a good way to get a general sense, like whether the room has been renovated recently or how many treadmills are available. Don’t forget to ask if the gym is open 24/7 or if it has set hours.
What to Keep an Eye Out for in a Hotel Gym
When I look at photos, I try to picture myself in the space. I imagine the layout of the room and mentally subtract the fisheye lens effect that makes small spaces look larger. Keep in mind that whatever you see in the photos, the space will likely feel more cramped than it appears. Unless you spot clear signs of extra room, such as rolled-up yoga mats, don't assume you'll have space for stretching or floor exercises.
Here are the questions I ask myself as I take a closer look at the gym photos:
What’s the range of available weights? Dumbbell racks typically start at 5 pounds, and they might go up to 25, 50, or even 75 pounds.
How heavy are the kettlebells, medicine balls, and similar equipment? I’ve yet to see a hotel kettlebell heavier than 30 pounds, but maybe you’ll have better luck.
Is there a cable machine? If there is, are the pulleys adjustable? What attachments does it come with?
Are there pull-up stations? (Often, cable machines feature pull-up handles at the top.)
What cardio machines are available? Can you identify the brand and its specific features?
What amenities does the room have? Typically, you’ll find towels, a water cooler, and maybe even free wired earbuds. But be aware that the earbuds might be missing, and the water cooler might only offer paper cones that are tough to set down. You might need to bring your own supplies.
Ultimately, you're looking for a general match between the workouts you want to do and the available equipment. I prefer to ensure that I can fit in some pushing, pulling, and leg exercises, in addition to cardio. For example, a pull-up bar or TRX set is ideal for pulling movements, and pushing exercises are simple with dumbbells (think chest press or shoulder press). Leg exercises are trickier—if there’s a leg press machine, that’s fantastic! Otherwise, you’ll likely need to use the heavier dumbbells for exercises like lunges or step-ups.
How to Maximize a Minimal Hotel Gym
For strength training, unilateral exercises are often the best way to target your legs. Try exercises like step-ups, lunges, Bulgarian split squats with your back foot on a bench, or single-legged Romanian deadlifts. I prefer doing these with the “kickstand” or “b-stance” style, where one leg does most of the work, and the other leg provides balance and support. Since you’re focusing on one leg at a time, you won’t need as much weight as you would with regular squats or deadlifts.
There are also a few items you can bring along to supplement your workout if you think the gym might be under-equipped:
Resistance bands for band pull-aparts. In a minimal gym, your pulling exercises might be limited to dumbbell rows, so this gives you extra variety. You can also use bands to assist with pull-ups.
A suspension trainer, which you can use in your hotel room or in the gym if you find a secure spot to anchor it.
Straps to help you grip the dumbbells for those unilateral leg exercises. This ensures your grip doesn’t limit your ability to complete reps.
Headphones (either wired or wireless) to plug into the cardio machines if they have screens.
A water bottle, in case the gym provides only paper cones for drinking.
A towel, in case the gym runs out of towels—but you can always grab one from your hotel room if necessary.
If you find cardio machines dull (or if they’re broken or the room is unpleasant), consider taking a jog or walk outdoors. Many hotels can suggest safe and convenient running routes nearby, or you can use an app like Strava to find popular routes. Hotel pools aren’t usually ideal for lap swimming, but you might get lucky.
