Staying Well on the Road With Hotel Fitness Programs

Once upon a time, the idea of keeping up with a fitness or wellness routine while traveling -- be it for work or pleasure -- meant dragging yourself down to the hotel gym. If you were lucky, there were windows and maybe even screens on the machines to keep up with news and your favorite television shows. Now, travel and maintaining a healthy lifestyle go hand-in-hand, thanks to a growing fitness trend across hotels and resorts around the world. Beyond well-equipped, modern and light-filled hotel gyms, many destination properties are investing in wellness amenities to help guests maintain their commitment to health while traveling.

Here are a few favorite hotels and properties offering the ultimate in fitness and wellness experiences:

Kimpton Hotels

Known for in-room yoga mats and custom designed PUBLIC bikes for guests to ride, Kimpton Hotels has always inspired well-being in travelers in its 60 hotels across 27 U.S. cities. Many of the individual properties go above and beyond to present visiting travelers with even more fitness and wellness experiences. Here are a few of my favorite Kimpton Hotel wellness packages for the whole body:

-- Hotel Palomar Chicago: The Palo-Fit Package provides both fitness and nutrition to guests. The package includes an assortment of in-room healthy snacks and a complimentary class at The Barre Code, and provides travelers with a pair of barre socks to keep.

-- Hotel Monaco Philadelphia: Each Wednesday, Hotel Monaco invites guests to join in for two complimentary (on-site) fitness classes. In the morning, Lithe on Location is a cardio-cheer-sculpting class for the entire body, while in the evening (right after wine hour) the Hotel Monaco's doorman, T, teaches a small group boxing and agility class. No time in your schedule for one of the classes? No problem. T -- who is also a certified personal trainer -- has a quick full-body workout that guests can complete in under 10 minutes in their own room.

-- Topaz Hotel, District of Columbia: If you're anything like me, I find that I make time to work out while traveling, but sometimes forget to eat as mindfully with a busy travel schedule. With the juice cleanse package at the Topaz Hotel, guests receive a series of delicious Purée Artisan Juice Bar cold-pressed juices delivered directly to the hotel in a cooler bag. Guests can choose from a variety of fruit and vegetable blends, housemade nut milk and specialty juices to create a one- or three-day cleanse. The package also includes a complimentary 30-minute consult with one of Purée's affiliated wellness coaches, as well as guidelines and instructions for each cleanse and mineral bath salts to help intensify the cleanse.

The US Grant, San Diego, California

It's impossible not be wowed by the grand lobby and assortment of art throughout this historic hotel that dates back to 1910 when you step into The US Grant. Beyond the luxurious feel and historic legacy, The US Grant offers an even more exciting fitness opportunity to guests that want to keep up with their fitness goals while on the road. Through a partnership with the ON DEMAND DREAM TEAM, guests can work out out with personal trainers who specialize in yoga, boot camp, TRX, Booty Barre®, cardio and strength training. The ON DEMAND fitness experience can be requested through a special "work it" guest room package or by requesting a personal training session as an addition to your reservation at least 10 days in advance.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

While the first thing that comes to mind for many when they think of Four Seasons Hotels is luxury and exceptional service, this global hotel brand has always focused on nurturing guests in every way. The recently launched Energy by Four Seasons provides a comprehensive approach to combating stress and promoting wellness. While many of the properties offer unique experiences to guests, here are two of my favorites:

-- Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California: This property is the only hotel with a full-service health and longevity institute. Guests can take advantage of a tranquility wing, customized sleep services, sustained living menus and wellness kitchen classes.

-- Four Seasons Hotel Washington, District of Columbia: Whether you're traveling for work or fun, traveling runners staying at Four Seasons Hotel Washington will want to lace up their shoes for the hotel's Run My City program. Guests are led on a complimentary three- to six-mile run tour with hotel manager Rolf Lippuner and other Four Seasons management on Tuesday mornings at 6:30 a.m. Depending on the length, runners will stride along routes that pass some of the city's most-loved monuments and attractions. Best of all, runners are treated to a gluten-free Superfood muffins and energizing Green Goddess juice made of basil, mint, kale and honeydew when they return to the hotel.

Westin Hotels and Resorts

Westin recently launched an initiative designed to "help you feel your best." The Westin Well-Being Movement includes six pillars: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well. In addition to a gear-lending partnership with New Balance® that provides shoes and clothing for guests to use (for a $5 fee), guests can take advantage of three- and five-mile routes through the RunWESTIN? program. Runners can join group runs with a Run Concierge at many locations or use a running map to explore on their own. Westin is also the hotel partner for the Rock'n'Roll series -- offering half-marathon, marathon and shorter distances in 29 cities in North America and Europe.

Elena Sonnino is a travel and wellness writer, public speaker and chaser of dreams based in Northern Virginia. She inspires readers to discover everyday wellness in far-flung places and their own backyard at LiveDoGrow.com.