Staying Fit While Traveling: My Simple, Sustainable Approach

As with most of us, travel fills my soul. New places, new food, new inspiration, but it can easily throw off my fitness schedule. Over time, I’ve learned that staying fit while traveling isn’t about rigid discipline or skipping dessert. It’s about staying intentional, incorporating exercise and fun!

I know this may sound nerdy, but each night when I’m traveling, I think about how I’ll burn some extra calories the next day. If it’s a day at sea on a cruise, I’ll sign up for a yoga or cycling class, or spend an hour on the treadmill while the ship glides across open water. If we’re headed to a town where walking is the highlight, I skip the gym entirely and count my steps instead. That balance between structure and spontaneity keeps me consistent without feeling pressured.

I like to make exploring my motivation. I’ve always loved walking cities, whether it’s the narrow cobbled streets of Orvieto or the markets of Florence, wandering becomes my favorite form of exercise. It’s not about tracking miles or closing rings; it’s about experiencing a place at ground level. When possible, I’ll also sneak in a local hike. Nothing connects me more quickly to a new place than being out in nature, breathing its air, and seeing its light. One of my favorites was the hike in Mallorca between Deia and Soller, trekking behind old homesteads and ancient trails. 

When I’m not near a gym, I make my hotel room my studio. A few minutes of standing yoga or a one or two-minute plank is enough to reset both body and mind. My husband often convinces me to join him for a short ten-minute standing yoga class from his Peloton app.  It’s become a fun little travel ritual for us. We might not have our Orangetheory setup, but those ten minutes remind us that wellness travels with us.

We've often brought  our tennis rackets. Finding a local court, whether Carmel, Tuscany, or Umbria, keeps the game fun and exciting. New places, clay courts, walking through the city to get there. So nice, so simple, and so fun. 

The truth is I’m not perfectly disciplined, and I’m not trying to be. I love good food, especially when I travel. That's why fitness becomes that much more important. Moving my body balances all those beautiful indulgences and helps me feel energized and ready for the day ahead. I’d rather count movement than calories. A long walk after dinner, a planned hike through the mountainside, a morning stretch before coffee, all help me stay grounded and present.

Travel will always shift my schedule, but never my commitment to staying active. Whether it’s walking ancient streets, stretching at sea, or holding a plank in a hotel room, every small effort adds up. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s presence. Movement keeps me balanced, energized, and ready to fully enjoy wherever I am in the world.