I never thought much about gym memberships before I began living in hotels full time. As a renter in a series of large, corporate apartments I’ve enjoyed the convenience of having a full gym at home for several years.
When I decided to live in hotels I figured I could count on that same convenience at most properties. What I didn’t count on was the fact that most hotel gyms really suck.
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What’s the Matter With Hotel Gyms?
While brand standards often dictate having a fitness center, the minimum requirements for a hotel gym’s size and what goes into it leave a lot to be desired. Most hotels offer a few cardio machines, a rack of free weights and not much else. If you’re lucky you’ll get a smith machine and some miscellaneous equipment like medicine balls and kettle bells. Some hotel gyms are adequate but most are not.
They’re also seldom large enough to share with more than a couple of other guests. Tight spaces fill up rather quickly, especially at the most popular times.
Hotel owners also like to cut corners on the environment inside the gym, not just the equipment. Working out on a carpeted floor is just weird. Keeping the temperature too high is annoying. Many hotel gyms lack things like mirrors and water coolers.
The Advantages of Planet Fitness
I was sold on the Planet by the end of my first workout. Of course the locations are huge and have all the equipment you could possibly ask for. They’re so large it’s almost impossible to feel crowded.
If you’re staying in any major US metro there’s bound to be a location very close to your hotel, and some clubs are starting to open overseas as well. The pricing is low enough that you can go long periods away from the clubs during travel and still feel you’re getting your money’s worth with just a little time spent in the US.
I’ve been finding locations are typically in the same shopping plazas as grocery stores, making a stop there very convenient. Even without a car it’s easy to Uber to the club and find lunch or dinner nearby before returning to the hotel.
But for me the best part might be that the club is an outstanding way to fill time when moving from one hotel to another. In one visit you can do a workout, relax in the lounge, have a tanning session and hydro massage, shower and change, and use the free wifi at cafe tables in the lobby. Even if you can’t secure a late checkout, a Planet Fitness with a restaurant next door is a one-stop solution when moving hotels, and removes the hassle of doing a workout before check-out if you’d prefer to sleep in.
