When Equinox Holdings launches its first-ever hotel in 2018 on the far west side of Manhattan, it will be the largest fitness brand to branch out directly into the hotel business. It’s an interesting move, but Equinox is just hopping on a bandwagon: Many hotels are partnering with fitness brands to upgrade their workout facilities. While hitting urban trails or bike shares is usually a better option, humidity, time constraints, and freezing temps can make getting outside a hard call. But don’t sweat it, fit travelers, here’s where to check in.
The Hotel at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, Los Angeles
One of L.A.’s premier gyms went down the road Equinox is now setting off on and opened a above its massive (80,000-square-foot) workout facilities in newly cool downtown Los Angeles. The gym is a training ground for past and current Olympic contenders, who come for the yoga program, squash courts, indoor Olympic pool, and personal training.
Le Parker Meridien, New York City
The 15,000-square-foot workout facilities at this are the work of , a brand that aims to be tough and luxurious, functional and design forward. The gym has more than 20,000 pounds to lift, push, and move; top-notch trainers; and a of classes six days a week, ranging from Body Shred Bootcamp to the CrossFit-inspired Cross X. Its signature offering is called the Quickie, a 30-minute full-body workout on a nine-machine circuit. Upstairs, the rooftop pool offers views of Central Park.
Whitney Peak Hotel, Reno
The world’s tallest climbing wall (they say) is in this (Reno’s only nongaming hotel) in the heart of downtown. The 164-foot-high outdoor climbing wall complements the 7,000-square-foot indoor bouldering park with more than 3,200 square feet of climbable space. The equipment and staff can accommodate families of first-timers or highly experienced climbers. The BaseCamp gym includes the usual gym equipment, plus a slackline and a roster of interesting classes ranging from acro-yoga to a superhero-themed workout.
Loews Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta
Exhale gyms are known for their tough classes, beautiful studios, and extensive spa services—and nearly half of them are in hotels. Among the standouts is in midtown Atlanta, which occupies nearly 10,000 square feet. In addition to a packed schedule of yoga, Core Fusion, HIIT, boot camp, and cycling classes is a large gym with top-of-the-line cardio and weight equipment, plus a hammam, sauna, and steam rooms for post-workout recovery.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Miami
In addition to all the usual fitness tools—in a 5,800-square-foot facility with huge windows overlooking the pool—the gym here features the new high-tech interactive training system. Essentially, you run around as if playing a particularly active Wii game while you’re strapped into cables that provide resistance in every direction. Trainers might add TRX bands, medicine balls, or dumbbells to the video game.
Radisson Blu Aqua, Chicago
In summer, guests have access to an 80,000-square-foot “lifestyle garden” with a 1/5-mile running track, dedicated yoga space, and 25-yard lap pool. Since summer in Chicago doesn’t last very long, the also has an indoor gym with state-of-the-art cardio and weight equipment, a basketball court, a spinning studio and—earning the Aqua in the hotel’s name—an indoor swimming pool.
Hilton Anatole, Dallas
The at the Hilton Anatole encompasses 80,000 square feet and is filled with cardio machines with 15-inch TVs; studios for Spinning, barre, and other classes; a vast array of weights; a Kenesis room, a boxing gym, and racquetball and squash courts; and a 25-meter lap pool. The seven-acre park outside offers a quarter-mile cushioned running track, tennis courts, and a full basketball court. The club recently added a spa to help you recover.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club, and Spa, Houston
Guests at this hotel have access to the of one of the toniest clubs in Houston and its 300-plus cardio and strength machines, staff of exercise and nutrition specialists, indoor running tracks, tennis and racquetball courts, pool, yoga studio, massively tricked-out Pilates and Gyrotonic studio, new room for TRX and Kineses Omega classes, and a full roster of cutting-edge classes like HIIT & Run, Get Ripped & Ride, and the women-only dance class Sensuale.
The Grand Hotel, Minneapolis
The size of the gym at this boutique hotel is all out of whack with the size of the 140-room hotel. The Grand’s has 58,000 square feet of floor space, which includes a fitness floor with cardio and weight equipment; boxing, cycling, and aerobics studios; a running track; racquetball, handball, and squash courts; and an indoor six-lane lap pool. There’s a full roster of group classes. Private training, Pilates, and yoga are easily arranged.
The Ritz-Carlton Boston Common, Boston
There’s already a spectacular Equinox gym at this in downtown Boston. Ritz-Carlton guests can take advantage of 114,000 square feet of workout-focused space, including state-of-the-art equipment, a full basketball court, four international squash courts, studios for classes from boxing to barre, and a 25-yard indoor pool. Group fitness fans, rejoice: There are more than 100 classes every week.
Hotel Bellevue, Seattle
A running track circles the mezzanine around the full-size basketball court. That’s just the beginning at the 200,000 square foot mega-gym at the , an “urban retreat” just 20 minutes from central Seattle. There are also four weight and cardio rooms, a Pilates studio with reformers and cadillacs, three swimming pools, 10 indoor and outdoor tennis courts, tons of classes, and open-play games of basketball, pickleball, and badminton.
Marriott Marquis, Washington, DC
When opened last year, it became home to the city’s largest hotel gym. The 24-hour fitness facilities house 49 pieces of Technogym cardio equipment, which work with that company’s (including tailored workouts and training history) and have interactive touchscreens that can take guests on, say, a virtual running tour of London. There are also 34 pieces of strength and functional training equipment, plus trainers on hand to help you figure them all out.