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Sometimes a dude has to skip town for some ‘laxing, but that doesn’t mean he has to lose his fitness game in the process. Sure you can chill in the sun or hit up local bars, but let travel be your best excuse to up your fitness game. The experts at TravelPirates.com (a free travel search website and app with the largest travel community on Facebook with 10 million likes), offered up tips on where to stay active while exploring the world on a budget.
Soi Taied in Phuket, Thailand
Maybe you’ve heard of this Thai island before, but did you know Phuket is a well-established fitness destination? From England to Brazil, guys around the globe have traveled to Soi Taied to start their own gyms and to workout where some of the most world-renowned athletes come to train. Soi Taied (aka “Fighters Street”) is to mixed martial arts what Rodeo Drive is to shoppers. Experience MMA training and Muay Thai, and then practice your new skills in a fight or two with other travelers. If you want something a little easier, don’t freak. The street also offers cross training, yoga, and a ton of tattoo spots. There’s a little bit of something for everyone. Also, check out Tony’s Restaurant (TonyRestaurantPhuket.com) for cheap and clean eats that help you count calories as you try to slim down. Many training spots have their own accommodations, so find your gym first.
(tigermuaythai.com/accommodations)
Tulum Jungle Gym in Tulum, Mexico
Go back in time to Saturday morning cartoons with this Flintstones-inspired gym in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region. Ninety percent of the workout gear is made out of wood and stone — think tree stumps for box jumps, stone dumbbells, lifting rocks from a wooden pulley, and a wooden jungle gym. No need for dress code here — all of your heavy lifting and squatting is done right on the beach. Choose from classes like booty boot camp, beach body boot camp, and the ever-popular jungle gym circuit. Stay a few days to snorkel, eat, and look at scantily clad bodies in the sun and you’ve got a nice little getaway. (tulumjunglegym.com)
Wildfitness Zanzibar in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Think the Tough Mudder is hard? Head to Zanzibar, Tanzania to get in touch with nature and get in shape on a whole other level. With their Wildfitness package, you’ll get toned arms and abs lifting logs — and legs you can show off next summer by mastering sand dune running. The theory behind Wildfitness is that through eating wild food, living wild, and moving like a wild animal, you’ll develop a more mindful approach to healthy living. The program also gives you tips on movement and nutrition to take with you when you head back home. (wildfitness.com)
eXtreme Hotel in the Dominican Republic
Remember the performers from Ringling Bros. Circus? Try out your favorite routines from back then to have the greatest snapback of your life. From flying on a trapeze, juggling, to dropping on the silks, you’ll be well-versed in circus acts by the time you fly back home. If you want to up the ante, you can even pair these classes with yoga sessions. Packages include unlimited circus classes, yoga, an organic breakfast and dinner at their farm-to-table restaurant, and seven nights at the eco-friendly beachfront hotel. You can also take tours of the island via horseback and do some kitesurfing while you’re at it. (extremehotels.com)
Dance Party and Yoga in the U.S., Europe, and Japan
Instead of hitting the gym first thing in the morning, try this on for size: one hour of hot yoga, followed by two hours of dance vibes sans alcohol, all before you head to work. Fill up on cold brew coffee, healthy juices, free breakfast bites, and Seedlip drinks (distilled non-alcoholic spirits). Make hundreds of new best friends at this daytime rave, even before your actual day begins.
Daybreaker is in major cities all over the U.S. and Europe, including Austin, Los Angeles, New York City, D.C., Paris, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. It’s also featured on college campuses, and encourages sobriety amongst its attendees. (daybreaker.com)
Climb a 65-Foot Former Grain Silo in Bloomington, Ill.
Take your rock climbing skills to the next level by tackling a 65-foot old grain silo at Upper Limits Bloomington Gym. The silo is right next to a set of train tracks, so you get a really industrial feel — completely different from the padding you see at your local rock climbing gym. Upper Limits also features an outdoor boulder and a 110-foot outdoor wall, both of which you can also scale. (upperlimits.com/bloomington)
Not Your Grandmother’s Water Aerobics Class in Coronado, Calif.
Cardio, strength training, and core combine for this increasingly popular water workout. Led by an instructor, you’ll don a mermaid tail and perform a variety of exercises, ranging from dolphin kicks to crunches. Be prepared to work all of your muscles, without even breaking a sweat. Then stay the weekend at the seaside Hotel del Coronado (near San Diego, Calif.) so you can rest up and pamper yourself. (hoteldel.com)
