Working out in Spain
 

My wife and I are going to Spain for our 10th anniversary this summer. While we are not hard-core gym rats, we'd like to be able to continue working out while we're there. We'll be doing lots of walking of course, but having access to real weights would be nice. Access to good aerobic equipment would be great too.

Can anyone recommend places to stay in Madrid, Barcelona, Salamanca, Granada, or Seville that have at least fairly good gyms? Can anyone recommend gyms in any of these locations that charge reasonable "by the day" rates?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hotjets

Hi Hotjets: Do a google search:gyms in Spain. It will give you lots of info.

Most of the better hotels, including some of the boutique hotels, have facilities to varying degrees where you can work out and have a steam bath. But unless you're going to spend a great deal of time in one location, why not simply enjoy yourselves and save the workouts until you get back home?

Thanks for the Google suggestion. Will do.

As far as why we don't wait until we return home to train, well, we both enjoy working out. Doing so may also reduce the guilt we'll feel due to all the eating and drinking we'll do in Spain.

We just returned from a week in Paris. Eating well, I dropped 3 pounds with all the walking we did, as well as not snacking between meals. It was the same thing in Spain. Last summer, after a month of eating very well, at some of the best restaurants in the Basque Country, I was down nearly 5 pounds. We always limited ourselves to either lunch or dinner, never both because it's far too much food to consume. Of course a lot of the weight loss has to do with being slightly more active after lunch, everyone walks, along with the quality of the food and life style while in France or Spain.

i agree with some of the other posters. i always lose weight while traveling...the walking and the reduction in the junk food (chips, cookies, candy). sure i eat more pastaries can't help it. but the walking really kicks up the metabolism. you could consider using the resistant elastic bands for some weight/toning work. you can do it in the room. and you can alternate days by doing it while the other person is showering.

Stay in a cheap pensione on the 7th floor without elevators and spend 30 minutes a day running up and down those stairs carrying your luggage.
(a proven muscular and cardio benefit).

I work out on a regular basis in my home town, but no way will you catch me working out in Europe.

E-mail the hotel(s) you'll be staying for suggestions. Oftentimes, hotels have passes agreements w/gyms.

Hotjets-- a quick add note to congratulate you on your anniversary!! It is our 10th anniversary for us as well and we are heading out to Scandinavia!! YEAHHHHHHH!

Spain is my favorite country and I am glad to see you have included Salamanca, an absolutely beautiful city. There I recommend the hotel NH Palacio de Castellanos, a 16th Century palace turned into a gorgeous hotel, walking distance to the historic center, we paid about $100/double back in May 1999. In Seville, strongly recommend staying in Barrio de Santa Cruz; La Taberna del Alabardero has gotten consistent rave hotel reviews.

Have fun!!

I'm not sure the above posters quite understand. Hotjets didn't say anything about weight gain- just wants to continue a workout while on vacation.
Many people find this relaxing and the normal touring doesn't make up for the lost exercise time. When when we travel my husband will get up early and workout for an hour before we spend the day out and about.
It's just personal preference! While I look at a vacation as a chance to take a break from my normal gym routine, my husband thinks of it as a time to catch up on a lost work out. Sometimes a good sweat is what is needed after a day of touring.

highledge-- you (obviously) didn't read (or understood) the whole thread. No poster linked exercise and eating until hotjets did it himself (see his second post on 1/07; 10:43pm). That said, I totally agree with your take on exercising for the great relaxation activity that it represents in it and itself.

there is an excellent franchise chain all across spain called "fitness first" where perhaps you can arrange a temporary membership that would be accepted at all.
i know their normal membership includes use of ALL fitness first WORLDWIDE..

not sure they offer 2/3 week memberships, but worth a try.