For some folks, a vacation means a week off from the gym. But for others, vacations make an ideal time to hit the gym — after all, there should be no urgent messages from co-workers to respond to between sets of squats. And you won’t need to rush through your morning workout to beat your boss into the office.

Plus at some hotels, the gym is fancier than anything in your hometown anyway.

As a self-professed fitness buff and travel Nerd, I’m always in search of high-quality training facilities while I’m on the road. I’m a competitive powerlifter and weightlifter (in fact, I hold a national bench press record with the United States Powerlifting Association and won the USA Weightlifting North American Open series in 2022).

Any gym that has a barbell and a squat rack automatically gets props in my book — yet such a basic gym setup is surprisingly tough to come by at hotels.

Here’s a guide to the best hotel gyms I’ve found during my quest to fulfill my travel and fitness needs.

Yes, I have a bias for a squat rack, but I also uncovered gyms with unique amenities, like rock walls and pickleball courts. Others were selected for stunning views, considering it’s a lot easier to power through a treadmill run when looking out at a stellar landscape than a sad slab of drywall. And some made the list for being well-stocked with all the equipment, including brand-name spin bikes from companies like SoulCycle and Peloton.

1. Equinox Hotel New York

New York City

(Photo courtesy of Equinox)

The Equinox Hotel New York is owned by the same company that runs the luxury gym of the same name. Hotel guests get access to the adjacent Equinox Hudson Yards Fitness Club. The 60,000-square-foot gym features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Hudson River, an indoor pool and a large outdoor pool and sun deck.

2. Hotel Ivy, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis

Minneapolis

(Photo courtesy of Marriott)

Owned by Marriott and a part of Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel’s 5,000-square-foot Anda Spa Fitness Center and Studios features treadmills, stationary bikes, Concept2 rowers, Ski Ergs, a Peloton bike, dumbbells, barbells, squat racks and Rogue benches.

3. InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Chicago

(Photo courtesy of IHG)

Before the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile opened, the building served as an athletic club. While most of the original facilities at this IHG-owned hotel are gone, the junior Olympic swimming pool remains, making it one of the best hotel gyms for swimmers.

4. Hilton New Orleans Riverside

New Orleans

(Photo courtesy of Hilton)

The Hilton New Orleans Riverside includes a 100,000-square-foot athletic center called HealthClub by Hilton. Activities include indoor courts for tennis, racquetball, squash, volleyball, basketball and pickleball.

5. Tommie Austin, part of JdV by Hyatt

Austin, Texas

(Photo courtesy of Hyatt)

JdV (short for Joie de Vivre) is a Hyatt brand of boutique hotels, which means every hotel is pretty unique — and the Tommie Austin one stands out for its gym.

Besides a swanky pool with cabanas and views of downtown Austin, there’s a 6,700-square-foot fitness center with Peloton bikes, a squat rack, TRX resistance bands, medicine balls and other machines. There’s also a sports simulator, where you can engage in virtual games including golf or baseball.

6. Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

Phoenix

(Photo by Sally French)

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is among the most upscale of the Hilton brands, and the Arizona Biltmore is no exception. The hotel itself gives off old Hollywood glamour vibes, largely due to its Frank Lloyd Wright architectural style. But the 30,000-square-foot fitness center is more modern, packed with equipment including a squat rack with bumper plates, four Peloton bikes, an Assault AirBike, a TRX resistance band station and free weights.

Outside, there are tennis courts as well as dedicated pickleball courts.

7. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco

San Francisco

(Photo courtesy of Equinox)

When you stay at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, you get complimentary access to Equinox Sports Club San Francisco, which is located in the same building (there’s even a separate gym entrance just for hotel guests).

The gym offers the usual Equinox features — group fitness classes, squat racks and eucalyptus towels. But this gym in particular also offers some bonus features that are tougher to find, including a boxing studio, full-sized indoor basketball court and a junior Olympic-sized saline pool.

8. Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock

Sedona, Arizona

(Photo courtesy of Hilton)

The indoor gym, outdoor tennis courts and lap pool are certainly delightful, but the real magic for fitness buffs is in the resort’s “Warrior Pit.”

This cross-training facility is filled with tires, ropes, sledgehammers and anchors, and it's accessible for resort guests to train through instructor-led classes or at their leisure.

9. Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort

Huntington Beach, California

(Photo by Sally French)

Weightlifters, powerlifters and CrossFit-style athletes will love the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort's gym, which feels more like a playground. There’s a squat rack, Rogue bumper plates and both 15-kilogram (33.07 pounds) and 20-kilogram (44.09 pounds) barbells. There’s also a Peloton bike, kettlebells and medicine balls.

Mix up your training by taking a turn on the rock wall. Or, use the free loaner bikes to get your cardio in with a ride down a nearby bike path that straddles the Pacific Coast Highway and the beach.

10. Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre

Chengdu, China

(Photo courtesy of Hilton)

If boxing is your thing, head to the Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre’s 32nd floor. Besides views of the city skyline, dumbbells and cardio machines, the 24-hour fitness center offers a boxing ring.

11. Park Hyatt Tokyo

Tokyo

(Photo courtesy of Hyatt)

It’s a toss-up whether the highlight of the Park Hyatt Tokyo gym is the pool inside or the city views outside. Even if you forgot to pack workout clothes, that’s no excuse to skip a visit to the hotel’s 47th-floor gym. The hotel offers athletic wear available for rent.

12. Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort

Cancun, Mexico

(Photo courtesy of Marriott)

This adults-only, Marriott all-inclusive resort supports sports of all sorts via pools, tennis and basketball courts. There’s even a Spartan-inspired obstacle course. Inside, there’s an impressive setup with multiple squat racks, barbells, bumper plates, medicine balls, benches, dumbbells and machines.

Editor’s note: The author has a part-time job teaching group fitness classes at Equinox, a company mentioned in this story.