Samantha Brown's Favorite Way To Workout When Her Hotel Has No Gym Is Unexpectedly Fun

Working out while traveling helps you stay in shape, even when you're far from your local gym. Exercising can give you the energy you need to tackle busy sightseeing days, and one easy workout can even help you beat jet lag. According to seasoned traveler Samantha Brown, most hotels come with built-in fitness rooms, often including workout gear such as treadmills, dumbbells, and yoga mats. Some go above and beyond by offering rental bikes and running shoes to help guests stay on top of their exercise routines.

Though Brown's favorite way to stay fit on vacation might be to head to the hotel gym (even if you're not looking to workout), not all accommodations offer excerise facilities. In hotels that lack an on-site gym, the travel TV host has another easy — and surprisingly fun — solution: hotel room dancing. Brown explains on her website, "Just put on some tunes and dance, right in your hotel room. No need for sneakers. Dancing allows you to get in the quickest of workouts so you stay on track and it gets your mood up too."

Start your day off with a quick solo dance session, or do some light dancing after stuffing yourself at the breakfast buffet to give your digestion a boost. According to Harvard Health Publishing, dancing can burn between 90 and 252 calories per 30 minutes, depending on body weight and the style of dance. Just remember: If your hotel happens to have thin walls, you might be better off using headphones instead of a noisy speaker.

If you're running to catch flights, standing in long museum lines, and squeezing in a dance workout on top of that, you may feel sore during your trip. And, if you're not careful, you might just pull a muscle while sightseeing or lugging heavy bags around. To work out any kinks, Samantha Brown always travels with rubber balls, which she uses to massage sore or tight muscles while on the road. The balls are small and lightweight, making them easy to pack in a purse or carry-on bag.

You can also stretch your limbs using things found in your hotel room. Put a spare pillow (ideally not one you plan to sleep with) or a folded towel on the floor and half-kneel with one knee on the soft surface and the other in front of you, forming a 90-degree angle. Lean forward to stretch your legs and hips; then, switch legs. You can also try shifting your weight back and extending your front leg for a nice hamstring stretch.

If you're feeling tension in your back, get on your hotel bed on all fours for a cat-cow pose. For this stretch, simply alternate between arching your back up while slightly tucking your head toward your chest and arching your back down while gently lifting your head up. For tired arms, hold onto a doorframe or convex corner in your hotel room, pushing against the surface to stretch.