Journals

Wellness

The rituals that keep body and mind well between trips — starting with the hotel gyms worth waking up for.

Gyms

A ranking of the best hotel gyms we've trained at — followed by a few around the world still on the list.

  1. The cypress-lined walkway to One&Only Portonovi's arched entrance at dusk1

    Montenegro· we've stayed here

    One&Only Portonovi

    Technogym equipment facing the resort pool and Boka Bay, rowers lined up at the glass, and the Chenot Espace wellness world next door — the gym that made mornings on the road easy.

  2. Park Hyatt Johannesburg's raised pool above a lily pond in front of the white heritage villa2

    Johannesburg· we've stayed here

    Park Hyatt Johannesburg

    A calm, light-filled fitness centre in the heritage villa grounds — everything immaculate, never crowded, and the raised pool waiting outside when you're done.

  3. The Houghton Hotel's curved glass façade glowing at dusk above its lit pool terrace3

    Johannesburg· we've stayed here

    The Houghton Hotel

    A full hotel gym with proper strength and cardio kit, heated pools and a spa downstairs — the most complete wellness setup we've found in the city.

  4. The sculpture and reflection pond at Delaire Graff Estate4

    Stellenbosch· we've been here

    Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa

    A private-feeling gym on the estate, with vineyard walks and the spa's heated pool for the cool-down — training with a Stellenbosch mountain view.

  5. Cavotagoo's sea-view infinity pool with submerged daybeds5

    Mykonos· we've been here

    Cavotagoo

    A compact, design-led fitness room steps from the infinity pool — short sessions, then straight into the Aegean light.

  6. Le Sirenuse's red façade and blue mosaic pool framed by lemon trees6

    Positano· we've stayed here

    Le Sirenuse

    A small, elegant gym with Technogym equipment — just enough for a proper session before the terrace and the vertical town call you back.

  7. An empty Equinox fitness floor with strength machines and full-height windows7

    New York· we've stayed here

    Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards

    Guests train inside the 60,000-square-foot Equinox club itself — strength and cardio floors with Hudson River views, a 25-yard saltwater lap pool and a sundeck. Widely called the best hotel gym in the world.

  8. The Anatomy gym floor at 1 Hotel South Beach with its red sprint track8

    Miami· we've stayed here

    1 Hotel South Beach

    Home to Anatomy, Miami's cult performance gym — sports-science programming, boxing, pilates and recovery spaces, exclusive to guests and members.

  9. Aman Tokyo's 30-metre indoor pool above the city skyline9

    Tokyo· we've stayed here

    Aman Tokyo

    Tokyo's largest hotel wellness space: 2,500 square metres over two floors, Technogym and Life Fitness equipment, yoga and Pilates studios, and a 30-metre pool suspended above the skyline.

  10. The Saxon's garden-facing fitness centre with rowing and cardio machines10

    Johannesburg

    Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa

    A garden-facing fitness centre beside the hotel's koi pond, open to hotel guests 24 hours a day. Modern training equipment and one-to-one sessions with a resident exercise science practitioner make it a thoughtful choice for keeping your routine on the road.

Tennis

Rackets out on the blue court — long rallies, a serve into the sun, and the pause afterwards with a cold drink in hand. Played weekly, tennis quietly works the whole body and clears the head as well as any holiday.

Seated on a wooden bench against a sunlit tan brick wall, drinking from a large pale-green insulated tumbler, white tank top and shorts, a tennis racket with a purple grip resting nearby
01 / 08

Photographs

8 photos

Tennis

Rackets out on the blue court — long rallies, a serve into the sun, and the pause afterwards with a cold drink in hand. Played weekly, tennis quietly works the whole body and clears the head as well as any holiday.

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