Today Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com are pleased to
have as our guest, Jim Kaese, an elite amateur triathlete,
entrepreneurial businessman, and endurance sport coach.
Author of The Athletic-Minded Traveler: Where to Work Out and
Stay When Fitness Is a Priority, Jim visited America's top 78
travel destinations to find the very best hotel/fitness-venue
combinations.
Welcome Jim to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com.
Norm:
Could you tell us something about yourself Jim and what provoked
you into writing about the very best hotel and fitness venue
combinations?
Jim:
Through the years, I traveled quite a bit for work and
pleasure. In addition to finding places to stay that matched my
budget and amenity preferences, I always tried to identify
hotels that offered good fitness options. However, time and time
again, I would show up at the hotel and discover that the state
of the art fitness center was a closet-sized room with old or
broken equipment. Or, the lap pool was a short oval without lane
lines. Or, the running routes consisted of a map provided by the
concierge that directed guests to jog around the streets of the
hotel 10 times. It boggled my mind how these hotels could make
such blatant misrepresentations. So, I decided to write the
first cross-country guide that objectively recommends the BEST
places to stay for those who enjoy healthy living and staying
fit.
Norm:
Do you believe that if couples are looking for an ideal romantic
getaway they should also take into account the fitness
facilities, and if so, why?
Jim:
I believe everyone should take into consideration the quality
of the fitness facilities including couples on a romantic
getaway. Exercise not only helps boost your immunity system,
lower stress, and improve your sleeping habits; it also helps
your sex life. Studies have shown that healthy people have
better sex and tend to be happier. And, I believe it is
important to emphasize that when I say exercise,I am not talking
about an hour of hard-core running or lifting weights at the
gym- 20 minutes of brisk walking can do the trick.
Norm:
If you had to name 5 ideal romantic getaway hospitality
properties that combine a unique romantic ambience with great
fitness facilities, which ones would you choose and why?
Jim:
· San Francisco is one of my favorite romantic cities---the
bridge, the fog, the rain, the restaurants, and the cultural
offerings create a perfect stage for a wonderfully romantic
trip. Any of the SFO hotels in my book would be great
fitness/romance combinations, but the Hotel Rex is the best deal
for the money. A small, intimate hotel property just steps from
Union Square and China Town, Rex also provides guests with a
discounted pass to a fantastic (but small) health club down the
street, Club One.
· If money is no object, The Miraval Spa and Resort in Tucson is
a marvelous getaway for couples looking to stay fit and be
pampered. All meals are included as well as any type of exercise
option you can imagine---horseback riding, lap swimming, rock
climbing, etc.
· For those looking to add a little more party to their trip,
Miami's South Beach hotels are filled with romance. The Shore
Club, Delano, Ritz and National are all in the book, bestowing
lots of love and liveliness to their guests.
· Colorado Springs' Broadmoor Hotel is a breathtaking resort
beset by serene lakes and mountain landscape. Broadmoor's
Fitness Center and Spa is well-equipped with modern machines and
a regulation lap pool. And, the nearby trails create fantastic
jogging and mountain biking opportunities.
· New York City can never be left off the romance list. Several
properties make exceptional romantic destinations, but Le Parker
Meridien, across the street from Central Park, tops my list.
It's NYC, so expect small yet cozy hotel rooms. The Scandinavian
flavor, tremendous views, and extensive on-site health club make
it one of the best.
Norm:
Why should couples be concerned about fitness activities when
they are away on a romantic getaway or on their honeymoon?
Jim:
Exercising for only 20-30 minutes each day will allow you to
start the day healthy and help you make better choices
throughout the rest of the day. Then, enjoying small indulgences
like your favorite piece of pie or a few cocktails or sitting
around by the pool for six hours will not seem like a big deal.
Don't forget about that improved sex too!
Norm:
How can we determine the quantity, quality, and brand of
exercise equipment at recommended hotels if we never have been
there?
Jim:
Buy The Athletic-Minded Traveler (laughs). In addition to
providing a comprehensive written review covering everything you
want to know (room appearance, room service, free breakfast
buffets, sheet thread-count, etc.) about each property, we also
specifically detail in chart form the quantity of exercise
machines, their condition, the brands, weight/strength options,
pool dimensions, running routes, etc. But, if you're going to a
city that's not covered in the book, the best you can do is call
up the concierge and ask him/her your specific questions.
Sometimes it even helps to confirm with the maintenance workers.
Norm:
Very often when we vacation we seem to return home fully
relaxed, however very much out of shape. How do we avoid this?
Jim:
Make exercise part of your daily routine, just like showering
or brushing your teeth. When you think about it, 20 minutes is
not that much time at all. Especially while on a vacation, when
you don't have to worry about going to work and all of the other
hassles at home.
Norm:
There is always a temptation to overeat when we are on vacation.
How can we fight off this temptation while at the same time
still enjoy ourselves?
Jim:
Like I was saying before, exercise will allow you to not fret so
much over what you're eating and drinking. You may end up taking
in more calories, but being active and exercising should help to
burn those off fairly easily.
Norm:
Are there any food we should avoid when we are on vacation and
if so, why?
Jim:
Vacation is supposed to be a break from all that troubles and
worries you, right? When I go away, I like to eat the local food
and experience the local customs without concerns about how many
calories are in my dinner, etc. Knowing that I performed my
daily workout reassures me that anything I take in will be
worked off either that same day or the next. So, no, don't worry
about avoiding certain foods---just make sure to get in a daily
sweat.
Norm:
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Jim:
Only that I've been really touched by the large number of
people who have written us saying that they are so happy we
wrote this book because they too were constantly frustrated by
the travel industry's ignorance about fitness preferences.
Letters and emails have come from hard-core athletes as well as
recreational exercisers who just like to put in 20 minutes on a
good elliptical machine or bike. Our goal all along was simply
to provide a reliable resource that would help people enjoy a
healthy lifestyle while on the road. So far, it seems that we've
succeeded.
Visit SOCAL PRESS.COM to view a sample chapter and find more
information about The Athletic-Minded" Traveler, a
first-of-its-kind travel resource for those who enjoy a healthy
lifestyle and working out while on the road.
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