The Hotel Modern

I Actually Used the Hotel Gym (And Didn’t Hate It)

Written by

in

I travel a lot for work. I pack snacks, extra socks, and gym shoes. I also pack hope. Sometimes that hope pays off—like the first time I actually used the hotel gym and didn’t hate it.
For another travel spot with a reputation for sweat-friendly digs, check out The Hotel Modern where the workout space is a standout headline.

The setup: small room, big effort

Last week I stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn in Austin, near the Domain. The gym sat one floor down from the lobby. It opened 24/7, which I love.

The room had:

  • Two Life Fitness treadmills
  • One Matrix elliptical
  • One Peloton bike (SPD clips and toe cages)
  • A rack of dumbbells from 5 to 50 pounds
  • An adjustable bench
  • A Smith machine (no free squat rack, which is normal for a hotel)
  • TRX straps, two yoga mats, a foam roller, and a dusty medicine ball
  • Cold towels, a water cooler, and a bin of wipes

TVs played ESPN and a cooking show. The AC hummed. It smelled like clean rubber, with a tiny whiff of pool chlorine, which felt weird but fine.

What won me over

  • The Peloton was updated and logged me in fast. My last hotel made me restart three times. This one? Smooth.
  • The treadmills were quiet and didn’t wobble. No belt slip. No panic button surprise.
  • Dumbbells went up to 50, not just 25. I could do rows that actually felt like work.
  • TRX straps were mounted well, not droopy or twisted. Big deal for pulls.
  • The staff kept restocking the wipes. I noticed. I also used way too many. Sorry. Not sorry.

And crowd wise? I went at 6:10 a.m. on Monday. Two people were there. A runner in a UT shirt and a sleepy guy in socks. Tuesday night at 8:45, it was empty. My favorite kind of empty.

The misses (because nothing’s perfect)

  • The Smith machine bar sat a little high, so I had to stand on a plate for hip thrusts. Not ideal.
  • One bench wobbled on the right leg. I stuck a folded towel under it. It worked, but still.
  • The yoga mats smelled like old gym bag. I used my towel on top. Problem solved.
  • The water cooler ran out once. I told the front desk. They filled it fast, but I had to wait a few minutes with dry mouth. That felt long.
  • The TV remote was sticky. I wiped it down and kept my hands to myself after. You ever do curls while trying not to touch your face? It’s a skill.

Still, those tiny oddities took me back to my stay at Hotel San Marco in Venice—the good, the weird, and the little things that stuck.

What I actually did there

I’ll keep it real. I don’t just “check” the gym. I use it.

  • Monday, 6:15 a.m.: 25-minute treadmill intervals on the Life Fitness. Warm-up 5 minutes. Then 1 minute fast at 7.5 mph, 1 minute walk at 3.5, for 8 rounds. Cool down 5 minutes. The belt felt steady, and the fan hit my face, which I needed. I left a small sweat angel on the towel. Cute.

  • Tuesday, 8:50 p.m.: Upper body with dumbbells. 3 sets each:

    • One-arm rows with the 40s
    • Floor press with the 40s (bench felt wobbly, so I went to the floor)
    • Seated shoulder press with the 30s
    • TRX face pulls for high reps
      Finished with a 10-minute Peloton low-impact ride. The seat turned easy, no squeak.

  • Wednesday, 6:30 a.m.: Mobility and core. Foam roller on back and quads. Dead bugs. Side planks. Hip cars. A little TRX squat and reach. I stretched by the mirror while a guy did fast hill repeats. Watching him almost made me run. Almost.

Little things that matter way more than they sound

  • Music volume sat low. I could hear my own playlist without blasting it. Thank you.
  • The AC hit 69°F and held. Warm gyms make me cranky. Cold rooms make me brave.
  • Towels were soft, not scratchy. Also, big enough to be a mat cover.
  • The door needed a key tap both ways. Felt safe, even late at night.
  • A banana basket by the front desk. I ate one after each lift day. That’s training science. Okay, it’s just banana joy.
  • The whole vibe stayed calm and almost spa-like, similar to what I felt during my stay at The Richardson Hotel Perth, my calm little bubble in West Perth.

A tiny gripe, then a fix

I wanted a free barbell for deadlifts. They had the Smith only. I pouted for two minutes. Then I did heavy dumbbell RDLs with the 50s, slow and steady. My hamstrings still talked to me at lunch.

Tips if you go

  • Bring your own mini band and a small spray of hand sanitizer. You’ll use both.
  • If you want the Peloton, go early. It’s the hot ticket around 7 a.m.
  • Wipe the bench before you press. Then wipe again. I do a quick double pass. Habit.
  • If the room feels full, do a hallway lunge ladder or use the stairs for step-ups. Quiet and effective.

Trying a new workout in a public gym is basically a low-stakes exercise in vulnerability. If you’re curious about a far more daring leap outside the comfort zone, take a peek at this candid French read, “Je montre mon minou”—it digs into body confidence, exhibitionism, and how embracing your own boldness can ripple into everyday self-esteem gains. Likewise, if your itinerary drops you in sunny Santa Barbara and you’re interested in blending business travel with a touch of upscale social adventure—this Sugar Baby Santa Barbara guide—offers vetted meet-up spots, safety pointers, and etiquette tips so you can explore the local scene confidently between meetings.

Would I book again?

Yeah. I would. The gym did its job and a little more. It let me keep my routine, even on a long week. No drama. No broken belts. A couple quirks, sure, but nothing that killed my flow. After sleeping my way across Split and comparing six different hotels, I've learned that a reliable fitness room is rarer than a sea-view balcony—my six favorite hotels in Split prove it. For an outsider’s take, the TripAdvisor reviews echo my experience.

Score: 4 out of 5 sweaty happy stars.

You know what? I walked past the pool and thought about skipping. But then I hit that treadmill, and the morning felt simple. Travel’s messy. A good hotel gym makes it less so.

More posts