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