Excuses, excuses, excuses. We’re all guilty of using them to skip that workout. Let’s be real though, when it comes to travel one of the best experiences is all the delicious food you just can’t get back home. Want a guilt-free way to stuff your face full of schnitzel, gelato, baguettes, macaroons, beer (actually considered a food in Bavaria), giant pretzels, pasta, pizza, fish and chips, goulash…(the list goes on and on)? Here’s the secret: take a vacation from work, not from your workout. Here’s how to have a #NOEXCUSES vacation with Contiki so that you’ll have #NOREGRETS.
Tip #1: Pick an Active Trip: This one is so easy! Opt for a trip packed full of lots of active experiences like: water tubing, site seeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, biking, paragliding, snorkeling, hiking, or exploring a massive museum like the Louvre….the options are limitless (especially in Europe). Basically, the trick is to not be a lazy bum and make the most of your time! Get up, get out, get moving and stay fit. Here are some top Contiki trips that are full of fun, active experiences:
- European Whirl trip offers a ton of active experiences like:
- Amsterdam bike tour in Edam
- Historical Berlin walking tour
- Bike tour of Munich
- Mountain bike tour + BBQ in the Austrian Tyrol or opt for tandem paragliding instead
- White Water Rafting in the Austrian Tyrol
- Venice walking tour
- Jungfrau Mountain visit, one of the main summits of the Bernese Alps
- European Experience trip offers the following activities (plus tons more):
- Dance night at the world famous Space Electronic Disco
- Venice walking tour
- White Water Rafting in the Austrian Tyrol
- Mountain bike tour + BBQ in the Austrian Tyrol or opt for tandem paragliding instead
- Bike tour of Munich
- Jungfrau Mountain visit, one of the main summits of the Bernese Alps
- Amsterdam bike tour in Edam
- Road to Athens boasts the following active experiences (just to name a few):
- Mountain bike tour + BBQ in the Austrian Tyrol or opt for tandem paragliding instead
- White Water Rafting in the Austrian Tyrol
- Venice walking tour
- Dance the night away at the world famous Space Electronic Disco
- Pompeii, Italy guided city walking tour
- Tons of watersports in the beautiful Greek island of Corfu
- Guided tour of the Acropolis, Parthenon and first modern Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Tip: Check out other Contiki Europe trips perfect for High Energy travelers, like you!
Tip #2: Find 5 minutes to spare: It’s just 5 measly minutes! Everyone has 5 minutes to spare, especially in the morning. Just pull your bum out of bed a tad earlier and say hello to our lil’ friend the burpee. What’s a burpee? It’s a great exercise that kicks your butt and doesn’t take up a ton of room. Here’s what they entail:

Voila! You completed your first burpee! Woohoo, now repeat that for as long as you can. Don’t feel bad, they’re incredibly hard but a great way to burn off all those extra calories.
If this sounds too extreme, remember no excuses! Simply replace them with the much easier sit-up, push-up, or plank (or do all three!). After a couple of minutes, your workout for the day is complete and you’re ready to stuff your tummy full of delicious (guilt-free) European food.
Tip: Are you a late riser? Opt for one of Contiki’s Easy Pace Europe trips. They have later starts in the a.m. so you’ll have more time to get it tight and right before you start the day.
Tip #3: Don’t lounge, lunge! Who doesn’t want nice legs with a nice butt to match? Well if you want them, you gotta work for them. This is where the lunge comes in. This is a powerhouse exercise that takes up minimal room. Say hello to a killer butt and legs. Not to mention, more guilt-free food!

Tip #4: Do squat! The exercise kind silly! Squats are great for your butt, legs, and core. Again, they don’t take up much room and a quick squat workout will burn lots of calories in a short amount of time (win, win)! Here’s how to complete the perfect squat:

Repeat for as long as you can and earn that gelato!
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There you have it. Four #NOEXCUSES quick travel tips perfect for staying fit on your vacation. Just remember, excuses don’t burn calories. Plus, 5 minutes of sweat = lots of yummy guilt free regional delicacies that you won’t be able to get back home. Totally worth it!