I know the Marriot in Birmingham does, any others? Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza have a network of health clubs called ‘Spirit’ which non-guests are welcome to join. They all have fitness equipment, pools, jacuzzi, sauna and steam as standard, some of them are quite nice! Probably the main advantage though is that they have lots of them all over the country. You can also get discounts on food from the hotels themselves and discounts on leisure stays. http://redo.me.uk/holidayinn

Regular readers know that two essential components of my ideal getaway are outdoor activity and a pampering spa treatment . (After all, what better way to treat yourself after hiking, biking, swimming or skiing than with a steam and a rubdown?) Yesterday, with a group of fellow travel writers visiting Beaver Creek, Colorado (just 90 minutes from my mountain home), I enjoyed the perfect blend of exercise and R&R. While I regularly explore Colorado hiking trails on my own, I absolute

It can be relaxing to unwind in a sauna after a long, hard day at work. Being able to close your eyes and feel the steam wrap around your body can be the ultimate form of relaxation. But, some people frequent saunas for an entirely different reason. They believe that one of the benefits of using a sauna is weight loss. Is there any truth to this belief? Can relaxing in a sauna really help you lose weight? The Effects of Using a Sauna The heat of a sauna can make your heart work faster to pum

For what it’s worth, which may not be much, the idea that being an avid Cockatilian is somehow incompatible with being body-conscious is a canard that’s quickly losing steam. We’re not all slovenly slobs & soused sots in search of some sweet slack. (Not, in case it needs be said, that there’s anything wrong with that.) In fact, combining an active lifestyle, or even a strenuous workout regimen, with an appreciation of fine imbibage is not only possible, but even desirable. All that you as

The Oakland Athletic Club, an exclusive fitness center in downtown Birmingham that catered to the power brokers and the homemakers, is closing in June.