Free continental break- fast? Check. Mints on the pillow? Big Check. Fitness facility? Ummm ... check.

It may not fall high on our list of needs when looking for hotels to stay in - mints may even take precedence - but exercising doesn't always have to fall lower on our list of priorities when we're traveling. Working out can remain on the schedule especially if the traveler already has a routine that they stick to at home.

While most hotels now have gym facilities, Billy Fletcher, owner of Focused Fitness in Greenville, says they may not be the best idea, because of the difference between the machines used at home and the hotel's machines.

Fletcher says he has had clients get hurt using hotel gyms.

"So usually my suggestion is to do things that involve your body weight, such as squats, lunges, push-ups, crunches, things of that nature," he says.

Along with exercises that use body weight, Fletcher recommends traveling with exercise tubing or bands to include resistance exercises.

If the hotel gym has free weights, those would be OK because the weight can be controlled, Fletcher says.

As for cardio there's always a staircase or road nearby to pound the pavement.

Ask the front desk if there are any maps available.

At the Westin Poinsett guests can get a map with three-mile and five-mile running routes designed by Runner's World Magazine.

2 Running routes

Two suggested Greenville running loops from Runner's World. Both routes start at the Westin Poinsett hotel.

3-mile route
1. Head south on Main Street.
2. Turn right on River Street. River becomes Richardson Street and then Townes Street.
3. Turn right on Stone Avenue.
4. Turn right on N. Main Street and back to the Westin.

5-mile route
1. Head south on Main St.
2. Turn left into Falls Park and cross Liberty Bridge to Camperdown Way.
3. Turn right onto Cleveland Street, it turns into Jones Avenue.
4. Turn right onto Augusta Street.
5. Turn right onto Church Street.
6. Turn right onto Crescent Avenue.
7. Turn left onto McDaniel Avenue.
8. Turn left on the path that runs along Reedy River.
9. Continue on the path, past the Governor's School for the Arts. Turn right onto University Street.
10. Turn right onto Augusta Street, then right onto Main Street, which will bring you back to the Westin.

To see the map visit www.starwoodhotels.com/Media/PDF/greenville_rev_5_15_05.pdf.

Staff writer Ana Parra can be reached at 298-3766.