Southampton - The vacation season is in full swing and many people have been preparing for their trips beyond the standard household checklist and Google map search. Every year millions of people emerge from the holiday haze with thoughts of mid-winter bikinis haunting their dreams. For many people the two or three months preceding vacation is filled with dutiful workouts, sweaty spin classes and Gestapo style calorie counting all to be blown on a vacation filled with alcohol, gluttony and lazy poolside lounging.

Your vacation does not have to be all or nothing, you don't have to fall into this same pattern of working hard just to throw it away. Whether you include regular exercise as part of your luxurious escape or book a vacation with activity built in, you can return in as good a shape as when you left.

A guided kayak tour through Salt River National Historic Park & Ecological Preserve. Photo courtesy of stcroixkayak.com

It was once the case that if your hotel or resort even had a gym, it was a cursory afterthought and little attention was paid to comfort, convenience or quality. These days it's a different story, even lower end destinations have workout spaces and most up to date resorts pay particular attention to the fitness needs of their guests. State of the art fitness centers are standard issue for most vacation spots developed in the past 10 years.

In addition to the gym many offer popular class schedules including spin, aerobics and yoga, not to mention the beach-front versions. High-end resorts also offer personal training services, which if you don't have a trainer at home, can be a very nice vacation luxury.

If a daily race for the best chaise lounge isn't your idea of an exciting vacation there are more options for today's active traveler. The first level of exertion still centers around the vacation resort. Many locations and companies offer excursions in hiking, biking, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, rock climbing - even hunting or horse riding. This sort of arrangement allows for a variable amount of activity. Maybe the rest of the family wants to hit the pool or maybe you want three days of buffet hopping mixed with a little excitement. This can be a great way to break into a more active vacation without getting in over your head.

For a more adventurous and invigorating experience there is an entire spectrum of vacation options. From beginner level bike retreats to elite level backpacking and ice climbing tours the world is your oyster. Discovery or adventure travel, as it's commonly called, has many inherent benefits but one often overlooked by skeptics is an additional connection to the places you travel. Sitting behind the walls of a resort can be refreshing and relaxing but biking through the Italian countryside or hiking through Patagonia, allows a connection to the land and people that can be elusive otherwise.

At BicycleTours.us you will find a directory of leading bicycle tour operators who offer bicycle tours and vacations for cyclists with varying interests and abilities.

There are packages and tours all around the world in all types of climate and terrain, which can be adjusted to your desired level of activity and comfort. Kayaking tours through Belize or Panama, hiking tours across Manorca or Nepal, biking tours through Italy or the American West; whatever your fitness level, whatever your sense of adventure, whatever your budget there are active vacation packages that can suit you.

Also, you don't necessarily have to give up luxury or comfort for any of these activities. For example, you can ride the Swiss Alps 20 or 30 miles at a time and each night stay in luxuriously appointed accommodations and eat top-notch cuisine. You can basically build whatever vacation you want.

Working out to get ready for a vacation doesn't have to be a purely narcissistic endeavor. Surf any number of websites related to adventure or discovery travel and see the many options available for any activity at any budget for any skill level and every comfort level almost anywhere in the world. Tomorrow you can start working out for your next vacation with a whole new set of goals and the best part is, when you return, you'll still be in great shape.