Travel much for work? Many people do, especially in today's world where you can get across the country in a matter of hours and even across the world in a day. But even if you just travel every once in awhile, having a fitness plan, complete with equipment in place and ready to go with you, can make a huge difference in how likely you are to exercise while you're away. Sure, there's always the hotel gym, but aside from planning to run on the treadmill you can't really plan ahead because all gyms are different and have different equipment.

So your best bet is to make use of both worlds -- the hotel's equipment (i.e. gym and pool) and your own equipment you bring with you. Here are some ideas of the best on-the-go gym equipment, courtesy of Forbes:

• AquaVee Portable Swim System Kit This is a handy system that sets up quickly and will allow you to use the hotel pool to its most advantageous. It has a line that stretches across the pool to provide support while you do Pilates moves and other exercises in the cool and naturally resistant environment of the water. $119.90
  
• TRX Professional Model The name doesn't tell you much, but this is an exercise kit that provides total-body resistance training with straps that use the body's own weight against it. Small and light (less than 2 lbs) it can be attached to a tree for an outdoor workout or to a door if you'd prefer the privacy of your hotel room. $149.95

• Harbinger Weighted Fitness Balls Available in four weights, the Harbinger Fitness balls are versatile enough for a variety of different exercises but won't hang you up in airport security. $8-$14
• BODiBEAT This one isn't cheap, but it's cool enough to warrant the extra cash spent. The BODiBEAT system is a music player/heart monitor that plays music according to the intensity of your workout (which means cool-down music without having to change the playlist!). It also monitors your pulse and tells you when to step it up and when to slow down, and keeps track of things like calories burned and average pace. $299.99
• CoreStretch This one sounds perfect after both a long crampy airplane ride and a long day of sitting in conference meetings and attending seminars. It's light and collapsible, and helps with stretching of the upper and lower body. $69.99
  
• AquaBells Travel Weights These weights are collapsible and fold flat to fit into the smallest space -- even a briefcase! Simply unfold and fill with water when you're ready to get working and you can have up to 16 lbs of resistance ready in mere minutes. $29.95-$59.95
• P.A.S.T. Core Training System This is a surprisingly light system considering it includes so much in a portable package: balance boards, rug adapters, tension cords, adjustable pushup handles, a nonlatex stretch band and gym bag. $119.95
• Natural Fitness Balance Disc All the fun and benefits of a balance ball but in a smaller and easier to pack version. Only 13" across you can do many of your usual balance ball exercises, plus a few new ones (like squats while standing on two discs). $19.95
• Trimble Outdoors AllSport GPS A subscriber service available on many cellphones, Trimble Outdoors AllSport GPS will help you find great local walking and running routes, track your calories burned and distance, and work as both a stopwatch and pedometer. $5.99/mo
• Harbinger Resistance Cables Some of the most affordable, portable, and versatile pieces of fitness equipment you can pack, resistance cables can give you an effective workout for both your upper and lower body in the convenience and privacy of your hotel room, with little to no setup. $15.99

And traveling aside, I think many of these gadgets and devices are worth keeping in your office at work for a quick lunch time exercise session (well, maybe not the swim kit).