Well, yes and no. It's important to enjoy yourself, but a week of french fries and minibar snacks can be devastating to both your motivation and your shape. The more you look at healthy eating as something you take with you everywhere, the better off you'll be. Here's how.

Pack it up—Figure out what motivates you to stay in shape, and do your best to make it part of your vacation. Is it that morning jog? Bring your running shoes. An hour on the stationary bike? Try to find a hotel with a gym. Yoga? Throw in a mat. For some people, weighing themselves is essential. We wouldn't suggest you check your scale on a plane, but you could always bring it along on a road trip.

Get the special meal—The average airline meal packs more than 1,000 calories. If you call 24 hours ahead, you can request the low-fat or low-calorie option. Another alternative: Bring a sandwich or a carton of yogurt. Save the calories for something that actually tastes good when you get where you're going.

Minibars: Just say no—If your hotel has a minibar stocked with candy, chips, and Baileys Irish Cream, you can always refuse the key. And if you ask in advance, some hotels, including Four Seasons properties, will empty the minibar or stock it with pretzels, fresh fruit, and rice cakes. Omni Hotels offer Get Fit Guest Rooms for an additional $14.99 per day, which includes an in-room treadmill and weights, plus relatively healthy snacks like trail mix.

Avoid bad breakfasts—If you're accustomed to starting your day with a bowl of Grape Nuts, breakfast on the road could be your dietary downfall. A quick maple scone at Starbucks comes to 570 calories; add a Frappuccino and that's 975. A lower-calorie (if not entirely healthful) option: a Krispy Kreme glazed cake donut (220 calories). Surprisingly, many fast-food chain breakfast sandwiches, like the Breakfast Jack and the Egg McMuffin, aren't too fattening. Perhaps the best choice of all: a little box of cereal from the motel buffet, skim milk, and a piece of fruit.

Drive well—Charles Platkin, weight loss expert and author of Breaking the Pattern, advises travelers to bring a cooler on car trips. Gas stations will have ice; load the cooler with low-calorie snacks of your choice—fruit, carrots, mozzarella cheese sticks, yogurt. A small meal every few hours will keep you from overeating down the road, and you'll steer clear of those dangerous fast-food chains. (See chart below.)

Pick and choose—This is your vacation. If you want wine with dinner, order it. But then pass on the bread. Get dessert—but split it with a companion. Make every meal an occasion. Seek out foods you really love and skip those you don't. You'll be pleasantly surprised when you get home.