What's the etiquette for using the exercise room in a hotel?

We are going to be staying in a hotel in about a month. What is the etiquette for using the treadmill or other equipment in the hotel gym. Do people sign up for a certain time? How long can you use the equipment for if others are waiting for it? How do you know if others are waiting for it (do they stand around or do they tell you)? What's a popular time to use the gym (so I can avoid it and use it when fewer people may be using it). Any experience or advice would be great. Thanks.

The hotel desk or an attendant in the exercise room should have the answers. Or there may be rules posted in the exercise room. I've found most operate on a "first come" basis for equipment access. I can't recall ever seeing a sign-up list for anything other than classes. Timing will probably depend on the size of the room, how many and what kind of people are there at the hotel, etc. you may have to wait and see when you get there. If the hotel caters to businessmen, then the room will probably have guys and gals there early morning and after work hours, but not so much during the business day. If it's for vacationers, then early morning and late at night will probably be pretty empty. Especially in a situation like this where your fellow-users will be strangers, common courtesy needs to be practiced. Have a towel to wipe the sweat off the equipment when you're finished and return it to the starting position. Same thing if you're waiting for a piece of equipment. Politely ask, tell, and don't hog. The only problem I can ever remember in a hotel exercise room was when a guy forgot to secure his weights, did a horrible lift, and spilled 100 pounds off one end.