I have been a member of Holiday Gym on Princesa (there are many Holidays) for awhile now and am quite satisfied. There are quite a few foreigners that also go there (although not overwhelming). While on the search, I checked out a few gyms (including Arian) and felt they were too small, had old equipment, or were overrun with beefed-up men who seem to only stare at the women if they try to use the machines.
I believe that Holiday is currently running a special (they seem to do this often) of buy one year, get one free. If anyone needs more details on the gym, feel free to post.
Posts: 63 | Location: Madrid (from Seattle) | Registered: 22 November 2001
I agree with Rachel. The Holiday Gyms seem to be the most familiar looking and feeling gyms for both male and female expats in Madrid. The equipment is fairly modern, without too long of a wait and the aerobic / fitness classes have a good offering of times and styles to choose from. They have several locations to choose from like the ones in Arguelles, Santiago Bernabeu, and Colombia for example. They also offer several different deals like two for one memberships, or extra months free, sign up now pay later, etc. My advice is to speak directly with the owner/manager and try to work out your own deal to match your specific needs.
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Posts: 881 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 08 November 2002
Hi Folks, Do the Holiday Gyms have fees for daily users? My son is a body builder, and on our last trip, he used the Gym at the HUSA Princesa, where we stayed on our way back, but he said the equipment was not very modern. He also used the Gimnasios Body Factory in Santiago de Compostela, which were fabulous, extremely clean, and had excellent equipment. In the brochure we received from the Body Factory it said that they have 12 centers in Madrid, have any of you used these centers?
Thank you.
Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001
Right on Rachel and Jer!!! Most Madrid gyms, Holiday Gym included, want to sell the biggest / longest term contracts possible. It is much less work for them and a lot more profitable to sell as many long term contracts as they can. They count on people paying for the memberships and then dropping off rather than the people actually showing up and using the gyms. That is why the gyms that are pay per use look so run down in comparison. Anyway, each one of the Holiday Gyms in Madrid has its own private owner and if you have a group or an interesting proposition for them they will atlest hear you out. I myself got in on a Corporate VIP Card which allows me to use any of their outlets for 300 euros a year. For individuals who just need a place to work out while they are here or considering other gyms, there are municipal "Polideportivos" from the ayuntamiento de Madrid that have pay per use weight rooms and sell discount ticket books for multiple uses. I think Jer can provide more information on the closest ones to the center.
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Posts: 881 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 08 November 2002
Hi joquecalor, thanks for the tip on the new reebokclub. Looks nice from their website but it is on the VERY expensive side though
To add to Madrid Insider's info on "polideportivos", most people who use them are Spaniards so they are good to get away from all the foreigners at the private gms, especially the ones that advertise in the ex-pat newspapers and mags here and tend to be packed with "guiris".
There is a "polideportivo" in La Latina, 5-10 minutes walk south of Sol and right in fronto of the "Latina" Metro stop (line #5).
Instalaci�n Deportiva Municipal Latina Plaza de la Cebada # 1 Tel: 91 365 80 31 (only speak Spanish).
Best thing to do is go by and get a price list since they have many services and change schedules every few months. These gyms are very inexpensive compared to private ones as they are subsedized by the city.
They also offer loads of activities and classes from swimming to judo.
Here are some exmples of the adult prices for 2003...
� 3 sessions per week pass = 25.50� per month. � 2 sessions per week pass = 20.50� per month. � 1 sessions per week pass = 11.70� per month
� single use weight room session = 3.40� � singele use pool session = 3.4�
etc...etc...etc...
As I said, best to go there and get an info and pricing sheet for yourself but it is very cheap compared to most private gyms and it does offer single use sessions.
Hello Linda, Sorry for the delay. Holiday gym�s prices are as follows:
3 months......229 euros 6 months......299 euros 1 year........600 euros plus 1 yr. free (I think it�s a special, and what I bought)
1 year VIP....661 euros plus 1 yr. free
VIP means that you can go to any of the Holiday gyms and that you can bring a guest (but they can�t go more than once). I think you can also use their towels for free, otherwise they�re 60 eurocents.
You�ll notice that they don�t have monthly rates. However you can sell your membership to someone, I think it costs 60 euros to change the name or something. And no, I�m not making a mistake with the 3 and 6 month fees. Strange, I know.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I usually go M-F.
Posts: 63 | Location: Madrid (from Seattle) | Registered: 22 November 2001
Hey Rachel, thanks for the pricing info. I have a few questions...
1) With a membership, can one go any time of any day as long as they are open? I ask because many gyms make you choose either "ma�ana" or "tarde" for your membership in order to not have too many people at the gym at once.
2) How is the pool at the Holiday Gym you go to? Is it the one on Calle Princesa).
3) I have heard that the Holiday Gym (at least the one on Princesa) is always PACKED out and that one always has to wait to get on the machines, is this true from your experience?
As for...
quote:
And no, I�m not making a mistake with the 3 and 6 month fees. Strange, I know.
It is actually not strange at all, most gyms bank on the fact that people start out agressive and enthusiastic for the first few months and then their attendance ends up dwindling after that initial "burst" so they make out on that little bit extra for the 6 month deal.
1. You can go to Holiday anytime you want and do not need to choose am or pm. They open quite early and stay open until midnight.
2. The pool is long, but skinny. I believe that 3 people could do laps at the same time. If there�s not a class in the pool, there is usually only one person in there so it�s never crowded.
3. As for the gym being crowded itself, I suppose that would depend on what time of day you go. It does get pretty crowded after 7pm, which is why I avoid those hours. I love going mid-morning when it�s practically empty. Lunchtime is fine as well. Rarely I may have to wait 10 min. for a treadmill (they have around 10), but if that happens, I just bike instead. Only a couple of classes get really full and they are ones with one specific instructor (who�s pretty hot... uh and good)
Posts: 63 | Location: Madrid (from Seattle) | Registered: 22 November 2001
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