Latest : Since end June 2022, one can exercise without wearing a mask ! Having to wear a mask at all times was one of the reasons we skipped visiting altogether.
See an add-on regarding payments during/after Covid times.
In Bangkok, there is no lack of exercise clubs and gyms. One chain dominates the exercise market : Fitness First. There was a competitor (California Wow) before, but it apparently went broke.
We are presently a member of Fitness First.
Fitness First operates at present in Southeast Asia, India, Australia and some European countries.
Fitness First
Since the disappearance of California Wow a few years ago, and the recent demise of True Fitness, Fitness First is in a way the only large operating fitness center in Bangkok and Thailand. The newly arrived Virgin Active has plans to open many outlets in the near future.
Fitness First offers large gyms sometimes on different floor levels and located mostly in large shopping centers. Their expansion seems to be limited to different areas in Bangkok. 'Platinum' gyms are located at Landmark Hotel (Sukhumvit road), Sukhumvit Soi 39, and Q House Lumpini Tower (Sathorn road), and on Sathorn Road. Besides these probably best equipped gyms, there are about 20 different locations around Bangkok, at various The Mall and Central Department Stores, at Siam Paragon, Terminal 21 , Mega Bangna, Seacon Square. Fitness First also has branches in Chonburi, Khon Kaen, and Korat.
The gyms often are well sized, with areas with stationary exercise machines, free weights, group classes, yoga and pilates, sauna, and offering personal trainers. They also feature a rest area with free coffee (not always optimal quality though), magazines and newspapers. Wifi is available.
Personal trainers are abundant and quite eager to provide their services. However, the prices charged for training sessions, are actually very high, and make me often ponder : who are these people (about half Thai, half foreign) that can afford these services?
A good reason to recommend Fitness First are the excellent and multiple group exercise sessions. If your aim is to tone your body or loose a bit of weight, this is the way to go. Two comments about the group exercises :
1) Often the music (in many cases 'noise') level is too high. So while promoting healthy activities, even weight loss, damage to hearing is neglected. We accept that individual teachers somehow lack knowledge regarding this issue. However, management should possibly install decibel meters, or a system whereby sound levels are maximised at a certain level. At present, it is best to have some earplugs ready.
2) Very few introductory sessions, or sessions with low level exercises. You kind of have to be already in good shape, to enjoy most of the activities. (No separate classes for 'seniors' either)
We checked their latest membership fees recently at their new branch at Terminal 21, Sukhumvit Road. Payments are monthly with cash or credit card. Contract is for one year. Standard program at most fitness centers costs 2,185 baht. 'Platinum' locations (Landmark Hotel, Biohouse Sukhumvit 39, House Lumpini Tower) costs 2,595 baht. These Platinum outlets are often bigger or have additional facilities, like a basic swimming pool at Biohouse.
Once you are a member you can check out any of the many outlets (Platinum locations only for Platinum members). This is interesting, since branches and equipment may differ. As a matter of fact, some outlets operate equipment, that can be called dated, and ready for replacement.
Just want to reiterate that yoga and pilates classes are included in this deal.
You can rent a small locker for around 300 baht a month.
Always check out the gym you select, when they are most busy. For example, the Fitness First at Terminal 21, though just opened recently, is already very crowded in the evening hours, and that includes the locker room.
Fitness First does not provide towels for its members (except at the Platinum branches, which may be enough of a reason to join them). So you always have to haul along a big bag with your towel, if you need to shower after your exercise. Since there are no towels provided, most people do not carry anything with them using the exercise equipment : so whatever messages are posted around the gym, the equipment is hardly ever wiped down in between users. Towels were provided standard in the past, this goes just to show that not all 'progress' ends up being beneficial for customers. Lately, Fitness First also provides exercise clothing at its Platinum fitness clubs.
Locker rooms and showers can be crowded, check out different locations! Showers do not allow for any clothes, eyeglasses, watch or so, it will all get wet inside the small cubicle. A small shelf (where you can put your membership card?), should be located higher up.
One last comment : Fitness First offers a lot. A drawback is that it is a high-intensity gym, and a bit hectic at times. The group classes are kind of necessary for good workouts. Private gyms with less members, are more relaxing and have there own advantages. As a matter of fact, if you can afford it, be a member of both types of fitness centers.
Inside Fitness First on a quiet weekday morning
Website : Fitness First
Payments during Covid-19 Times
During the Covid Pandemic Fitness First closes and opened a few times, basically in responsive to government regulations. Initially, the company stopped charging its members when the gym was closed, which kind of made sense.
Somewhere around October/November 2021, the Thai government decided to open the country, and Covid-19 measures were scaled back. Gyms were allowed to open, as Fitness First did, with a lot of precautions in place. As far as I remember, vaccinations was required for customers.
Unexpectedly (at least in our case), Fitness First started charging its customers again by credit card, as far as I know without giving notice to its customers by email, or otherwise. It was quite a surprise for me to see that I had been charged 3 months, without having used their facilities. And according to the contract I signed as other people did, stopping credit cards payments, means cancelling subscription all together.
We can only assume that Fitness First, as other SMEs, has had a difficult time over the past 2 years, and is seeking revenue anyway it can. There is a lesson here though. Some friends of mine, have been paying cash every month, and I used to think they were overly careful. But it seems to be the proper policy to avoid these kind of sudden credit card charges. Not sure, if this kind of payment is allowed for new customers.
Overal, it is not an easy process to cancel your subscription altogether. If you really can spare the time, read the conditions for cancelling in whatever documents you are given when signing up. One particularity we discovered : after temporarily suspending our subscription (after an accident), and then wanting to stop altogether, we were told we needed to pay the full fee for one month before we could do so.
It is also notable that Fitness First stopped sending monthly receipts by mail and even by email. So you only find out about credit card charges, by screening your monthly credit card statement.
If you are looking for a different fitness experience, you may want to check-out FitTripper, it is a website, also operating in Thailand, where you can book use of fitness facilities by different providers. Interestingly, quite a few hotels are listed. This has the advantage that facilities are less crowded (though smaller), and that often a spacious sauna and/or an outdoor swimming pool are included. A good way also to get to know a place where you want to exercise regularly. Prices for most, but not all, facilities are quite reasonable in our opinion. Often, you can book multiple visits at a discount (one example, 3,100 baht for 10 visits at Westin hotel on Sukhumvit Road).
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