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I spent the afternoon today checking out a few different gyms in Palermo. I’ve been missing the gym since I left NYC, so today I finally had a chance to try and use my minimal Spanish and sign up for a six month membership at a gym. I had seen a few in the area, and also read a couple of message board posts on BA Expats and Argentina Private discussing options. I decided to check out Narziso, Always Club and Megatlon Palermo.
Megatlon, located in the trendy Alto Palermo mall was by far the nicest of the three, but it was also the most expensive and most pretentious. They also have 14 other locations in Buenos Aires. The equipment there was new and better than that in many NYC gyms. They also have a unique system that involves using a USB keychain to tailor a personal workout to you as well as keep track of all your workouts which was pretty cool. In addition to the price, I was also turned off when the guy showing us around said their least busy time was from 6am – 8am and in the afternoon, pretty much implying that they were usually packed. The prices were really high too: six months for AR $1428 plus AR $120 for the key chain. A personal trainer was AR $70 per session.
Narziso was the smallest and their equipment appeared to be aging. But, their class schedule was pretty good as were their rates. They also have two locations, one of which has a pool. Their rates were: 1 month: AR $120/month (AR $20 membership card); 3 months: AR $100/month (AR $20 membership card); 6 months: AR $95/month (no card fee); 12 months: AR $90/month (no card fee); Personal Trainer: AR $300 for 1 month – 8 sessions (AR $37.50/session).
I ended up choosing Always Club based on location, cost and amenities. It is a good sized gym, with a good class schedule and decent equipment. They offered me a cash price of AR $500 for 6 months which works out to U.S. $28/month. Monthly plans are AR $100/month and personal trainers are AR $320 for one month of 8 sessions (U.S. $12.50/session). Not bad…
So, after a week of pizza, eating out, pastries and ice cream, it’s time to settle into the routine and get back into the gym.
UPDATE (08.16.08): Two things I forgot to mention about gyms in Buenos Aires:
I just had my medical exam for the gym last night. Yes, gyms here require that you get examined by a doctor as part of your membership. I had a 10 minute appointment where the doctor asked me about my medical history, family health, took my blood pressure, and listened to my heart rate and breathing. I had scheduled the appointment when I joined the gym and could still use the gym before I had the appointment, but it was a requirement for joining.
Another thing about the gyms here is that they may actually be closed on Sunday or have drastically reduced hours. This would be unheard of in the States. My gym’s hours are: Mondays to Fridays from 7am – 12am, Saturdays from 9am – 9pm, Sundays from 6pm to 9pm, and holidays from 10am – 1pm and 6pm to 9pm.
UPDATE (03.16.09): I went in to renew for another 6 months at Always and they no longer offer that option. I could pay by month for AR $120 per month or pay for a year at AR $880/year (payable in 4 monthly payments of AR $220 each). I took the year option. Personal training had already gone up too: 4 sessions for AR $220, 8 sessions for AR $340, 12 sessions for AR $470, and 16 sessions for AR $540. These sessions must be used within 30 days of purchase.
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17 responses so far ↓
1 Lil Me // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Hora de ejercitar y de construir el músculo!!
2 robyn // Aug 8, 2008 at 9:53 am
Is Mersal going to be a PT there?
Is there a doggie gym for Delilah? Maybe that’s where your money making idea comes in… LOL
3 DaVe // Aug 8, 2008 at 9:56 am
I’m not so sure at $12.50/session, it’s a far cry from NYC prices.
I can tell you they have tons of dog services here. There are at least 10 veterinarians/pet stores in 3 blocks of us, and I see dog walkers every day. I think one guy had 15 or so dogs.
4 Henry // Aug 23, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I just joined the Always Gym, but it seems that they have just raised their prices, at least for month-to-month plans: 1st month is now AR $140; subsequent months are AR$120. Darn this inflation!
5 DaVe // Aug 26, 2008 at 9:31 am
Henry – I guess them telling us that prices were going to increase was not just a sales pitch.
They were unpacking 5 new elliptical machines this morning, so at least you know where some of your membership fee is going.
6 A Great Personal Trainer in Buenos Aires | Discover Buenos Aires // Dec 4, 2008 at 8:32 am
[...] building. He is also extremely knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition. He trains out of the Always Gym in Palermo and may also be available for personal sessions at your home. He also speaks perfect [...]
7 Sharyn // Dec 15, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Well, it is now December. . .just wondering how the gym memberships were working out? Living in a small town in Costa Rica (although from NYC), I really miss the “big city” gyms that I am used to, so it was great to see that someone else did some research for me
Are you guys still going? Are you happy with the choice? My move is still a good 6 months away so who knows what the prices will be then.
Thanks for the info.
8 bardbarsk // Mar 31, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Hi Dave! Where did you get in touch with a doctor? How long took it before you got an appointment..? Have been in Buenos Aires for over a month and lost a lot of weight, so now I´m desperate to hit the gym again…:(
9 DaVe // Mar 31, 2009 at 11:20 pm
The gym sets up the appointment and the doctor will meet you at the gym on certain nights. It's no cost to do it when you sign up for a membership. I think they just need to coevr themselves.
10 bardbarsk // Mar 31, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Thanks man!
11 greg // Apr 1, 2009 at 8:04 pm
signed up with sportclub, but they didnt provide anything but a address to a hospital, 8 blocks away, that would do it. kind of a pain. nice gym though, little cheaper than megatlon, little more than always
12 bardbarsk // Apr 2, 2009 at 1:31 am
I signed up with sportsclub today for one month.. they didn't ask for any medical exams at all.. Haven't been working out yet tho, so maybe they'll ask me then.. Does anybody know if the gyms are open tomorrow?
13 Jig // Apr 14, 2009 at 10:27 pm
My flatmate and I are thinking of joining Always gym in Palermo. Are there 2 for 1 discounts? Dave, would you get a referral bonus if we said we heard about the gym through you?
14 DaVe // Apr 14, 2009 at 11:00 pm
The one thing I've noticed here is that Argentine businesses do not seem to be big on discounts or referral fees. I have a friend who brought 60 people to a bar on a Friday night and the owner did not even give him free drinks or food.
15 brittney // May 16, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I have been in Buenos Aires since March and am interested in joining a gym. I went to Always Club today and was told that I need to bring my own doctor's note to join. Do you think things have changed since you joined last year or did something get lost in translation. Any advice would be much appreciated!
16 Buenos Aires Contacts: Matias Vertone, Personal Trainer | Discover Buenos Aires // Dec 9, 2009 at 10:41 am
[...] sessions turn out to be both a workout and a Spanish lesson in one. Matias works out of the Always Gym in Palermo Soho but also trains clients at their home, gym or in the park. He is incredibly [...]
17 Joining a Gym (Gimnasio) 2010 | Discover Buenos Aires // Jul 15, 2010 at 10:33 am
[...] had previously written about joining a gym in Buenos Aires, but now that I’m in a new neighborhood (and that post is almost two years old), I thought it [...]
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