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4th January 2017
01:40pm GMT
New year, new you, right?
One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions year after year is the resolution to lose weight and get fit.
Joining a gym is generally the first step on this journey but finding the right facility is key to success.
Depending on where you live, joining a gym in town might be your best bet. It’s easier to visit after work, and most of the public transport goes in that direction.
Here’s a list of the seven biggest gyms in Dublin City Centre, information about their facilities and a comparison of their pros and cons.
So, before you drop a huge amount of money, check out what’s on offer.
Where:
Facilities: Fully equipped gym
Membership Costs: For one specific gym, either €29 a month or €259 a year, or for access to all €32 a month or €299 for the year
Notice Period: 72 hours before monthly payment. Can only get a refund on the payment for the year if you cancel within 14 days
Pros: One of the cheapest gyms available, all gyms open 24 hours apart from Baggot Street and Dundrum, lots of locations
Cons: Can be very busy at peak times, no frills
Where:
Facilities: Cardio, resistance and free-weight gyms, pools and tennis courts in Leopardstown and Clontarf, cafés in Leopardstown and Clontarf, climbing walls in Clontarf and Sandymount, spas in all three gyms
Membership Costs: €25-€75 a month depending on package
Notice Period: Cancel before next direct debit payment
Pros: Includes the gyms in Leopardstown, Sandymount and Clontarf, plus a gym in Dun Laoghaire is being added, good facilities
Cons: Kids allowed, not as easily accessible as some other locations
Where:
Facilities: Fully equipped gym, plus some gyms have pools
Membership Costs: €18.95 - €29 a month (plus a €25 - €29 joining fee) and €195 - €245 a year, depending on which gym you join
Notice Period: Must cancel at least two weeks before next monthly payment. Upfront memberships can only be suspended for a maximum of six months on medical grounds.
Pros: Cheap and central
Cons: No ability to use other Ben Dunne gyms with membership, busy at peak times
Where:
Facilities: Fully equipped gym, and pool, sauna, and steam room (except for Ballsbridge, which has a spa area instead)
Membership Costs: €41 per month or €410 for the year for the Clarendon branch, or €59 a month or €590 a year for access to every branch. Contact individual branches for their membership prices.
Notice Period: There’s a 3-month minimum commitment, then 30 days notice for cancelling monthly payments. There’s no refunds for cancelling a year’s membership unless you don’t see results after doing the 30-day Empower Programme.
Pros: Fitness programme included in membership cost
Cons: Closes at 5pm on the weekends, kids allowed
Where:
Facilities: Fully equipped gym
Membership Costs: €365 for the year, €44 - €49 depending on location (student discounts available)
Notice Period: Cancel at least five working days before next payment
Pros: Free parking and over 16s
Cons: No frills
Where: Excise Walk, North Dock, Dublin 1
Facilities: Fully equipped gym, 18-metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi
Membership Costs: From €60 per month (plus a €50 joining fee) to €650 upfront for a full year's membership
Notice Period: One month's notice to cancel, unless it is due to medical/redundancy reasons (in which case immediate cancellation is possible if supported with documentation)
Pros: 10% discount for members in East Restaurant, 10% discount for members in Viola Day Spa
Cons: Only open until 7.30pm on the weekends, kids allowed, parking extra
Where: Smithfield Market, Dublin 7
Facilities: Fully equipped gym, pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, boxing dojo, and T-Rex studio
Membership Costs: On application (previous rates were €79 monthly on-peak and €60 off-peak, plus joining fee)
Notice Period: A three-month notice period, unless cancelling for medical reasons or redundancy with supporting documentation
Pros: Luxury facilities, including boxing dojo and yoga studio
Cons: Long notice period, more expensive than other options
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