Gold’s Gym

Gym Rat! –a noun (def.): Someone who spends too much of their leisure time in a gym working out, obsessive compulsive over not missing a day or hangs out at the gym for hours to no end… for no reason!
I remember the first time I ever set foot in a gym.
I was 15, a day removed from getting cut from HS football team tryouts. So to get back at all the naysayers… I got a gym membership and had planned on getting «big and strong» for tryouts the next year! The problem was… I didn’t know where to start or what I was doing! I haphazardly wandered from machine to machine, doing a set of this, 10 reps of that… and then I tried to do the ONE exercise I thought I knew: The Chest Bench Press!
After loading up more weight on the bar than my total weight, my spaghetti arms shakily removed the weight from the safety rack, and it immediately fell directly on my chest. Panicking because I could not lift it back up, I slowly rolled my body to the left, and watched as the weights spiraled off the end of the bar… then the same to the right of me… LOL
BOOM! POWW! KLINGA-​LING ling linng!
The weights hit the ground and sounded like a round of gunshots. I was so embarrassed. I quickly raised the bar to the safety rack, and hoped no one noticed… until I saw about half of the gym goers — 30+ pairs of eyes and people staring at me! LOL
That was Day 1… I will never forget it. Since then… Countless hours have been dedicated to bettering my health and the gym has become a religion…“health-conscious relationship & way of life” for me.
Although, I don’t personally think I’m a Gym Rat… many who know me say otherwise! LOL. So, I thought this week I would give an opinion on Gold’s Gym in Alexandria VA… from an «In Denial» Gym Rat’s retrospective!
For starters… this place is huge and probably the biggest gym in the entire DC area. I fell in love with this gym as soon as I walked through the doors! It is huge (did I say that already!?)…superclean, and a fitness fanatics dream. This place has every piece of equipment under the sun. In addition, there are free weights and lifting machines for days! I felt like a kid in a candy store.
The entire gym is all one level and the floor plan is about the size of a football field, in comparison. The gym has loads of fitness/​cardio equipment, a spin cycle studio as big as an independent film movie theater, and indoor lap pool and jacuzzi!
Also, most importantly… is MY PLAYGROUND/SANDBOX…the free weights section! There is enough weight equipment to work every muscle known to man and beast alive! This gym offers regular cycle, yoga, aqua fit, and cardio classes too. The are several classes to break the treadmill monotony and keep even self-​diagnosed ADD people, such as myself, occupied. A few honorable mentions include step class, kick-​boxing, and Zumba… in which I humbly made the mistake for a «Crumpin’ class»…so I politely exited out before being embarrassed. I realized that it was not for me; including the strip tease class a friend tried to get me to take with her and some sort of hip hop abs (booty-​pop) class… I definitely declined, but trust, if I was to take these type of classes and show my moves… I am sure to «Make it Rain» up in there! LOL
So as you can see there is something for everybody at this Gold’s Gym location to keep you motivated and get you moving.
To sum it all up:
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great staff. Very friendly and helpful people. You should feel right at home with most of the staff.
VIBE: Non-​intimidating. Beginners, Novice, Bodybuilders and Advanced Fitness Enthusiast… will all fit into this utopian environment; Fitness models and Narcissist not included.
LOCKERS/​SHOWERS: Very, Verrrryy Super Clean. Lots of large open spaces and lockers to change in. This is where ALL other gyms fail… imho. This place is a breath of fresh air… in comparison to other locations that wreak sometimes in BO, hot stale breath and smells of pickled pig feet!
So, who is this gym really for? I would say ANYONE. I could not find any fault or anything bad with this gym. It has everything one would need and there’s plenty of equipment/​classes to motivate and variate (change up) your workouts; if you find your routine getting monotonous. With so many amenities within this gym… What more do you need?!
For me, this is one of the few local gyms I can swim, workout, and take in a good class… all in the same spot… all in the same day! Now even I would say, that’s a lot of time in one «spot» weekly… but am I…“In Denial” about being a Gym Rat?!! LOL
So, if you read this review this far… Get your butt up off the couch and sign up for this place immediately… you won’t regret it.

I’ve belonged to a few gyms over the past 35 years and none have been better than the Gold’s gym on Richmond Highway in Alexandria for the price and quality. The classes are inspirational, especially the body pump with Caron at 5:30 on Tuesdays. Erika signed my family members up with thought and care, and all of the employees at the front desk are welcoming and inspirational. This is a fun, friendly, family oriented gym at an amazing price. They’ve even added a salt water indoor lap pool. This gym is the one to belong to.

I joined Gold’s about a year ago, the first time I have used a private gym because I like to support the Y and county facilities, and was afraid a private gym would be trying to sell me stuff. I love this gym. The salt water pool was the big draw for me, but the place is so clean and welcoming, and has really convenient hours. I love coming here to work out.

This is a great gym. The price is reasonable and there is enough equipment that I seldom wait for anything. The staff is amazing too, the greet you by name and are very friendly.

Really impressed with this gym. It’s huge with almost everything you could think of.
It’s clean, well ventilated and has lots of equipment.
It has an indoor pool, day care center, women’s workout center, exercise classes, tanning and massages.
Love this gym. So glad I joined.

I attended a Body Flow class as a guest at Gold’s on 3÷25÷16.
Before I begin (and if you have read my profile) you’ll notice I am a bit of gym junkie.
I arrived a little late to Gold’s to take a class; and, knowing I had to check in at the front desk I thought I was going to miss the class. The front desk and membership staff was great about rushing me thru the process. (I promised to stop by the membership office after I took the class.) Although, the membership staff directed me to the wrong class I still may it in enough time to set up for the body flow class. (The teacher announced what class I was in and I quickly figured out I needed to go to the other classroom.)
I enjoyed the class. I would take the body flow class again. I walked around the gym after I took the class.
I was really impressed by the facility. I had imagined that this would be a «run of the mill» gym. I was wrong. Although, the gym is located in a strip mall, it has new and updated equipment. I also noticed that the gym had a pool.
The locker room was very clean. I would have liked to have more towels (and towel service) in the gym. I also didn’t see any towels I could grab to use (forgot to bring one) I could use in the Body Flow class.
I have never been to a gym where there is separate room in a locker room for «VIP members». I almost wanted to peak in just to see what it was all about.
Although, the machines don’t have separate small TVs on the equipment which I have become use to seeing a lot of the newer gyms. Gold’s offered a ton of large screen TVs in and/​or around the main floor with the equipment.
In a nutshell, this location of Gold’s is very nice (compared to Gyms with the same or comparable price structure). I wouldn’t hesitate to go back particular as guest to try one of their many Les Milles classes. However, if you want a gym with upgrades (like towel service) I’d check out the Sport & Health (it is significantly more expensive than Gold’s brand of gyms).

I have been working out for over 11 years and this gym by far; is one of the best gyms that I have had a membership with. I absolutely love that they offer a variety of weights and equipment options. The staff is always friendly and I can truly say that I enjoy every minute I am in the gym.

Where the big boys pump iron. Along with the big girls too. Life is too short to not be strong!
This gym is serious fitness personified. No slackers here. Come to Gold’s to be hardcore, be focused, and get the best out of your workout. Absolutely awesome gym. A sea of equipment.
Just an amazing amount of equipment. Huge array of cardio with a monster wall of tv screens to hook into. So many weights, racks, benches, machines, etc. Cardio and high energy aerobics classes each day. Such an amazing array of equipment everywhere you look. So many toys to play with.
There is also a well maintained pool here to get your laps in.
Store on site to purchase Gold’s gear or grab a protein drink on the way out. Friendly desk staff. Very clean and organized. Good hours early morn to late night. Worked a nice day pass deal for me to cover the three days I was here. Very cool.
Loved every minute I trained here and can’t wait to go back next time visiting family in the area!
As Arnold said — «I’ll be baaaack»!

Ha, okay first of all customer service here sucks. The semi bald guy at the front desk was rude from the beginning. Obviously the management has little knowledge on who they hire. This is a franchise gym that fails to advertise that. I was in the area and this was the closest golds to me. I walk in with my friend and right away the guy rudely tells us it’s a franchise and informs us we are not allowed to be here. I understand it’s a private franchise BUT THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AN ASSHOLE towards corporate gym members. Unilocal needs to have the option to not give any stars.

Overall: Love this gym! I tend to be a very introverted person, and I actually enjoy that people seem genuinely friendly without overly prying into my day. (good read on people). Gladly recommend based on criteria below.
Equipment Availability: I am uncomfortable with huge groups of people and I never have an issue finding equipment when I go (06:30−08:00) and mornings on the weekends. I mainly use the Lady Gold’s part, but even the availability of cardio equipment is fantastic at those hours I listed.
Cleanliness: It’s very clean, with equipment wipe-​down towels refreshed regularly.
Staff: The staff is genuinely friendly, from the housekeeping folks, to the front desk attendants, to the instructors, trainers, sales folks.. I have never been a member of a gym with a staff as genuine and attentive as this one. Always say hello and good bye without being pushy (again — I don’t really like people :))
Personal Training: Bob Artman was the trainer I worked with when I first got started. He was very patient, explained the machines/​exercises that he put me through to assess my skill, and gave me a good start to working out. Even though I did not ultimately sign up for a personal trainer, he still says hello and asks me how I’m doing.
Classes: I have only taken the Zumba classes, but the schedule is posted on their website. Personable instructors and classmates.
Value: Excellent value; the monthly rate I pay when I signed up during a promotional push, is certainly worth it for the equipment availability and variety, and cleanliness.

This place is bomb. I am addicted. I used to work here when they were up the road. I just signed back up a few weeks ago, and I love this place. I really signed up because of the classes being offered, but honestly I haven’t even gotten into those yet. I’m hung up on the awesome gym equipment! They have everything here, and the people are super-​nice!

Bob Sheppard has assembled an EXCELLENT staff at the gym and Pleasant Lewis (the owner) couldn’t have found a more capable person to manage this facility. Erica also has done a great job of managing the front desk and member services and she ALWAYS has her «game face» on and is EXTREMELY professional. Al, Danny, Ty, and Pete seem to be very focused and determined to build membership and I believe they are a solid team that will do all they can to match the members with the best plan to help them meet their fitness goals. The entire front desk crew are very courteous and they ALWAYS greet members when they walk in and when they leave (I just wish members would acknowledge the greetings when the guys at the desk acknowledge them… so frick’n disrespectful when they say have a good night and the member keeps on walking… that’s not fair and it’s not right). The trainers seem to be very motivated in helping the members reaching their goals in becoming as fit as possible and they don’t give up. I’ve been fortunate to receive some very effective workout tips from these fitness pros and they are always willing to share.
Kevin, who is the engineer in charge of maintenance is constantly inspecting and working on any equipment in need of repair is good and responsive when one points out something in need of his attention… great dude. Also, the janitorial staff seem to always be cleaning keeping things fresh and sanitized in the gym… they are second to none in my book. Parking is more than ample and well lit at night along with operational hours that should fit just about anyone’s work schedule. I love the fact that the rates are REASONABLE and the gym seems to be constantly expanding and improving… you WILL see your money in motion at this fitness facility and it’s money well spent. The recently added cross fit area and pool are a very nice touch. I’ve been with this particular gym for over a decade and I have NO intention of going anywhere else, so come on and sign up and become part of our fitness family… trust me, you won’t regret it.

This is one of the best managed and professional gyms I have ever been to. It has a large selection of equipment for just about anyone. The equipments are always clean and in good shape, the lockers are brand new and in great shape. And the swimming pool along with the Jacuzzi is a really nice touch. I have no complaints about the gym. The manager also constantly asks the patrons how to make the gym better.

I joined this gym today but it was the second time i go. Truth is i joined to workout to have my music blasting in my earphones while i lift. I only wanted this gym and loved it because of the amount of space and machines. I was at the deadlifting area and i dropped/​banged the weight loud on the floor several times no one said anything nor looked at me in a weird manner. Everyone in that section was working hard on growing stronger. That was motivation. But the reason i loved it as well was because at the fron they remembered my name the second time i walked in. The other gyms «big gyms «ive been to they dont. So that was like a wow moment also the prices for what i can do there for only 34 a month for now. Is something i can appreciate. This gym is nice
Its a gym simple as that you can in to workout
Focused on the weight if you become stronger then that gym was a great tool
Everything else is just extras
No perfect gym
You ain’t perfect either so maybe its not them it could be you thats asking the wrong question

Like another reviewer, I’m surprised at some of the ratings for this gym. It looks like most of the negative ratings are due to policies/​cancellations.
As a current member, Gold’s provides me with everything I need. I prefer this gym to two others I’ve attended in the past. The staff is very friendly. Someone always greets me when I enter and exit.
Equipment is extremely accessible, especially cardio equipment. During peak hours, I’ve never had to wait for a cardio machine, but I have had to wait for the oblique machine and for a spot in the stretching area. The free weight area in Lady Gold’s can sometimes get crowded, but this usually only lasts for a few minutes and occurs, as expected, during peak. Any sort of waiting/​crowding is remedied by avoiding peak hours. :P
I usually don’t have an issue with parking either. Yes, I’ve had to park at the far end of the lot during peak hours, but what’s wrong with a little more walking — we’re heading to a gym anyways, right?
I’ve been a member since the past winter, but only started regularly going around March. I used to loathe going to the gym, but I sense a judgement-​free attitude with the clientele/​staff that has gradually reduced my gym intimidation.

Update: One of the managers heard my plea about my card troubles and manually set everything up so I have no issues now. The gym renovations is nearing its completion and I love it. This gym is MASSIVE. Whenever I got to other locations I am shocked by how small they are now. The new salt water pool is amazing! I use it a few times a week and have never had to share a lane yet. The hours, the people, and the amount of equipment makes this gym my absolute favorite Golds. I am quite pleased that I live so close and this will be my forever gym!

I currently have a corporate membership but the closest one with traffic is 15mins away so I wanted to switch to this franchise. I got a 7 day pass to test it out. From day 1 customer service sucked. Everyone at the front desk is so rude (must be a franchise thing) the culture at my corporate gyms and I’ve been to many is the total opposite. That was a deal breaker for me. Won’t be switching. This was at the Alexandria location indeed; the one with pool and all other amenities (which are still under construction) Pete was helping me, and I was very close to signing up with him. But I will not be making the switch after the customer service I received during the 7day trial.

It’s your typical Gold’s Gym with no frills and never any place to park. Classes are packed so plan to get there 5 – 10 mins early to wait in the line to get into the workout class. They are undergoing a major renovation so hopefully it will be much better after. Right now, it may be better to go somewhere else until they finish the renovations.

I love this gym. everyone here is so friendly. I’m also surprised by some of the negative ratings, I can’t think of anything that would make my experience at this gym any better. There are new equipment’s to fits every training profile. could it get crowded during rush hours; Yes, but if you wait a few minutes you will get on a treadmill, or find the right weight or machine. The space is clean, and you can tell that management is taking care of the facility.
Also, personal trainers are very knowledgeable, and willing to help if you have a question.

I’m surprised by all the negative reviews for this gym! I happen to like it a lot because of the big space, ample equipment, and very friendly staff. Erika was the manager that signed me up and she was very straightforward and sweet. She gave me all the details on the membership so I would not be surprised by any charges later on. They do kind of force you to get at least a one year contract with them, but I was ok with that since I plan on working out there for a while.
This location has a very big space with the cardio equipment isolated in the center of the gym (facing towards a bunch of big screen tv’s), upper body machines to the right, lower body and free weights to the left, a strength area towards the back and a women’s only area adjacent to the ladies locker room. There is a very large selection of cardio equipment: arc trainers, all kinds of bikes, row machines, treadmills, ellipticals, and my favorite… the stair machine! I really liked the fact that they had a lot of step mills because my last gym only had 2.
The free weight and strength areas are also very spacious with a lot of weights and benches. The gym tends to get VERY busy during peak hours after work but you can still find space and equipment to do your thing. During the weekend it’s not that busy which is pretty cool. Also, the women’s section has a good set of equipment (including cardio, machines, free weights, smith machine) to workout with if you wanted to avoid the guys in the main gym :).
Finally, I have only tried one of their classes (zumba) and I liked it a lot. They have tons of classes for those who are into group exercise. Overall, very good gym, well-​kept, clean, good service. The only drawback to this gym is how busy it gets during peak hours.