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As off July 2006, a new fitness center has opened in Bangkok. True Fitness is located at the Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection. It is actually just opposite one of the branches of California Fitness, located at Jasmine City, at the entrance to Sukhumvit Soi 23.
True Fitness occupies the first few floors of the Exchange Tower building. This building was about finished when the 1997 financial crisis erupted, but never opened. That is, until now. After about 9 years (!!!) the building starts a new life. The location of the fitness center is certainly not optimal, especially for those relying on the BTS or MRT for transport. It is basically on the wrong side of the road.
Now, we went to check it out. To do so, there is no other way then to pretend to be a prospecting customer. So we duly played the role, and obtained the following information.
True Fitness comprises a few floors. It is a 'mega' fitness center, and there are hundreds of units of exercise equipment. Two separate aerobic rooms, group cycling room, free weights room, lots of 'cardiovascular' exercise equipment such as stationary bicycles, threadmills, cross trainers etc.
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True Fitness, located at Exchange Tower, the Sukhumvit Road-Asoke Road Intersection. |
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There are two yoga rooms. One is for 'regular' yoga, one for heat-assisted yoga. There are quite a few yoga classes scheduled each day. The fitness center also includes a True Spa and a True Cafe. We understand there may even be a small shopping center associated in the near future.
In contrast to California Wow, True Fitness has included ample sitting space with comfortable chairs around its premises. The locker rooms are also somewhat more spacious, and better looking. The showers are in separate cubicles, with proper glass walls and doors. So, while we can not really judge the differences between the available exercise equipment at both venues, overall, the auxilliary facilities seem to be better at True Fitness.
What are the costs involved?
First of all, True Fitness also uses the 'free-floating' pricing system, where no rates are published or publicly displayed. When we visited, we noticed a large billboard above the entrance, making an offer of membership for 975 baht/month. Certainly, when discussing the costs (we actually did not discuss, just listened to what was proposed to us) this rate was never mentioned.
This is what we got. We just need to point out that the rates quoted may be different from what another visitor may get, but at least you get an idea of how it goes.
Initially we where offered : 4000 baht joining fee, 1699 baht processing fee, and monthly payments (by credit card only apparently) of 1799 baht. In the process we were told that True Fitness does not intend to be as cheap as California Wow, and wants to avoid being crowded at most times. [This is really a problem for California Wow, it is crowded to the point of serious discomfort, and still there are a few girls walking in the vicinity of Sukhumvit Soi 23, trying to get even more customers]. True Yoga would be available at about 2000 baht/month separately.
We did not react in any major way to this proposal. Shortly thereafter, a more senior member of the marketing staff came by, and started proposing better deals. The joining and processing fees were waved, and the monthly payments lowered by 100 baht. But a combination of regular fitness center use and yoga was offered for a quite acceptable fee (we thought) of 1999 baht per month.
Personally, this is the most important thing we got out of this. Make sure to get a good fee for use of both the regular exercise facilites and yoga. Most likely this also applies to 'negotiations' at other exercise outlets in Bangkok.
Update end October 2007 : True Fitness opened another branch at Zen (CentralWorld). Two more branches in Bangkok are planned and one branch in Pattaya. This is good news and makes for more competition in the market.
Business information :
The founder of True Fitness is Patrick Wee. Patrick Wee previously worked as a partner at California Fitness. He was also involved in the creation of Planet Yoga (now part of California Wow). Patrick Wee also opened the well reputed True Yoga center in Singapore. True Fitness is a Malaysian owned company. A few more True Fitness center are reportedly planned for Bangkok.
More exercise clubs at California Wow and Fitness First | Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit | True Fitness | GMM Fitness Club
Send comments. You know any other really great facility, let us know, we might check it out.
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