Hey guys,
Next month I’ll spend a few weeks in Paris and Amsterdam and would like to get a few workouts in whenever I have the time. It’ll be a nice change of pace, plus a good chance to check a different crowd than I’m used to.
Is there anyone around from Europe that could give me a few pointers?
I’ve looked online and couldn’t come up with nothing.
I’m not from Europe but traveled a lot to Europe for work in the past. Finding a gym actually isn’t too hard, at least outside of France. Just search for gyms or similar keywords near your hotel. Call them, although you might do better e-mailing them in case you get someone on the phone who doesn’t speak English. Problem in Amsterdam? No. Paris? Probably.
I typically just workout a week or 2 week long deal or a pay as I go. I typically got gym access for less than 10 EUR per visit. More like 5 EUR per visit, but I feel like one place got me good.
The problem you will run into is that many of the gym policies focus on long term memberships…like 6 months to a year, especially in France. You might find it difficult to convince them that every extra penny is money in their pocket. Just be courteous, honest, and charming.
And be prepared to call a couple of places in Paris. Again, France is the worst when it comes to this sort of thing, from my personal experience.
I lived in Amsterdam for a few years and enjoyed working out at Sport City www.sportcity.nl
Not sure what type of short term arrangements they have.
Never trained there, but apparently the Haltérophiles de Montmartre is one of the few places that isn’t a Club Med type deal. When I was in Paris I trained at a council gym near Barbès Rochechouart. Google “salles de muscu Paris” to see what’s around.
ZJStrope is right about the yearly memberships, but most places will let you try out the gym for free or at an introductory rate before you sign up… then you just don’t sign up.
Gym opening times here can also be idiosyncratic.
Thanks you all for the input.
I’ll be staying at a friend’s place in Paris and she doesn’t work out – that doesn’t help much.
Her place is 5 minutes away from the Porte de Versailles station. Does that ring any bells? I’m not sure which neighborhood that is, though.
I do not speak French. At all.
But at the same time I’m trying to stay away as much as I can from tourist gyms (they have a lot of these here in Brazil) since they’re packed and would hardly fit my needs.
In Amsterdam I’m staying at a hostel, so that should be of some help since I believe the guys at the front desk might now a place or two.
I’ve been to Amsterdam several times (Mainly to smoke & fuck nasty hookers!) and have heard that the USC (Universiteits Sport Centrum) is a great place to get strong.
As for Paris, you’ve really hit the shit stain of Europe when it comes to gyms! Good luck finding anything decent.
Found this near Porte de Versailles. Looks like they have a free weights area.
This isn’t far from Porte de Versailles, but has odd opening hours:
http://quefaire.paris.fr/fiche/67991_musculation
This is a list of public gyms:
They will all have weird hours (Fridays only 8pm til 10.30pm, for example), but you can generally walk in and train without them trying to sell you a health club membership.
Don’t worry about your French, they secretly LOVE speaking English.
Hello, i’m french from Paris, we have all style of training ( crossfit, bodybuilding, fitness only machine, street workout, olympic weightlifting gym)
Near your place, you have the health city , crossfit paris, , club med gym
but if you can move in subway we have the gigagym ( free weight and hammer strength )
http://gigagym.fr/
Man that is a lot of good information, I appreciate it.
I grew up in the US so I guess I’ll try to sound as less american as possible… who knows that gets me some friendly advantages.
Diddy and Balboa you two are the bomb. I’m trying to sort my way through the french websites but I am definately making some progress.
Let me take this opportunity and ask your opinion on the club/bar/pub scene – is it any good? What are the chances of getting some (reasonably good looking) ass on those places?
Since BASTARD touched this point, please allow me to ask this: how’s the service (hooks)? I’ve heard it’s crazy expensive and the girls aren’t really all that (do not forget where I live). Is it worth dropping some money on it or would one be better of trying his luck at the bars/hostels?
Save your money for Amsterdam. lol
[quote]Brant2 wrote:
Let me take this opportunity and ask your opinion on the club/bar/pub scene – is it any good? What are the chances of getting some (reasonably good looking) ass on those places?
Since BASTARD touched this point, please allow me to ask this: how’s the service (hooks)? I’ve heard it’s crazy expensive and the girls aren’t really all that (do not forget where I live). Is it worth dropping some money on it or would one be better of trying his luck at the bars/hostels?[/quote]
If you like funk and soul check out http://www.bizzartclub.com/ They have a band on before the DJ and they play some really good music, the type you don’t here in many bars. Girls are friendly, too.
When I’m in Paris I like to go to the 11th arrondissement (Oberkampf) and along the Canal St Martin. Lots of young Parisian girls in the bars along there. There’s some good bars in the Marais if you don’t mind the gay scene, I always walk a bit faster past the Bear’s Den.
As for the hookers in Amsterdam, some of them are model standard, and some are straight out of your worst nightmare.
Just bang backpackers.