WOMEN’S OPTIONS – HEALTH CLUB'S IN KUWAIT

For the past one month I have been trying desperately, to find a decent health club facility (either mixed / exclusively for women) in and around Mahboula - personally visited almost 9 facilities till this date. My friend 'J-Boy' suggested sharing my review with others rather that making little notes in my diary or sticking post-its on my wall.

My criteria are -
1.Budget (up to 400 KD / year)
2.Places which friends / family can access over weekends or would like to join with me.
3.Trainer (at least for the first couple of months and should be able to communicate in English)
4.Places within my reach; since I'm a still a new driver and parents are concerned about my safety and that of others on the road.
5.Flexible Timings (coz architecture can never be an 8 -5 job and my office is in Mina Shuwaikh, so it takes me almost half an hour to reach home)

Facilities I visited -

1. Al Manshar Rotana Hotel, Fahaheel
A mixed Gym within my reach and budget, yet the facility is very small and I presume it would get too crowded in the evenings and doesn't have a trainer. Also the bad traffic situation on the coastal road and the Fahaheel area in the evenings makes it inconvenient to reach. Hence neither I nor my friends are keen to join this place.
The roof top pool (20th floor) is small but has great ambience and very welcoming staff.
Membership rates are KD 300 - 350 / year for a single female.
www.rotana.com

2. Pilates and More, Mahboula
Akshay spotted this place on the Coastal Road and here I go visiting them to check out the facility. Exclusively for women, it’s a great facility, very spacious, all new equipments - would rate it high on cleanliness standards, sweet staff and trainers....Falls within the 45 - 60 KD a month range depending on the package (will turn out cheaper if you pay for the entire year in one shot) But, besides the monthly charges, they charge a whopping 135 KD as a onetime non refundable / transferrable (within 45 days) Registration Fee. Last month, they had a promotion under which they offered to reduce it to 95 KD only. I took my sweet time to decide and it shot back to 135 KD in April - last week they called offering me a 10% discount on it....yet 121.5 KD as a reg. fee didn't really appeal to me.
www.pilatesandmoreq8.com

3. Hilton Kuwait Resort, Mangaf
A sprawling and spacious facility, although their Gym and Free weights area is kind of small but the trainer ALI has great marketing skills. It's a bit pricey - 525 KD per year for a single female membership (no installments), yet I have kept this option open in case nothing works out. Most of my friends are married and the yearly couple membership works out too expensive for them even after the group discounts hence nobody is interested in joining me and for J Boy - the place is too far. Remember to check out for Hilton's corporate membership and group discounts...
www.kuwait.hilton.com

4. Women Gym, Fahaheel
Exclusively for Women, it's tucked in the basement of a residential building in Fahaheel (behind Gulf Mart). The Gym was quite spacious, sauna wasn't but again like most of the women's clubs it closes at 8 PM and I wasn't very comfortable communicating with the all Arab and Filipino staff there - didn't get to meet the trainers though. Six months to a year package would fall within the 18- 25 KD / month range and 40 KD if you wish to go with a monthly package.
Is this some kind of a Ministry rule in Kuwait for women's clubs to shut down by 8 PM?

5. Holiday Inn, Salmiya
After exhausting my attempts to pin down a place close to home, i started to look at options on the way back home from work. So here I go to check out Holiday Inn. I presume because of the weekend, the Gym was very crowded and humid (even the outside humidity levels were high that evening). I couldn't really spot any women besides me, my mom and the receptionists. But they have a new extension - a quieter area which is generally used by women. No squash / tennis courts but they offer a great rate of 275 KD for 15 months for a single membership (male / female) and allow guests for free on all weekdays and with prior reservation on weekends. Wish their facility was a bit more inviting....
www.HolidayInn.com

6. Crowne Plaza, Farwaniya
The place was quite busy even on weekdays but still because of the bigger space, it didn't feel crowded at all. Mixed gym and a separate women's section with interactive treadmills and cycling equipment with gaming and internet connection; a decent spa area, squash, tennis and basketball court - this place was all about value for money. They have a very tempting offer of 250 KD for 18 months. Ask for LEE at the Nautilus Fitness Center - she'll definitely get you the best deal.... For people on the move, they have tie-ups with health clubs abroad so you can continue with your fitness regime even outside Kuwait. Also check out their SPA Aquatonics - it come as a separate package (390 KD / year) with some great water exercises and stuff....
www.kuwait.crowneplaza.com

7. Safir Resort, Fintas
This newly opened resort in Fintas has a really small Gym and a pool on the roof top (spa is still under construction) and hence do not encourage yearly / monthly memberships. It has a great ambience for dining but not for gymming. They issue daily passes only for KD 10 / person to use the Gym and the pool facilities.
You can contact them on - 25455555

8. Body Styla Club (Alia - Ghalia Towers), Fintas
Located in the basement of the once very famous towers, this place is overly priced for the services they offer. The equipments were kind of old, the Jacuzzi was empty and lined with cheap looking ceramic tiles; the steam bath was a small 1 sq.m cubicle and even that was not working because seemingly some lady broke the steam controls... they close by 7:30 PM and charge 40 KD / month with a discount of 10 KD on a 3 and 6 month membership. Phew - worst place I visited until now. But they offer some slimming massages - dun no how effective they are though....
You can contact them on - 23710230

9. Curves for Women
They are planning to open up a branch in Mahboula soon. Visited them today afternoon - great program but I beleive just changing machines for 30 mins. will get boring after sometime. And there is nothing else to do, no spa, no pool. Currently they have some ongoing promotion and offer an yearly membership for 310 KD (50 KD discount). But the interesting part is - their yearly memberships are transferrable withing kuwait and other countries as well.
www.curvesme.com