Hey V, 

I work out at Holmes Place (love it), and you're welcome to use a free guest pass I have, anytime. Just drop me a line and we'll work out the details. 

If you do decide to join them, make sure you use the glocals discount.

And last thing, I don't work for Holmes Place so don't have an interest in "protecting" them. But I think the bad things people say about them are almost all linked to their policy of not allowing members to cancel their memberships before the contract ends (12 or 24 months, depending on what you sign), unless your company sends you over seas. As long as you know this going in, you'll have no issues. 

Nir

I would agree that Holmes Place has a bad rep. I myself have dealt with minor issues, however I love the facility. They have so many classes to offer, and teachers for the most part are incredible and really make you work. I was a member at another gym before coming to Holmes place and I would never go back. Each gym will have pros and cons, but if Holmes is right next door for you why not try it out, I recommend the bodypump class on monday mornings if you wanted to start lifting weights but hate doing it alone. Hope to se you there!!

Prin

Prin:

Speaking of, I saw you on the treadmill yesterday. Damn girl, you're now as skinny as they come, and you look in top shape! Good on you girl. 

Nir

how long will you free guest pass will work ?

all the best and thanks a lot 

holmes place is not as good as it is in places like budapest or brussels

in budapest and brussels holmes place is almost luxurious!!!

here in geneva is sort of bleeeeh, you probably can get a better deal in a gym that looks similar 

Yo V, 

I have a one off daily pass. It can give you an idea of what Holmes Place is like. 

I'm sure if you then talk to their sales people and tell them you're considering joining, they'll hook you up with a few more trial days. 

Lemme know anytime you want to join me. 

Nir

Hello,

I am a member of Holmes Place and no longer work down town.  My membership expires in October and is currently $ 139/month.  If you wanted to take over the rest of my subscription, that would be great.

Michael Spano

[email protected]

spano

i sent you an email

Hi guys,

I am moving over from London in less than 2 weeks, but don't want much interruption to my gym routine.

Most people say to join Holmes Place but since my sessions are pretty much 50/50 cardio and weight lifting, I wondered what their free weight selection is like i.e. what to the dumbbells go up to? and do they have a bench press with an olympic bar?

Thanks :)

what do the dumbbells* (typo)

Veronica,

According to my experience, Holmes Place is not my favorite gym. All the people there is nice but the only problem is the Administration staff. You would need to check the automatic debits in your Bank Account regularly... cause you may have a surprise! PTrainers are very good people as well in case you are interested. Classes like spinning, yoga are great. The gym is pretty small compared with City Green for example. If you want to work out in the main area you may have no machines available. However, in my opinion you need to consider if it is convenient for you. You can't travel 1 hour to work out 45' lets say. Hope this help! Good Luck. Julieta

@Tom- I am sure you will find everything you need at Holmes place. I think there are many options when it comes to free weights and I can promise you that you could not lift the heaviest of what they have....unless you have competed recently in an iron man competition...never know. Anyway depending on what time you go it might be a fight for a cardio machine. I go every morning and there is maybe 25 people total in the gym which is nice since I never have to wait.

@Julieta- Completely agree with you and almost laughed because I'm sure we are not the only ones with this problem. I had paid my membership out in full however each month for the next 5 months they debited my acount. Not to mention they are never really sorry it happens and seem to not care all that much.

Tom,

I work out at Holmes Place too (and that's where I see Prin in her skimpy little work clothes, and I love that! (-:

For your questions:

- heaviest dumbell is KG 32.

- They have olimpic benchpress: straight, inclide, and decline.

Come down here mate, I need someone to work out with...

Nir

Haha thanks Nir, gotta love whoever invented spandex!! And I am sorry I didnt come over and say hi the other day, I was dying after the run and was on a tight schedual, hope all is well!

@ Prin - O Ye of little faith! :)

@ Nir - Currently @ The Reebok Gym in Canary Wharf in London, its one of best in UK, won Men's Fitness award a couple years back. Great gym. If they have a 20kg Olympic bar that would be a good start. I currently use up to 55kgs for dumbbell flys but am sure we could figure something out.

I arrive on Fri 23rd but would def be up for training on the Sat or Sun if you were free chap?

Btw good effort on the early morning sessions. So much more effective.. I however love my sleep too much!!

Hi everyone,

Thanks Nir, and thanks to you all for your feedback. I'm Juliet, and I have worked for Holmes Place for the past 10 years, both here and in the UK, and am happy to follow up any questions or queries anyone has, so please do contact me either through Glocals or at [email protected]

We have a great club, come and visit. I look forward to hearing from you.

Juliet :)

I feel obligated to post this warning to other glocals members about Holmes Place:

The administration staff of this gym will do everything they can to try to force you to pay monthly membership fees for as long as they can, even if you have a contractual right to end the agreement (i.e. end of contract period, loss of employment, leaving switzerland). They will intentionally tell you that you are free from future payments, but continue to bill you, and even send you to the office de poursuite.

Be warned, and look elsewhere for a gym. There are better facilities for the same price.

why does glocals.com partner with a gym that is so NON-expat friendly with the way they handle their administration and billing? I think the group is doing an injustice towards expats that move to Geneva that get trapped into making payments even after they legally terminate their contract! Expats need a gym that will allow them flexibility if they leave GVA for example.

I am happy to discuss more if you want to message me.

well, my experience with Holmes place is they dont care about you any more the moment after you signed the contract.

At beginning I liked the place, After the sales explained to me "all" the rules I need to know, and insisted to sign the contract straight away. I handed over the credit card and and god..everything happened later is just so different from what I was told and belived

1, there are so many versions of how you can pause your membership from different staff, I couldnt even remember each of them. Basically you have to pay and not as easy as I was told at beginning, basically nothing is as easy as I was told at the  beginning

2, I introduced a friend to the gym. Saw the poster that a gift will be offered never heard from them till I contacted Juliet so many times. I felt I was chasing what I meant to be offered as a thank you gift...and till today I still have not received anything.

3, We left our kids in the crech while we work out and I knew its not gong to be perfect but either me or my kid is too fussy type. However Daughter of my good friend sarah who also trying the gym came home and only discovered her daughter not behaving active..after check around, she found a massive purple bump at back head of the 8months old.  They had to run over to hospital. No one ever told her anything that her baby might fell or bumped into sth..so the parents can at least react in time

4, now the classic oh I thought my contract finished end of this month....No, you cant...of course have to get through all those conditions and times and turned out that I signed a 2 year contract rather than one year as I believed...

Well It is true I should have read the prints more carefully, but i just have this disgusting feeling being corned and taken advantage of.

so be careful when you sign anything with them. they can be so sweet and friendly, and only tell you what you like to hear,  only before you signed the contract

My previous post was taken off a few days so the  management team can has a chance to contact me and reach a fair deal.

I just contacted by HP today. They insisted that my contract has automatically renewed and if i dont pay for another year, I will be sent to office the poursuit
 
It might be in the contract somewhere and its my wrong not read it.  When i first time went in the gym, Juliet Parker showed me around and talked to me about rules and regulations, and I signed on spot. Along the way, i found some hidden rules along the way, I didnt make it a big deal because they are all small issues and I am very easy going.  But now they tell me my contract is automatically renewed regardless my own personally opinion, the girl who contacted me is with such a strong attitude almost rude left no space for any discussion. 
 
I have been deal with gym more almost 10 years in a few countries. HP facility and service is okay lets be fair. but the management and contract policy are way from expat friendly. I felt very regret signed the contract with them the first place because now I felt like it was somehow in a trap especially from the attitude of their staff, Its like too bad...you just have to pay..I dont think it is the right attitude to treat their customers. if any business should be done it should be done willingly, not corned into it.
 
To be fair, i did enjoy and paid my first year training contract. I just found it is a robbery to forced into another one without any notice or awareness from the first sales speech.
 
 

Holmes place is greatt--I go there but I conform all of the above--They are awful on Admin --|My wife tried to suspend her membership at pregnenacy and was treated horrifically and charge a fortune

There are many comments about the poor management at Holmes place and I have to agree.  The club is so-so, but is massively overshadowed by their questionable integrity.  The pretend to be expat friendly, but, not speaking much legal french, I asked the sales person to explain the terms to me.  She spoke of being under contract for a year and then only having to give 3 months notice.  When a year came, they re-signed me for a year.  Also, when I left geneva, they required 3 months after receiving the Attestation de depart.  Geneva only gives it within 30 days, so they force you to pay for two months that they know that you will not, and cannot, be there.  Hmmm.  This is common, as I am hearing on this thread and from many elsewhere.  So:

1.  If, after reading this, you still want to join a mediocre club, with, I'll admit, a great location, READ THE CONTRACT.  If you are not fluent in French legal, find someone who is.  Do not sign it without having it read in detail.

2.  Believe NOTHING of what is told to you from the sales people.  (see point 1 and other replies in this thread).  Walk away and bring the contract back when it is read in detail.

3. Try to visit the club first.  If you live near Aniers/Vezenaz/Hermance... Try Citi Green right over the border (Rte de Thonon).  Much better facility with two pools.  Far from the center of town, but worth the trip if working out after work and you live on that side. There are other suggestions in this thread as well. 

To all of you who are dealing with, or have dealt with, Holmes place management; good luck!  They are truly ignorant of the phrase, penny wise, dollar foolish!

I won't comment on the service at Holmes Place, cos each person can have a different experience there.

But as for the other things (cleanining, equipment, English speaking) Nickd commented about:

I work out at Holmes Place for 5 years (although you wouldn't know it from my muscles...(-:, and I didn't see any of the things Nick says. Au contraire:

- Holmes is usually cleaner than my own place, and I have a cleaner over twice a week...

- the classes are superb (and varied)

- the reception staff & trainers speak English, and I find them super friendly (except the odd few...)

- the gym equipment is, overall, great. They could have some newer-technology machines in some areas tho!

- I can't comment about the bikes, as I don't use those.

Overall, I enjoy working out there a lot.

Nir

Voyarch: I'm with you on this...

I have experienced problems with some of the bikes in the cycling studio and a few of the instructors not speaking English (some not even speaking French!) but I've always found the staff at the front desk to be helpful and the place to be exceptionally clean and certainly cleaner than some of the other gyms around. 

Its also the only gym in Geneva with early opening hours (06:30) although they could improve the morning course offerings and have more classes before 9am.

Majors problems with Holmes Place:
1.- Sauna and Hamman hardly ever work
2.- The gym is not clean as you would expect
3.- A couple of times they had no hot water to shower (simply unacceptable!)
4.- Some of the lockers don't actually lock and they've been aware of it for months and have not done anything about it.

If you can, DO NOT JOIN!! :-) 

Hi there,

Looking for someone who will be interested in my membership (CHF 155.- per month) starting March or April 2011 if convenient.

I am a yoga fan and did not find what I am looking for at HP. Anyone interested? Please drop me a note.

Greatly appreciated. 

Fully agree! I just joined L'Usine Opera after a rather mixed experience at Holmes Place and am totally loving it. Hands down the best gym in Geneva I have seen. Spotless clean, great equipment and wonderful staff. And: open from 6:30 to 22:00!!!!!

Let's see, though, how things will go when it comes down to canceling the contract in case of relocation...HP was rather easy to get out of back in 2009 (in contrast to what other people seemed to have experienced). 

How much in Usine?  Where is it exactly?  Thanks

I wish to goodness there was a good old YMCA.  The one in Washington, DC was fantastic, at least back in the day.

@Translator - yep, a YMCA would be great but no such luck over here :)

The corporate rate for L'Usine is just under 200 CHF per month. I know it sounds steep but go and check out the place, it is simply gorgeous and feels much more like a spa than a gym. Parquet floor, exposed brick, great lighting. Actually quite spectacular. Disregard the CHF 400 they have on their website which is for a one-month membership only. You can also go "off peak" for much less. Anyway, I love it there and am happy I found the place (nearly didn't go to even take a look at it as I thought it looked and sounded too expensive).

Good towels and sauna? What about classes? And weight machines? 

" 4) Lockers dont actualy lock and they've been aware of it for months and not done anything about it for months.. All i can say is ask Tony where his rolex is or Amr where his Boss shoes are..."

Well, I'd say Tony had it coming, but the shoe thing is just mean ;-) Hope this didn't happen THAT time of the year...

Reminds me of the day when I stumbled upon a lower-end (read: less than a year's salary) Breguet watch in one of their shower stalls. Being a good boy scout, I managed to quell the shitstorm that had been brewing at the reception desk while I was regaining my usual respectable composure. Got off with 3 day passes, which was just about enough to make me join Silhouette.

HTH

Mike

I use Silhouette....and I miss Virgin Active in London like crazy :(

I just dont get some of the gyms over here, dont they understand that members are willing to pay a bit extra to pay for the wages of a regular cleaner?

hello

you can bargain the price, even if they say NO

for example, corporate price for my bank was 2100 CHF, after 30 minutes conversation I paid 1800 CHF !!!

one of my friends get 1950CHF.

but be aware, l Usine might appears like a serious club, but beleive me, it s just the same that Holmes Place when you have to quit the club.

For me... I left Geneva and return to my country. In my contract it s written, that if I have to move Geneva for work reason they will stop the contract. When I susbcribe they even told me that if I quit Geneva forever, of course they will stop the contract...

not the case at all : I have the official document from the "office cantonale" telling that i left Swiss. I have the paper from my bank... but when I ask for the end of my contract, they did not accept, and ...guess what they took money from my account one year of a subscription !!! I can not believe it ! my bank said that now my account its without this 1 year subscription, I have to go to a lawyer. I saw a lawyer, and of course he said to me that they are just not on their rights.... but i have to pay 5000 CHF the lawyer to get back 900 chf ( the rest of my 6 month contract ) + 1800 CHF ( the supplement year).

SO PLEASE NEVER EVER GO TO USINE THEY ARE JUST LIKE HOLMES PLACE

USINE AND HOLMES PLACE SAME DISHONNEST

NEVER EVER GO TO USINE

also be aware that you can try to sell your membership in Holmes place BUT USINE IT S IMPOSSIBLE

i never read that holmes place took money from the account of a member, but in USINE this arrive frequently when you leave the country?.

They know that you will not go to see a lawyer...so they just take money from your account...

I tell you NEVER EVER GO TO USINE

Hi Veronica, I would like to give mine up - are you still looking?

Hey guys,

can anyone tell me what the current prices for a gym membership at Holmes Place are? I have been in contact with them and they keep telling me they would only have fixed prices for 175 CHF per month for a one-year contract...

What have been your experieneces?

Cheers,
Luisa 

Hi Luisa

Check the reviews in here for Holmes place and if you still want to sign up there....

Ok, thanks... So which gym is recommendable and in the centre of Geneva?

Luisa:

glocals members get 1 free week at Holmes Place in January, no strings attached. So just go see for yourself. To get the free week: https://holmesplaceeurope.wufoo.com/forms/merry-christmas/

I work out at Holmes Place, and love it.

Nir

If you do sign up at any gym, send a registered letter stating that your membership is only for a year.

If you choose to join Holmes Place after reading the forums, good luck!

Hi there

Just to echo the views on Holmes place - would definitely NOT recommend. Pushy / aggressive, classes over-full and too expensive. Just managed to cancel my membership. 

I'm currently considering to join a gym, but after reading the whole thread I'm seriously thinking it's going to be this one.. and thanks for all the feedback, good or bad. kinda puts the whole thing in perspective