Wellbridge Athletic Club

My husband signed up for this gym because of the pool. My husband is blind. When he signed up, nobody explained to him that in order to cancel he would have to send a written letter of cancellation. So naturally my husband thought that the membership lapsed since he only paid cash for three months’ membership. In the end my husband used the gym only four or five times because it was too difficult to navigate as a blind person.
Fast-​forward a year later, this greedy gym is harassing him with offensive and threatening language at all hours of the day with phone calls and emails that he should pay for a year’s worth of membership.
All to recoup some hundred dollars or something.
Shame on you. This business should be embarrassed by its employees’ conduct.

I love this gym. I’ve had a membership at 3 different BSCs, the BU gym, Planet Fitness, and a few other small gyms but I’ve never loved going to a gym as much as I do with Wellbridge. It’s definitely a little pricey, but it almost seems like a semi-​private gym. Even during the usual busy hours (6−8pm), it’s never crowded and classes only have 3 – 4 people in each. If you take advantage of their classes, it’s definitely worth the price. The staff is super nice and the facilities are always clean and well maintained. They could probably upgrade some of their equipment, but it doesn’t really change the experience much. I always get the machine I want whenever I want it so it’s better than a gym with all new equipment that is always occupied.

Not sure why this place is so expensive. Small workout area, old machines, and old looking facility. Only pluses are the pool, which is small, hot tub and the location, if you work in the area. This place isn’t like the Wellbridge in Tampa, which is a lot better.

The gym is acceptable in the most general sense, but it’s highly over priced. The quality of the service, timing of the classes, and quality of equipment are poor when you compare it to the extravagant membership fee. The only absolutely great thing about this club is its location!

They do NOT have flexible cancellation policy, that is, policy that allows you to cancel your membership anytime for next month. This is a very important factor at least for me — I might have unforeseeable events that change my workout location and I would have to cancel, but this gym wouldn’t allow me to do it. It’s a good gym but without good membership policy I wouldn’t recommend to anyone.

Has the pool ever been fixed?

Clean, decent machines, friendly and helpful staff, nice locker room facilities. A really solid gym. Interesting how old the client based skews.

I moved to Harvard Square a few months ago and I was so excited to find out that Wellbridge isn’t just exclusively for guests of the Charles Hotel. I had sent an email with a few questions and got a call less than an hour later. All of my questions were answered and the girl offered me a tour and a free workout. I got there pretty early and Mayra (spelling?) at the desk could not have been more friendly! She got me a coffee and chit chatted while I waited. After my tour of the place I was sure I wanted to get started. So far so good. I have been going in the mornings, the staff is super friendly, the place is insanely clean and never over crowded.

I absolutely love Wellbridge. They’re clean, well-​kept, and everyone who works there are fantastically nice. I’ve yet to try out their pool and the group fitness programs, but they seem like lots of fun. I always see the personal trainers working with their clients, and they’re friendly, respectful, and all wonderful people. They’ve got lockers, towels, amenities, anything you might need except for a change of your own clothes. It is a tad pricey, that’s true. But i mean, you get what you paid for. Would you pay 20 bucks a month for a planet fitness membership where they provide you chances to undo your workout once a week with Pizza Night, or would you rather have this clean, well-​kept gym with a friendly environment with everyone who’s really dedicated to working out?

I am a swimmer and go to Wellbridge to swim because it is so convenient to my office in Harvard Square. Since mid August the pool has been closed due to a leak. Here it is now mid October and the pool is STILL closed. I called the general manger many times to find out what progress had been made and got NO callbacks. So I decided to drop by the other day and check out how things were progressing. Virtually nothing has been done! I had been told that the pool needed a new liner and here we are TWO months later and nothing. Certainly things break down and maintenance needs to be done. But two months and counting… Also how about stay in touch with your members and keep them abreast of what is happening and/​or make other reciprocal arrangements for places that the swimming members can go during this long period like the Hyatt, the Harvard pools, or the Mount Auburn Club. Very poor customer relations on the part of Wellbridge.

I generally only come here in the winter to occasionally use the pool and hot tub. A day pass is $ 25 but if you are interested in trying the gym out (or I guess not interested but want a free week) they will give you a free week pass. Unlike the factory gyms, the sales staff is pretty low key– they just show you around and tell you the prices. Students (from any school, not just Harvard) really save $ compared to the regular price ($$$). It definitely feels like a luxury gym, which is what they’re going for. I’m not a giant fan of the pool though so I stopped going even though I had intended on becoming a member because it’s pretty small and always super crowded with lap swimmers. I really feel for those poor hotel guests with kids who try to swim outside of «family swim time» and end up having to use an itty bitty part of a lane while simultaneously dodging 1 – 2 lap swimmers.
Also, they are not an accessible facility which is a bummer for me since stairs are almost impossible for me. If you ask they’ll let you use the elevator to get to the locker rooms but when you want to go to the pool you’re screwed. They have a separate elevator that takes you from the main level to the pool level but it’s in the hotel and you can’t go in the pool area without a guest key. Yet they have a chair lift in the pool. And a physical therapy practice that uses the pool. Really, could we work on this?

I was a member of wellbridge for around 3.5 years, and in that time, they’ve lost two stars from my initial review. I continued to be a member due to the convenience next to my apartment — if not for that, I probably would have relocated. Here’s why they’ve gone down:
There was an incredible instructor there, who had once been one of the staff personal trainers. He moved on to train elsewhere, but out of loyalty to members, he continued to teach his stellar boxing class. I would have stayed at this gym for this one class — but sadly, the gym, for some reason, said he could no longer teach the class. The class is still offered with a different instructor… but, well… not the same. I hate that the club did not listen to members when we vocalized our desire to keep him and the class. For the exorbitant fee, you think they would listen.
The group exercise floor. While they are doing repairs to the obvious cracks and areas where the parquet floor is pulling up, the whole floor needs to be replaced. My feet throbbed after each cardio class I took there –regardless of the class… there are no shocks in this floor — if they were there, they are long gone. I even got new sneakers with special inserts, thinking it was me, but the pain was still there. I have heard similar complaints from other members indicating that they too had the same problem. Put in a new floor wellbridge — it’s not a lot of square feet.
COST. I paid over a hundred dollars a month, and I had the lowest fee rate. They raise it all the time — to pay for what, I don’t know. I can only assume the rent here is exorbitant, because the annual increase in fees does not seem to be reflected in any of the amenities.
Pluses: friendly staff, always clean, not very busy, great location, towel service, shampoo, soap etc. provided in showers.

Hi Unilocalers,
I just wanted to say that I finally got to try out the WAC! I had seen the ppl working out while on my way to work, but hadn’t actually gotten the chance to step foot into the facility until this week! I frequent at the Falefal Corner in Harvard Sq and had gotten a complimentary pass to try out the place. So that is what I did. I met with Ariana or Adriana last Sat while running errands in the area. I spoke to her about my goals/​needs and why I may consider WAC. She was very friendly, upbeat and attentive. She gave me a four day complimentary pass to utlize. I was only able to go ²⁄₄ days. On the tour of the gym, I noticed the following: size (2−3floors), water bubblers, gym ambassadors to help you with, cleaniness, a couple of bathrooms (women need at least 2 – 3), front desk friendly/​clean, loccker room had extra things you needed, private bathrooms (which the unfriendly cleaning girl chose to open the door without knocking on the door), a supply of tampons (no mini maxi pads-​IDK why), and I love the idea of the the key lock/​pass to use when using the day locker!!! I was able to go to the gym twice after work for an hour. It was very close to home. It encouraged me to go. My primary gym is on the other side of Cambridge which I haven’t been to, but love. I will be back to my home gym next week! The major downfall of WAC is that it is triple what I pay for my own gym!!! I would definitely reconsider joining if it wasn’t as expensive even with the summer special!

I joined Wellbridge back in January (yes, I know, doesn’t everyone join a gym at year beginning?!) after running into a friend who’d been a member for year. I took a tour and signed up right away. I’ve been a member at Healthworks (Porter) and Ballys (Porter) over the years, and I have to say that I’m so much happier at Wellbridge.
The gym is always clean and well-​maintained. When there’s the odd maintenance issue, the outage information is always well communicated throughout the gym. I love the full length lockers in the ladies locker room, as well as the towels.
My favorite part of the gym is the pool. Other reviews have complained about the availability hours, but the open swim time has worked wonderfully with my schedule. The whirlpool is wonderful, too.
I’ve been doing personal training with Howie and have really loved my time with him. He doesn’t just have be do some cookie cutter workout; he’s always adjusting things and throwing in new exercises. I’m finding it very motivating!

I have been at Wellbridge for almost two years, and after contacting them on June 3^rd to cancel my subscription because of a relocation, I was told that I needed to pay for 2 months extra, because they need one month notice FROM THE 1ST OF THE MONTH. I understand that it was stated in the terms and conditions, however I would have thought that 27 days of notice would be close enough, but it wasn’t. This is especially annoying as I won’t be here at all for the 2^nd month.
This is what I call going the extra mile for your long lasting customers.

3.5 stars for this gym.
I parted ways from Wellbridalmoner one year ago due to steep prices, run down facility (now finally renovated) and the inconvenience of class times.
However, I cant seem to let go of Wellbridge. I’ve decided it’s worth the expense. Being a member of five other gyms in the past, nothing beats Wellbridge. So, I’m back!
Cons–
— Most Classes are instructed In the middle of the day.
— High membership prices which recently increased. (it’s not that luxurious) It’s the location!!!
— Only two bathrooms in the Women’s locker room which are usually occupied and kinda smell.
Pros–
–Convenience (10 min walk from my new apartment)!
–Above ground with lots of windows and natural sunlight.
–Friendly front desk and instructors.
–Best classes I’ve ever taken at a gym that’s not over packed!
–Pool (I never use :()
Jen is an amazing instructor who down to earth, funny and always enthusiastic. She has a wide background in Dance, Pilates to personal training and weight lifting.
My favorite classes are Pilates, muscle conditioning and rebounding and muscle.
–Vanessa also is great for rebounding and muscle and spin.

I love this gym.
Between the hot tub, pool, and treadmills, I’m a happy camper, even despite the high price tag.
But the thing which really sets this gym apart is how clean it is. Highly recommended.

A mixed bag… I was a member for about a year and visited about 3 times a week, usually in afternoon or early evening.
* They expanded the space in 2011. The added room is nice, but doesn’t seem to come with any new equipment. All they did was expand stretching areas and added a pilates section which is off limits to regular members. And they oriented the existing equipment to face the walls instead of the windows.
* Equipment is okay. It’s old, but mostly works and is rarely broken.
* The men’s locker room is TINY, leading to awkward moments.
* Clientele is definitely older, which can be good or bad depending on what you want.
* It is rarely crowded (except the locker-​rooms). I don’t think I’ve ever waited for cardio equipment.
* It is dead on the weekend. Some people may like this, but for me it’s kind of depressing. I like the energy of an active gym.
* The pool is always in use by classes or family time. It’s a tiny pool to begin with (only 2 lap lanes). I was never able to use it. Every time I checked it was full and I eventually gave up.
Overall, it is a decent gym but not worth the price. Even with my student discount it was about 75% more expensive than Boston Sports Club. Yet BSC has much better equipment. In fact, I’ve decided to return to BSC now that they offer a monthly plan.

I was using the gym as a hotel guest so I am reviewing as if it were a hotel gym (probably not fair but what the hell).
BEST HOTEL GYM EVER!
They got it all!
Haha.
The end.
:)

I received one of those cards for a free week at wellbridge. On the last day I witnessed a personal trainer/​instructor (Eric?) literally screaming at 2 guests in the pool to the point that one of the guest ran out in tears.
Eric came up to them and asked if they were both members and they said yes and then he started screaming at them saying that the pool is not to be used for socializing. I was there the entire time and the two guests did not do anything wrong were just swimming laps and maybe talking once in a while but not being at all disruptive. It was just us three there and I have seen nothing wrong with what they have done.