Scottsdale/Paradise Valley YMCA

I rejoined the Y and went in for the first time last Friday. I wanted to use the treadmills and asked a staff members which machines had TV’s that worked. «Dunno» was the answer «just go around and check them out». Thought to myself, isn’t that what Y staff is for? To know the equipment and keep it in tip top shape? I asked other questions about the controls but the staff seemed disinterested. I wiped down the treadmill I was going to use although the staff person did not show me where the «pull down» towels were. I wiped down the machine before I used it and afterwards. The next day I went again and repeated my cleaning ritual and used the machine. By early evening on Saturday I was feel sick and it is now 8 days later and I can’t shake off a horrible cold which started with a sore throat. I haven’t had a cold in 10 years because I am diligent about cleaning my hands and avoiding things or people who don’t seem to be clean. The Y was the ONLY thing that I did differently and no one will convince me that I didn’t catch something at one of Y’s machines. No way, no how. Those machines need to be attended to and cleaned properly by staff. The monthly fees the Y charges are NOT cheap so we should be getting clean machines for the money. I don’t know if those wiping cloths have any disinfectant in them to be effective. Other gyms which charge less have clean machines. The Y is supposed to be a positive, community experience. It has not been for me thus far and I don’t think I can continue attending this gym.

We enrolled our kids here for their summer programs and will never bring them back. The brochures describe well organized, very active programs that would keep everyone busy and happy. Each week the «counselors» would find excuses to cancel planned field trips that were all prepaid for one reason or another, leaving the kids to entertain themselves at the Y. The kids ended up being unsupervised and unruly. I can’t believe they still have a State license. Oh yes, and they never gave any refunds for months of cancelled activities. Never again.

Giving this place one star seemed appropriate because my experiences here were not for me and after three days of various annoyances I felt I would enjoy my workout more at another facility. So I did end up canceling my membership and joining another one.
It honestly depends on what you are looking for in a gym. If you have kids and need childcare or sports programs, a YMCA is a good fit for families. But this YMCA is extremely overpriced, it costs twice as much as the YMCA we looked at in another area town, and that one didn’t have any joining costs either! This one is so expensive that for only a few dollars more you can buy a membership that allows you to workout at any YMCA in the valley. Membership to one gym should not be about the same rate as membership to sixteen gyms. The gym is big, the equipment seems pretty new. But honestly, if kids aren’t a factor, go join a Planet Fitness or something. You can get basically the same thing as at a YMCA, and alot more, for so much less money at many other gyms.
The other problem at this YMCA, that I felt to be even more of an issue than cost are the people that spend their time there. It was the biggest factor in my cancellation. This gym seems to appeal to the senior citizen population, who are extremely rude and abrasive and seem intent on dominating the gym and making their presence known, or more or less, importance known, where ever they go. They treat this gym as social scene where they get together to have loud narcissistic conversations, every day, taking up a lot of space in the lobby area around the tables in the lounge section. No one can really study, read a book, or relax when these loud get togethers take place. One day I had set up my laptop, plugged the charger in the wall. And I had set up my lunch at this table. Had my book out, planner, everything. The table clearly looked occupied. I decided I wanted to go microwave my food a little more. I come back to my table and a bunch seniors had decided they were going to set up book club around my stuff. Essentially they felt so entitled in the place they just took an occupied table. At that point the other tables were occupied as well so I sat with them until someone else left another table. They never said a word to me, their attitude was basically this is our table, we belong here and you don’t. Never mind tables are available on a first come first serve basis and there were comfortable cushioned chairs they could have sat in while they waited for a table to become available. In another instance one of the ladies in the group got a phone call. She left her table so her loud phone call didn’t disrupt them. That’s nice, except she stood right in front of my table where i was reading for a few minutes. Guess she’s just oblivious to other people. Most days the coffee is empty because they drink it up. And again feel like it is their territory. One day I did happen to get some when the older lady behind me was unable to patiently wait her turn in line. While I’m trying to get my coffee and fix it with cream and sugar she proceeds to get hers while I am getting mine. It’s a little counter with only one creamer and sugar. But never mind the lack of space, it’s just rude. Some older people have positions in the gym. One day I met one of them, and I don’t know exactly what his job is, but I had just run 3 miles on a treadmill. I finish and am a little unsteady. So I’m standing there drinking water and am trying to get my breath before I try walking over to the cleaner station. I’m doing this and he comes up to me trying to hurry me off, asking me when I’ll be done, etc. because he wants to unplug the machine. It wasn’t 15 mins to closing, it was 11 in the morning with many machines available in a pretty empty gym. I got off the machine and sat down on a bench to recover. He wiped the machine down, but he didn’t unplug it, someone else got on. So I don’t know what that was all about, but needless to say, all of these things occurring in just a matter of three short days, I was just pretty fed up and irritated. If you are an older active adult looking to make new friends maybe this gym would work for you. But if simple nonirritating gym experience go elsewhere and save alot of money too!

I not really able to write a thorough review as I’m only familiar with the weights and other workout equipment. What I can say is that I’m glad I chose as my workout spot. My usual time to visit is early morning and I have yet to find it so full that I needed to wait, which is good as I don’t have time to wait to work out.
The staff has always been very friendly and no one really bothers you while you are working out, making this a great place for those of us that are very out of shape.

The Good:
Convenient location. Lots of programs for children. Family oriented.
The Bad:
Spotty customer service. NO information by phone or website. You have to come in for everything (schedules, updates, hours, prices). Ridiculous. Facilities need more updating and maintenance. They are not horrible, but definately could be cleaner. The bathrooms and locker rooms are lackluster and poorly stocked. Some rooms are also not functional/​used (basketball court scoreboard). There are also renovation projects left half finished (kitchen, concession area).

Been here for 10+ years great place to workout and play basketball.

This Y is the closest for me — but I wish it would step up its game! The TVs on the fitness equipment rarely work– they are usually fuzzy, have no sound, or are not connected to cable at all. These should be easy fixes but haven’t been addressed for the nearly three years I have been attending.
The group fitness classes are typical– spin, group power (fake Les Mills Body Pump), yoga, etc. Some instructors are talented but others seem to be caught up in their own social circles, gossiping during class. The members partake in this behavior and can be disruptive and rude. But, the instructors fail to address these students because they are ‘friends’. Very annoying.
The personal trainers look disengaged or tired. I’d skip this service if I were you.
Locker rooms are fine– nothing wrong but nothing special.
Apparently this location just got a new director. Be careful– she is already instituting meaningless changes like no sitting on a stool at the front desk. Big deal! Fix the equipment! She came from the Chris Town location– totally different focus from Scottsdale. Whatever lady — just fix the machines.

Front desk staff totally disinterested in customer service, too busy chatting on cell phones and bantering with other staff. Never once made eye contact. Obviously, no one is managing this aspect of the business. Workout room is very crowded with equipment. Classes good, but ambience lacking

Excellent, EXCELLENT, family fitness center, daycare, swimming, a mirad of other nifty activities; very well laid out fitness center area (my main use), day care & pre-​school for the younger kids, activities for the kids of virtually all ages, and WIDE variety of specialty fitness classes (especially for us SilverSneaker seniors). The management & staff are friendly, helpful, enthusiastic (but NOT overbearing). The facility overall always seems busy while not being crowded. Equipment is modern, VERY well maintained, and the entire outfit is always clean and ready to use. I consider this to be one of the top two fitness centers in the entire Valley of the Sun. I have seen a variety of the 24 Hour Fitness, La Fitness, YouFit, and other larger facilities. Well done YMCA! You seem to best them all.

I applied for their child care scholarship as a single mother going to school full time, on food stamps, and not collecting child support. I was told I only qualified for a 5% discount with child care! I waited 3 weeks from turning my application in, not looking anywhere else because I know they are supposed to help families in need. Boy was I wrong! I went in twice to talk to the lady who processes the applications and both times the front desk girl told me she was gone for the day. I left two voice mails and several emails with her. I contacted the Phoenix YMCA headquarters and told them about my situation with her not getting back to me and only then did I finally receive a phone call from her. I’m guessing the lady in charge at the YMCA Scottsdale either needs to be fired for not doing her job or else she needs an assistant because she’s clearly overwhelmed with so much work. I just moved here and do not know anybody. I am very sad that this is how their organization works. I will never step foot into another YMCA again. 5% discount for a family in need? What are you doing with all of your donations? Paying upper management with it?

Yes, i know that the Y is a family-​oriented establishment. But the massive number of children just milling about in the hallways is a bit more than frustrating. There is a lounge area that should be utilized by people socializing before/​after classes, but for some reason, the doorways of the studios and the hallways are just SO MUCH MORE FUN to stand in! I would like to get to and from the locker room and exercise room without having to excuse myself as I navigate through the minefield of casual chatterboxes and feel like I’m interrupting THEM.
The equipment is fairly up-​to-​date and well-​maintained. I like that there are more than enough treadmills, elliptical machines and recumbent bikes that no time limit is imposed upon users.
I’ve only taken one class so far, but the instructor was SO NICE and understanding and clear on her instructions (it was a yoga-​based class, and i am NOT a yoga master by any stretch) that I’ll definitely be back. I’d also like to take Zumba at this location; it looks to be acceptable for all fitness levels, but it’s also always full.

Nice, clean equipment and friendly staff.

Nothing fancy here — just a good gym with everything you need at a decent price, right in the pocket between Paradise Valley & Scottsdale.

I’ve been a member at this YMCA for about 6 months. Before that I’ve tried many big box gyms like LA Fitness and Ballys. This place is definitely different than those other gyms.
First the good stuff:
For everything they offer, it’s pretty affordable.
I love that I have never have a problem finding a treadmill (even at peak hours), there are no time limits on the cardio machines, and each treadmill has an individual TV screen with all the basic cable channels. If you are a techie like me, you can also download tv shows and movies to your iPod or iPhone watch them on the treadmill’s TV via an Apple specific adapter.
Personally, I have not tried any of the classes, but there are TONS (there are 2 studios) and they aren’t all offered in the middle of the work day like a lot of the gyms I had previously belonged to.
I’ve been doing weight training with Teri, a personal trainer there for the last several months and have really enjoyed the experience. She’s extremely knowledgeable and encouraging. The personal training is also very affordable.
The not so great stuff:
If you have kids, you’re probably going to think this gym is awesome. However, I do not have kids and I usually find myself wading through big crowds of children just to get to the locker room and then again on the way to the exercise room. Many times there unsupervised children running around, screaming and playing in the small locker room, which I find slightly (ok, REALLY) annoying.
The weight area of the gym is can be crowded during the hours of 5:30 — 7 pm when I am there. This was more apparent in the summer, now that it is winter time it seems to be less of a problem. Finding parking can be a problem, though there is another lot near by, you just have to walk a little farther. The locker room is usually a mess with puddles and clutter. I think my usual workout time must coincide with the youth swim team. Those kids must not be too concerned about their stuff being stolen because they leave their bags and and backpacks out all over the benches. There are only 3 toilets in there and it seems like half the lockers don’t have a working latch that can be locked.
Finally, they are usually closed on holiday weekends. In the winter I don’t mind this (since I can get in an workout outside), but in the summer months it kills me.

If you live in the Shea /​Scottsdale area definitely check out YMCA Scottsdale. Well maintained location, classes such as spin, etc. are at convenient times. Been there many different times of the day and have never seen it too busy. Also very affordable and the family plan includes childcare in a good size room for the kids to play in while you are working out.

I’m excited about this Y. It is pretty much the same as all the other Y’s, but that is what is great. It is more private, personalized and cozy (if that makes any sense). I love to work out and they have everything I need — nothing too fancy — just your basic — get down to business fitness equipment. And then there’s the classes and pool and so much more than the «showy» gyms. Plus, the people are friendly, and I get a family type of vibe here. And there’s no one walking around with there ass crack pinched up in a thong! It is classy and pleasant. I just love it here and look forward to my workouts as a result. It really should get five stars, but I haven’t tried the classes to see if the instructors are any good yet (so I will update:)

The first thing I’ve learned after joining this Y is that not all Y’s are alike. In fact, they can be vastly different since they are managed independently. We came from one of the nicest Y’s possibly in the country in University Park, Texas. The Scottsdale Y is OK. The gym has a good variety and number of cardio machines. I have been very satisfied by the adult offerings. They also provide 2 hours of child care a day for members, which is nice. My kids love the playroom there and usually don’t want to leave. I have been very disappointed with the kids programs which is why we chose the Y over LA Fitness. We almost joined swimming for kids, but after watching a few lessons, I decided to go elsewhere. It appears that the teachers change every week. I watched a private lesson where the instructor didn’t even get in the water with the kid, but barked commands from the edge of the pool. How awful. We recently tried the Itsy Bitsy sports. It is supposed to be an intro to t-​ball, basketball and soccer for toddlers. On day one, they tried to have my 4 year old dribble across the court, do chest shots and lay-​ups. C’mon now. They did give me a refund for the class which was nice. My last comment is that the pool is really gross. We’ve tried to swim there with the kids, but the water just doesn’t smell very good and there are hairballs everywhere. The locker rooms are also not super clean either. But if you just stick to the gym, the adult classes and the child care, you should be fine. The last perk is that I have been able to use other Y’s across the country due to my membership here. It’s definitely a great value.

I love this place! We grew up at the Y in south FL, and my son is getting involved, too. It is definitely pricier than most gyms but you are supporting a place that doubles as a community center and place you can bring your kids! They have group fitness class, a huge pool, and swim lessons (my son goes every summer), a place you can drop the kids off when you’re working out, a rec room, trainers, basketball, and all kinds of things. The smoothie bar and wi-​fi is cool too (I wouldn’t go there to work necessarily, but if you need it it’s there)!
The swim lessons are what we do most and we really enjoy them. The classes have gotten pretty big but its a nice pool and a great instructor. Really love it here: D

I’m pretty sure this YMCA was around when the song came about. I joined this YMCA when I was in High School and I got a pretty good deal on a student membership. Only twenty dollars a month! BUT this gym is old school. Recently they did some renovations to try and keep up with their competition, but I’m not really a fan of those either. Even though it wasn’t the most to date gym, that gave it some advantages as well. I got to know the staff really well, and I never had to wait for machines. I probably wouldn’t join this gym again because I would prefer a bigger gym, but if you aren’t a gym rat this location would probably be perfect for you!
Y-​M-​C-​A!