Ilya or Alya not sure how his name is spelled at the front desk was super helpful and nice. Definitely recommend this gym it's got pretty much everything you need and the staff is always friendly. read more

Unfortunately, I had a very disappointing experience with this gym. The facility was dirty and poorly maintained, and much of the equipment appeared outdated. On top of that, the staff came across as unprofessional and rude. Chris's behavior and rudeness were one of the main reasons I decided I would never consider signing up for a membership here. Customer service matters, especially when someone is considering becoming a paying member, and this experience left a very poor impression. The only reason I'm leaving two stars instead of one is because I've heard it is more difficult for businesses to remove than a lower-rated review, and honestly, the overwhelmingly high rating for this gym seems suspicious given my experience. I was considering becoming a member, but after this experience, I'll be taking my business elsewhere. read more

Not really the best place but you can get a workout in. Your usual machines and cardio. Nothing that special.

Really good gym but I would not recommend the personal training side called elevate RTP. They customer service sucks and its hard to get off of they plan. I'm currently working with a lawyer to get the elevate Personal training off. read more

Absolutely one of the filthiest, rundown and unkept gyms I have ever been to in my life - NATIONALLY. Not kidding. This is truly gross. Smells horrible. Equipment rusted and not properly maintained. The locker rooms - like a city bus stop. Just awful. I went for free and had to leave! read more

When I started my membership I told them I just wanted to pay for the full 12 months in advance including the annual fee (payment was made in cash) That period ended in August 2024 and I stopped going since my membership was finished. Recently I decided I wanted to start the membership back. I was able to sign in to the app and saw I had a balance of $154. I made it clear my intention was only to pay for the contract and even would ask the receptionists how much time I had left before my membership was up. I would be glad to pay the monthly membership again, I enjoyed the gym. However the customer service rep let me know they couldn't waive the fantom balance and start me fresh. I'm not paying the membership for time I didn't use especially since I thought I didn't have access. I guess they would rather take no money than new money. If anyone decides otherwise please let me know, I'll be glad to pay another year in full. read more

Cancellation of membership - way too difficult - staff not personable. The facilities are generally clean

I canceled my membership immediately!!!! I don't like to be filmed for people's social media content. I even noticed the employees are snooty. It's sad because I was a member for years. I started noticing some of the gym members recording in the gym, I have brought this up to staff but they just didn't care read more

Good equipment, staff were nice, atmosphere was solid. Equipment could definitely be organized to make a culture of putting weights away and the top room was a bit stuffy but it wasn't a big deal read more

Basketball court is always dirty and all facilities are outdated. Not the most welcoming staff.

We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well here's mine: Parking: 4 Location: 5 Decor/ambiance: 4 Customer Service: 5 One of the best gyms in the RTP area (in my opinion). They offer a slew of great classes. They have a awesome staff of trainers who all work great together. This location has a big sized pool on the lower level. They even sell supplements as well. The pricing structure is good as they offer a lot for much of nothing. Parking can be a BEAST at times if you go during peak hours. Clean bathrooms and locker rooms. read more

Fitness Connection - Lite work!!! - Gyms Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

to be fair, we were warned that stick, and puck was going to be crowded. But it was made worse by bar far the worst hockey behavior I've ever seen in my life. There were six adults he took over at the rink to play high speed hockey. one pretty uncoordinated adult hit my son in the foot with a slapper. Travel kids were banging into everybody and knocking little kids over. there is absolutely no supervision on the ice and dangerous activity goes completely unchecked. I don't know if this is a special breed of hockey culture or just haack hockey in the south but for $15 per person they could do better. read more

This is my gym and I love the price, classes and location. For $10 a month, you get access to so much. Erick is the best spin instructor and always packs the room with spinners. Fitness Connection has Les Mills classes so you can do Bodypum, Bodyjam, Bodyflow, and all the other trademarked classes. There is also Zumba with Cutina. If classes aren't your thing, there is basketball, a turf area, and plenty of weight equipment and treadmills and other cardio machines. This hotel is connected to the Sheraton Imperial and I believe the guests of the hotel can come here. read more

If you're a baller on a budget like I am, you might consider joining this Fitness Connection. No sign up fee and low monthly prices for full access to gym/basketball courts/classes! Definitely affordable. Personally, I spend a lot of time on cardio machines and lifting weights. On the top floor, a variety of machines are sectioned out for different styles of workouts. I usually go late mornings, so it's pretty empty and most of the machines are open. It's not really a "grunting" type of gym, but there are individuals that seem to workout vigorously anyway. The downfall is that you get what you pay for. There are very few classes available, and only at select times. If you're big on group fitness classes, I would not join. Also-- the studio on the top floor is usually empty (when there are no classes taking place) and locked. I love to go in there and do my workouts in the open space, but it is not an option. I don't regret joining this gym, but for the gym enthusiasts, this probably isn't the place for you. read more

Fitness Connection - Top floor workout space - Gyms Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Been going here for a year now. Hands down the best gym I've been too. Staff is professional and courteous. Other gym goers are friendly. Anytime a machine breaks down the maintenance staff repairs it almost immediately. Gym itself is very clean as well too with staff constantly cleaning all areas and making sure spray bottles and paper towels are filled and available. Males locker room is also very clean. read more

Oops! Excuse the spill ... but here's the tea!! Location: 4/5 Parking: 5/5 Outside appearance: 3/5 Inside appearance: 3/5 Hospitality: 4/5 Food: 3/5 Price: 4/5 So I joined a gym -- I'm still shocked. But the location is convenient to my job but the entrance/exit can be hectic depending on which way you're trying to turn. The building sits off the road and the entrance/exit is in a curve. There's plenty of parking. The outside appearance is a standard gym. Nothing too special. And the inside is OK. Some areas can use an update. The only "food" of course is healthy stuff--protein snacks, energy drinks, protein drinks, etc. There is always plenty of staff members to ask if you have any questions. I heard they had a pool awhile ago & I wish that was still there. But oh well. The machines are OK. Sometimes there's a few not working but plenty to sub out and use instead. I've tried a few classes and I enjoy those as well. I'm trying to get my membership's worth! read more

Fitness Connection - Gyms Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The staff at this location is very friendly! I get greeted every time when I arrive and leave the facility. The facility is clean and the equipment is excellent for my needs. read more

I've been going here simply because it's 10 min from my apartment and it's $10 a month. The building is clearly an old office building with not much to be desired. You get a distinct sewage smell in the parking lot. The wall color on the inside looked like it was edgy in 2002 but it really needs a new paint job. The equipment is clean but some machines are older than others. They do keep the place clean and you have pretty much everything you need. Staff is nice. But it does need a little bit of a face lift. read more

Disgusting. I moved to Morrisville from north hills so I thought I would be okay to come to this location. If 1970 school gym is your vibe then this is the place. The sauna is broken. The steam room is broken. The turf area is tiny. Canceling my membership and going to 02. The only reason I stayed when I walked it was because I already took my preworkout. Do not come here. read more

Good gym. I go several times a week. This is almost a throw back to the more simple gyms made for lifting and getting sweaty. No juice bars, fancy classes or anything like that. Just go, list weights or utilize the multipurpose space (my favorite) shower and leave. Price $10/month is really good. read more

Caveat: This is really the first and only gym I've ever been a member at so please take that into consideration as you read the following. Background: I joined about a year and a half ago. I looked at some other local gyms, but this one seemed to be the least expensive, most convenient for my commute and had a pool (not that I'm a great swimmer, but it's nice to have the option). The other reviews about the initial sign up seems accurate from my experience, definitely some pressure and $10 a month is a bit of a sham; everyone pays the same eventually. The Good: It has a pool. 4 lanes, nothing special but nice to have access for workout variety. They have a good size basketball court (not my thing) and 2 recently renovated racquetball courts (again, not really my thing). The front staff is really great. Didn't take them long to recognize me (I'm a pretty average looking guy) and they knew what I typically asked for and would get it for me before I even reached the desk. For the first year or so, I went after work in the afternoons. It wasn't too crowded at 4 there were always some machines or benches available. Got pretty busy shortly after though. Lately I've been going in the morning, 5-5:30 and there are about the same amount of people, maybe a little less. Never was REALLY crowded, but you certainly aren't alone. They have recently renovated, new floors on first floor, new locker rooms and tile in showers. It's nothing out of the ordinary, but it doesn't LOOK as dated is it did before. They have a decent amount of equipment and a good variety of machines. Location- for me is ideal. I live in Durham and work in Raleigh and this is a minute off 40. I knew I had to go to a gym that was convenient for my commute or I wouldn't go at all. This fits the bill. Maybe not a priority or issue for everyone else, but it was a deciding factor for me and it worked. The Bad: Initial sign up experience seems consistent with the other reviews. A good bit of pressure to sign up immediately and my "free personal trainer eval" or whatever was pretty short, 15mins, and when I declined the service, he was not too happy and didn't hide it. I got over it. Layout is not great as another reviewer mentioned. I'm sure they're limited by the design of the building, but it does feel cramped even when there aren't a lot of people there. Equipment is decent, but often is broken and under repair. It may take a week or so for a particular piece to be repaired from what I've noticed. Attachments with rubber handles are torn or missing, ropes are frayed, pads are ripped et al. Locker/toilet/shower- not great. In fact, pretty gross. I understand there are a bunch of dudes using it and are often not careful or clean themselves appropriately. However, I go there early in the morning and it habitually reeks of mold, mildew and general body funk. I don't know how often it gets cleaned, but would appreciate it if it were more often. I go and shower because I don't have the time to back track home and then pass the gym again on the way to work. But if I could find a way to not use it, believe me I would. This is perhaps the biggest Bad reason I have and what prompted me to write the review in the first place. Recently an ad was posted asking members to review the gym on Yelp. Sounds good. Not quite: "Review and Win. Help us achieve a 5 star rating on Yelp and Win an iPad Mini. Rules: Winner will be selected from random from 4 & 5 star reviews on our Yelp Page that are posted between March 4, 2013 and May 10, 2013." (I posted a picture of the ad) Now I don't know if this a local management decision or if it is a corporate move, but it is entirely dishonest and unethical. It's unfair to those who rely on Yelp for unbiased and legitimate reviews of businesses. What's sad is that nobody can take any 4 or 5 star reviews of this place seriously during this time period. Instead of bribing its members to do something they perhaps wouldn't otherwise do for an iPad mini (really, just a mini??), why not actually invest in your building and equipment and make tangible and beneficial improvements? It wouldn't necessarily have to significantly increase costs. Just CLEAN the showers once a day. I'd move up to at least three stars for that. I have nothing (as of yet) against anyone at the gym, never had a billing issue and will continue to go here. I just have a problem with unethical and manipulative business practices. I should change, but there are no other reasonable alternatives at the moment. Still looking. read more

Fitness Connection - Gyms Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The fitness connection is very good quality! I think the machines are a little squeaky, but it is nice!! The televisions are always broken and rarely ever work!! The staff is horrible! The cashier lady is always on your phone and seems like she doesn't even care about her job! She needs to get off her phone and start working!!! The staff Has very poor service! The only things that are descent in the gym are the pool and the basketball court! Overally poor quality 2 stars read more

Fitness Connection - The basketball courts - Gyms Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I joined this gym about a week ago and so far so good! Their COVID precautions make the gym feel like a safe environment. Everyone needs to wear a mask no matter what, no exceptions. The staff walks around every now & then to check. They have shut down certain machines that do not allow for social distancing but there are still TONS of machines to use. There are plenty of cardio machines and weights. There is a small turf field for bodyweight things and Olympic weight lifting. Very nice staff. read more

Do you like that feeling of working with a large corporation focused on profit instead of satisfying customers? Then FC is going to be your kind of place! I tried to cancel my membership and the still kept charging me. They closed the gym in my town and they still kept charging me. Did they notify me? No! Whatever you do, don't give these crooks access to your accounts. FC needs to get out of NC and go back to TX. I hope you go bankrupt FC! read more

Tried to cancel my membership because I am moving to another state, but was told that I will be charge for an additional month when the gym opens up. If a company choose to scam your money during a pandemic, I would question it's moral values and advise you to stay away from it. read more

Well, I've been a member at this gym for over a year now, hoping it would grow or me, or at least get better. Good news, it's cheap. And it's only like 5 min from my house. I'm writing this as I just walked out, and as I was going to say something to the front desk, the staff seems like they could care less. Literally a giant meat head guy was lifting 220 lbs and dropping his weights EVERY TIME. It was shaking the ENTIRE GYM! It was startling every single person, including myself. I so badly wanted to walk up to this egotistical guy and point on the FIRST LINE OF THE RULES :do not drop weights! They had to have heard it down stairs. Just 4 people sitting at desks talking. This is not gym for women or older people. The people who work out here are so inconsiderate. I wish management would step it up and maybe actually make it a gym welcomed for all. read more

I really like this fitness center. They need to fix the sauna temp in the morning but from what I've been told they are working on it. It's a great place to work out you have access to the hotels pool/hot tub next door. I love that!!! read more

I'd rather not get shot while I work out this gym is ghetto ASF! I went there for about a year cancel my membership 2 years ago in December they charged my card three separate times after I canceled I have to keep canceling I thought it was over I was in the clear then in March of this year they started charging my account again for my ex who got deployed and she did a stop payment from her bank but did not cancel her membership so they started stealing money from my account to pay for her membership and then they refuse to refund my money I had to go through my bank do a stop payment and they were only able to retrieve $70 out of the 100 they stole and then refused to help me at the 800 number and the front desk and upper management just a failure on every Spectrum you can get 24-hour service across the street at Planet Fitness Plus hydro massage and Tanning and not get shot.... just terrible customer service read more

Below par customer service at this location. I often went to North Hills because I preferred it over this one. Management was not clear about billing when offering personal training options and I ended up being billed over $500 for sessions I no longer wanted. I was under the impression I would have the opportunity to cancel before the next billing cycle via email and this was not the case. I was not offered a refund and management was condescending when I went in to speak in person. read more

I have been going here regularly for about 1.5 years. The prices have stayed really low. I really love taking yoga on Monday nights and taking body pump throughout the week. I keep track of which classes I want to attend through the app, and I drop in to whatever class I want. The manager, John, is really friendly! Rashad is also very knowledgeable and helpful in the mornings. The location is also excellent. I work very close by, so it's great to have this option after work or when I need a break. I have even met a lot of other members. I feel like I definitely get more than I pay for at this gym. read more

Scam Business, I tried canceling; company states it takes 30 days to cancel. Alright so 60 days later I still get charged called company to tell them they accidentally charged me. Apparently when I first tried to cancel the company representative lied to me and did not actually cancel my membership. No way for them to fix this or reimburse me. You have to call your credit card company to dispute the charges. Otherwise there blatant scam cancellation policy the gym facility was alright. read more

Best time to workout here is 11am. In the cardio weights room I get in a good workout for 90 to 120 minutes. I cant complain and I wont. It's not setup like the newer ones but it gets the job done when I'm visiting RTP. Just because I'm on vacation doesn't mean my exercise stops LOL. Staff is friendly and they ALL greet u when u walk n and leave. They will try to sell u some of their supplements and drinks but YOU might actually be interested for me I go to vitamin shoppe or GNC for my preworkout and BCAA powders. read more

*** This review is based on my initial visit to take a tour only. *** I work at RTP and decided to check out Fitness Connection as it is close to work and on my way home. I walked in and was quickly greeted by the staff at the front desk. Okay so far so good. I was then introduced to a sales guy who took down some basic information (Name, number and email address) I told him that I needed to be back at work in 45 minutes for a meeting so he promised to make it quick. Cool, he gets it. He took me on a quick tour of the place and I wasn't overly impressed or disappointed, It was about on par with what I expected from a gym that advertised a monthly rate of $9.99. Here's where things went bad... He took me into his office to talk rates which were pretty basic. $9.99/month + $199 sign up fee - Access to 1 gym or $19.99/month + $299 sign up fee - Access to all gyms They had a *special* which took 50% off the sign up fee if and ONLY if I signed up at that moment. Then I was told that they were having an "Open House" and that a select few could get a special deal where the signup fee was only $20 + a $50 annual fee. Again, I had to sign up then and there to get this "deal". Really? I told him that I had more gyms to check out and I might be back. The response I got was "So you're telling me that you're going to pay a $299 dollar fee just to check out more gyms? Just sign up now and cancel within 3 days for a full refund if you're not satisfied." He also told me that I'm now "in the system" and if I go to a different Fitness Connection that I couldn't get the deal. What a joke. The price wasn't bad and the facilities were adequate but the high pressure "used car salesman" approach was such a turn-off. This guy managed to do the one thing that will never get me back through those doors. I'd much rather pay more money to be treated like an intelligent adult rather than a sale. read more

For the price (~$10/month), I guess it's ok. But Yelp's "Meh - I've experienced better" mirrors my opinion so closely, I'm going with the 2-star rating on this. This gym feels dated... the space is drab and the equipment is running ragged. I've never seen anyone using the pool, though I guess it might be considered a convenience perk -- particularly for tri-athletes. The basketball court is always busy. The downstairs also includes a space for racquetball and a small cycling room (to me, it feels claustrophobic). Upstairs is where you'll find the larger class space, machines, and free weights. As a plus, there's a ton of cardio equipment; you'll never have to wait your turn. Most of the treadmills are pretty slick and new, and the step mills are awesome. The free weight section is too small...since this gym is in an office park, peak times (lunch and after-work) are crowded. There are always people using the lone squat rack and the few adjustable-height benches. And in general, the dumbbells I want seem to always be in use; while small plates like 5s and 10s require hunting around for. A lot of folks at my office come here for the classes, BodyPump in particular. I personally would prefer greater diversity of classes, especially during the lunch hour. Adding a true yoga class to the program would help immensely (the BodyFlow is a confused mashup of yoga and pilates). I also find it annoyingly false advertisement that they have posters throughout the gym depicting other cheesy Les Mills classes -- Sh'Bam for example -- that they don't even offer at this location. I hear that the North Hills location is far newer, shinier, and superior. And though I have yet to visit, it is cool that membership gets you access to that location (and others). read more

The cost is pretty low -- it's one of the cheapest monthly rates that I've seen. Keeping that in mind, I think this gym is a really good deal. For those that like classes, these seem to be popular and enjoyed by my coworkers. I did try "Body Pump" a couple of times. Not really my style (er... I'm not rhythmic enough); but I can see how others would like it. All the classes are included except for boot camp. I've done personal training here. The sessions are thirty minutes and they allow you to partner up to split the cost. My sessions have been more full-body workout, as opposed to focusing on strength. A lot of the exercises use body weight, with some TRX influence. But this will vary by trainer. The equipment is usually in good working condition, and there doesn't seem to be a wait for cardio equipment like I've seen at other places. I've noticed that they recently started renovating their spin room with new equipment (I've never taken this class though). You get what you pay for, but all in all, I think this place is a pretty good balance of cost and quality. read more

I used to go to the Fitness Connection in Pleasant Valley and complained, but after visiting this one I regret a lot of what I said about Pleasant Valley and can now say that I truly have been a member of a bad gym. First of the facility needs some renovation. It looks like they spent all their renovation money on the locker rooms an ran out when it was time to take care of the rest of the gym. The towels are all gross and grey (although once white). What irks me the most is the setup upstairs. Every gym I've ever been to has a designated mat area for stretching, the weights and equipment...well every gym except for this one. It looks like the just laid out all of the equipment with no thought. People have to find awkward corners to do their push ups, squats, or any other calisthenics. Nothing about this place felt welcoming, to the point that I would stay home and work out although I was paying for the membership. read more

For the price, the workout facilities are excellent. The highlight being the functional fitness area. There are 3 squat racks which was my main requirement in a gym. Being in the RTP area, it's very convenient to pop-in after work. Can get pretty busy in the evening but most gyms do. The staff are friendly and helpful. My only gripe is the sauna area in the men's locker room. The instructions clearly say that you need swimwear to enter but people use it with their workout clothes and shoes on. The place just smells disgusting because of that. Overall, it's great value! read more

This place is by far an average gym. It's not a Gold's, Bally's or O2 Fitness, so don't expect too much. I joined here out of necessity. The sales staff has a high turnover. They will lie to you and tell you whatever you want to hear and when you find out they lied, they work elsewhere. They love to leave out info like "maintenance charges" and other interesting things you should know when joining. The non-sales staff are friendly and seem to stick around. This gym offers 2 racquet ball courts, a basketball court, pool, sauna, stand-up tanning (extra), aerobic classes and personal trainers (extra). There are also outdoor tennis courts and a jacuzzi (which is literally full of dirt). The locker rooms are typical. Filthy and full of naked old men who feel the need to roam around while you try to b-line it in/out of the head. Upstairs there's plenty of treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, machines & free weights. The draw backs are as follows: 1. There's not a lot of equipment because there's not a lot of space upstairs. Get used to waiting... 2. The dumb-bells only go up to 100 lbs. This isn't a problem for most, but for more than you'd think. 3. There's only one squat rack. Get used to waiting while some noob does curls on it, which is a cardinal sin. 4. People are pretty lazy and don't put stuff back where it belongs (typical) Someone on here mentioned that their towels are old and grey. I don't use and gym's towels as a rule since there's no telling where they've been and if/how they were cleaned. Overall... It's average. Fitness Connection will be bought out in a year or two and then someone else will try to take your money before filing for bankruptcy. Lol! read more

To get straight to the point, the only reason I'm still here is it is the only gym even somewhat close to me right now. First amongst my complaints is a pretty universal one with all Fitness Connection gyms (and commercial gyms in general): not enough squat racks. This one is worse, because there is only one. This is incredibly frustrating when you have guys using it to do curls, and it makes me feel like a jerk when I do several sets of squats because I'm taking it up. The squat racks are also very old. The age is only concerning because the pegs are at a 45 degree angle, meaning if you are squatting to proper depth you have to walk the bar out a good 3 - 4 feet in order to clear them. When you're getting up into heavier weight, it's not typically a good idea to have the sort of distance to cover after doing your sets, especially because this isn't a power rack that will save you from falling backwards should you fail. The benches are pretty bad too. Two of them rack so far back that the bar is lined up with the top of your head. This is terrible for your shoulders. The 3rd bench has a better set up (you should be unracking the weight just below the chin) but the bar sets so high up that it's hard to unrack without unpacking your shoulders. I have very long arms at 6'3 so I can't imagine anyone shorter than me would be able to easily unrack the weight. Again, not the safest when you're finishing your last set and have to struggle to get the bar high enough to re-rack. There are a few members there that are pretty cool and laid back, but a large number are very rude and obnoxious. Nobody puts their weights back when they are done. Also, I can't say that I've ever belonged to a gym where so many people neglect to wear deodorant. Seriously, someone is always pacing back and forth, basking everyone in their man-stank. The staff is very polite, so I feel bad giving a bad score because of them (though I cringe watching the form some of the trainers have their clients using...it's just irresponsible, let alone ineffective), but the gym itself is just in bad condition and lacks proper equipment. The fact that you're not allowed to use chalk is also absurd. This equipment is older than I am, but you don't want chalk dust on it? It's frustrating to see the continuing issue of gyms favoring machines and cardio equipment over tried and true barbell stations. But that's a rant for another day. read more

The only thing good about this gym is the classes. It's small and sweaty to sum it up. The cost is low as well but does that matter when it takes 2-3 business days for someone to call you back to cancel your membership? Wish I wouldve read the reviews on the gym before I joined. They gave me an 800# to call to cancel. The 800# gives a recording that someone will call back within 2-3 business days. This is really bad customer service. There was no option to even talk to someone. The best thing you can do is just get a new card number so they cant charge you anymore. I have a no contract plan so it shouldnt be this hard to cancel a membership. read more