We used to love Goldfish. When my son was 1, all I wanted for Christmas for him was the 3 month…read morecertificate they had on sale for the holidays. It was purchased for us and we were so excited to start! My son started in the mini 1 when he was 14 months old. We moved him up to the mini 2 a month later as he was much older than babies in the mini 1. We LOVED our instructor, Kaitlyn, whom we had for a majority of the time. When we moved up to Junior 1, we made sure to get into a group with Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn is still our favorite and my son lights up when he even sees her face at Goldfish. Sadly she was not our instructor for long, and we've had many instructor changes since then. While I do understand the constant instructor changes as far as staff being out sick or needing to cover another lesson, I know it's really difficult especially with children who struggle with change, to not see the same friendly face each week. We have now officially been at Goldfish for 3 years. Unfortunately due to many absences due to illnesses and things out of our control, my son is still not swimming independently. It breaks my heart that my son WAS 2 stars away from mastering all of his skills (until his last assessment where he lost 3 stars in ONE lesson) in their entirety. I do not agree with many of Goldfish's policies such as if you pay cash or check you MUST pay 3 months in advance. I also dislike the fact that you must be enrolled in auto-pay because I would like to use a different card to pay at times but I do not know that until the time comes. Goldfish's updated policy regarding make up lessons stated that make up lessons must be used within the same month of the missed lesson, but when you schedule a make up lesson the email you receive states that make ups can be used at any time while you're enrolled in Goldfish. I don't know which is correct but it doesn't seem right to have people pay for a month and then miss their chance for a make up lesson if they are unable to use it that month, especially when it was already paid for. There have been times of inclement weather where I've had to sit and wait around to see if Goldfish would close or I would have to use an absence due to weather conditions. This was really frustrating when you have a 45 minute drive to Albany. The Goldfish app is absolute trash, and there are forever issues with it. The company needs a major overhaul with that!

Took my son here for a birthday party and had a great time! There were 2 instructors that watched…read morethem closely ensuring safety. It was clean and bright and organized!

Mega points for being reasonably priced for a couple and having three pools: one indoor and two…read moreoutdoor (one of the outdoor pools is for the kiddos). The indoor pool is on the small side, but it's also (as far as I know) the only indoor pool that doesn't require an apartment lease or hotel room booking within the city of Albany, which makes it the biggest indoor pool in town. The gym facilities also look pretty extensive, but I haven't actually come for the gym yet -- I'm in it for the swimming. The staff I've interacted with have been universally nice and helpful. My biggest complaint would be that the indoor pool closes so early, I assume for staffing reasons. Also, keep in mind that they require you to reserve your lane ahead of time for the indoor pool. I like the policy, since it saves you from going to the gym, getting changed and showering only to realize that there are no free lanes, but if you like to be more spontaneous about your workouts the JCC pool might not be for you.

Hello Albany JCC, it's nice to meet you…read more My kid is taking swimming lessons at the pool here. What is nice is that they let you try this out for one session without becoming members. There are a heck of a lot of services and activities associated with the JCC. The largest would seem to be the nursery school, the gym and the pool. If you had a nursery school aged kid, and enjoyed to lift weights and swim for some good low impact cardio, you would probably never leave this place. But that's just not me.

Excellent variety of classes. Great staff. Superb instructors, especially Concetta and Holly. Fun…read moremembers, look out for each other. There's something for everyone. Carol and the Housekeeping team are in top of the place, clean and well managed. Front desk staff are welcoming and atterpntive.

Great professional staff with a never ending lists of classes and fine gym equipment. The pool…read morerocks!

I've been coming to Vent for a few years now and have been quite happy overall. When I first signed…read moreup I had looked into multiple other gyms in the area and had settled on Vent based on location, cost, and the fact that they have a pool. I also really appreciate the first responder discount they offer. All of the staff has always been pleasant and helpful. The equipment options are good and the new updated treadmills are great. I have the highest level membership because I also enjoy taking the different HIIT classes in their small studio. The classes are well run, a great workout, and help me to push myself. Another perk that I enjoy are the hydro massage beds, which are a great way to end my workouts. I'm happy with my decision to join here and would recommend it to any one looking for a nice, pleasant gym atmosphere.

As an avid fitness person and a person that works with small businesses across NYS and the country…read more This seems like a management issue, lack of understanding your customers and also a lack of urgency to improve, due to little competition in the Capital Region. The staff are helpful when you have a question, the main positive in this review. The focus is usually on supporting Zumba and E³ classes. I've been a member at Vent Fitness Guilderland for some time, and while the facility has potential, there are several areas that need serious attention to improve member experience and safety. First and foremost, the spin studio is in disrepair, with many of the spin bikes either broken or malfunctioning.On top of that, the main screen in the studio frequently doesn't work or malfunctions, which disrupts instruction and the flow of class. Between the unreliable bikes and faulty equipment, spin classes are far less effective than they should be. This significantly impacts the quality of spin classes, as it's difficult to participate when bikes aren't functioning or give out mid-class. Regular maintenance or replacement of these bikes should be a priority. For this review 6 bikes didn't work or have screens and 5 were already missing. Another major concern is the women's locker room carpeting.Carpet in such a space is not sanitary and makes regular cleaning and odor control difficult. Having carpet in a space regularly used by swimmers and wet foot traffic is unsanitary and impractical. A non-absorbent flooring option would be far more hygienic and easier to maintain. Ventilation issues in the group fitness rooms are another recurring problem. Poor airflow combined with noticeable dust buildup on ceilings and fans points to a need for deep cleaning and consistent HVAC maintenance. This isn't just about comfort, it's about health. Recent investment in cardio equipment seems disconnected from actual member usage and needs. It would've been more effective to survey the community before such a large purchase and floor redesign by a professional. Meanwhile, more practical improvements, like installing mirrors in the Move Studio, continue to be overlooked. Mirrors are not just for aesthetics and understand can be costly, but there are many blowout/closing sales of other gyms and businesses where a purchase can be made. They're a crucial tool for self-correction and safety during yoga, pilates, and cardio classes. There are also some layout choices that feel out of step with standard gym practices. For instance, relocating Smith machines, squat racks, and cable machines away from mirrors makes it harder to monitor form during heavy lifts. Additionally, landmines placed in high-traffic walkways pose safety hazards. A better layout could greatly enhance both function and safety. 1. Prioritize member flow and accessibility 2. Align equipment placement with function 3. Balance equipment based on usage data 4. Create clear, defined zones 5. Plan for safety and compliance 6. Encourage good gym etiquette Standard cleanliness is another area that needs improvement. Routine cleaning schedules should be enforced more consistently across all workout areas, not just high-visibility zones. Something as simple as floor markings for gym etiquette, such as not lifting directly in front of free weight racks, could help promote a more respectful and efficient use of space. Keeping lifting space clear in front of the dumbbell racks, would go a long way in improving member experience and flow. Another growing concern is the removal or restriction of essential equipment. Many useful tools, such as jump ropes, resistance bands, stretching accessories, plyo/step-up boxes, and belt walls, are either completely unavailable, locked up, or only accessible during group fitness classes. This limits members' ability to do complete, well-rounded workouts on their own time. A full-service gym should provide access to basic functional training and mobility tools, not restrict them without clear justification. Luckily, I have my own equipment at home, but lugging items into the gym is not always fun and/or practical. Overall, Vent Fitness Guilderland has a solid foundation but could listen to its members more, I see from many of the recent reviews it is getting worse, I have also made my voice heard, to staff many times. Prioritize maintenance, hygiene, and practical layout decisions. With some thoughtful changes, this could be an exceptional facility. Until then, it continues to fall short of expectations.