I have noticed that, at many hotels, the location and entrance to the fitness facilities can be a little odd. Take the Radisson Blu Deira Creek in Dubai, for example. At the Radisson Blu, in order to get to the fitness center, I had to go all the way to the end of the hall on the second or third floor of the hotel, then exit the building and walk across a cement path to the entrance to the fitness center. On top of this, there was major construction going on when I visited, so I essentially had to traverse a construction site to arrive at the fitness center. This is not to say that the facility is bad, it is in fact a very good fitness center. However, the entry and passageway were … awkward.
The entrance itself was very nice, and the attendant very welcoming:
The fitness center was a full service center, rather than just a room. I believe that it is open to the community for membership. The gym was fairly large with Technogym machines, including 3 stairmaster machines, 4 stationary bicycles, 1 recumbent bicycle, 7 treadmills, 2 rowing machines and Precor circuit machines.
In addition to this, there was a separate Ladie’s Gym. A smaller darker room with only a few machines, restricted to women only. No men allowed. I was a little surprised to see this at first, but this is why traveling and seeing other cultures can be educational and eye-opening. I learned that women are not prohibited from using the main gym, but depending on one’s religious beliefs and modesty, some women preferred to work out in a non-co-ed setting.
There was also a ping pong table and a squash court at the fitness center!
There were both men’s and women’s sauna and steam rooms (I only viewed the Ladie’s facilities, but I assume the men’s ones are comparable). No nakedness allowed in the women’s sauna and steam. (Is the rule the same for the men?)
Overall, it was a good facility. Like the hotel itself, management strives to keep the premises clean and in good repair and to keep modernizing the facility. Slowly, but thoughtfully.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
LoL I give you props for staying fit while traveling! I always bring my work out clothes with every intent to use the gym at my hotel… but it maybe only happens once or twice.