Newtown Athletic Club — Hotel in Newtown Township

We have had a family membership for about ten years. the club was much smaller when we first joined. When my so was young he went to summer camp one summer. He did not like it. I think it is better now, because there is much more to do and the outdoor pool is nice for summer campers. For adults, the best time to swim indoors is after 8 pm at night and after 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, otherwise there is a wait for a lane and there are too many loud and crowded birthday parties on the weekends. Weekend mornings are overcrowded with swimming lessons for kids. The pool is cool, usually around 77 degrees, but once you are, in if you are a swimmer, you're ok. The warm therapy pool is not kept at the correct warm temperature. It is luke-warm at best. The locker rooms were remodeled about ten years ago and are clean, but the beautiful wooden lockers have taken hard wear and tear from teens who were not supposed to be in the locker room. (They broke the locks and scratched them in the process of trying to break in). (saw it, reported it, but nothing done about it) In the women's locker room, no one under 14 is supposed to be in there, but many moms tend to ignore the rule and bring their babies and younger children into the locker room instead of going to the family locker room. The age limits in the locker rooms are not monitored by staff. The NAC used to clean the locker rooms on a more frequent basis (a cleaning lady was always present) and they smelled better, but now they have a very slight musty, moldy smell. (Keep in mind I'm sensitive to smell). The fitness equipment and weight rooms are new and very nice. The equipment is very clean and well maintained. There are plenty of treadmills, bikes, ellipses, and stair climbers, so there is not often a wait. The indoor track is 1/10th of a mile around and is nice to use on bad weather days. The fitness classes are instructed well and start and end on time. The instructors actually show-up. The outdoor pool is quite nice and the adult pool is truly an adult pool only. The food served in both cafe's (inside and out) is really, really, good and the menu is healthy, interesting, and full of things you want to order. Urban Allure is great. The stylists are "masters." The products sold are not something you can get at CVS. Instead, they sell high-end products like Kerastase and Decleor. The people who work at the NAC are pretty nice. I've never had an issue. The people at Urban Allure are super nice. The club seems to sell several types of memberships. We have a full membership. It's pricey, but doesn't insult your intelligence. The guest fees insult your intelligence, $30 per person. As a full member, that's ridiculous. I think, but I'm not sure that they sell memberships to people who want to take classes only. And, that 's okay as long as the people who only pay only for classes don't use the rest of the club as if they are full members. For example, going for a swim and using the treadmill after their class. I think once they come in for classes, they use the club as if they are full members and that's when it gets really, really over crowded. The club has no way of checking for that. It's not a bad thing, but it's annoying and sends the wrong message to those of us who have full memberships. I like the club, so I gave it four stars, but nothing is perfect and everywhere you go will have flaws. The question is, do the flaws drive you away or keep you, given other options. We've chosen to stay. Check out the activities and sports for teens and pre-teens. When we first joined there wasn't anything for that age-group, but they seem to have...

We have a family membership at the NAC and really love it. The entire facility is really fantastic and has just about everything you could ask for including some very high tech equipment like the Technofit Gym which stores your work on personal keys. It's clear they have great facilities, but there is a lot more to this establishment than just new machines and amenities. I think what sets them apart is their eye for details and the fact that they listen and communicate all the things they are doing to constantly improve the Club. For instance when things need to be fixed (which is not often since much of it is new) they fix them or they tell you immediately that they are working to fix them and when it will be done. They don't skimp on anything. They recently updated the towels to newer ones just because they could. They enhance the menu constantly at the cafes. They invested a lot to make the kids club really well run and easy for parents to take advantage of. All these small things, well managed and constantly being improved.

The other thing is that I would never refer to any of the people that work there as just "staff" filling a job role. They are friendly, empowered and want to help you and the club do things better each day. They are well trained and well managed and seem to genuinely care about their job. And the members respect them very much because of this. Once they put some of their personal trainers in rotation as guest servers at the cafe outside, allowing me to meet many of them in a different way than I normally would since I have never taken personal training classes. I thought this was great. They also post their bios in the club and they are all approachable.

Their marketing department is top notch. They are constantly updating the website with events and other relevant information. They have a good newsletter, active Facebook page with photos of their events and they even post their workout class schedules electronically. They also make about the best use I have even seen of a full banner size color printer/plotter. There are constantly new stand up signs posted all over the club telling you what is being improved or happening in the events category.

I think overall the thing that keeps me most happy with the membership is all the family based activities. While the membership cost is significant compared to say, a generic gym (which this is certainly not), you get a ton of value out of it in terms of free classes, child care, a very nice and clean locker room facility with great amenities and the option for fairly well priced add on classes and activities for the whole family. They also do offer some special memberships for young adults and students which is really reasonable.

I can definitely recommend the NAC. It's truly a top...

I have been a member at NAC for around a year, cancelled my membership last year due to shift in work schedule and not using it enough. I now have a store in Newtown area, very familiar with everyone in town, and am pretty easy to get along with.. Anyway.. decided to come to NAC today, test the waters and see if I wanted to renew my membership. I could not get a day pass unless someone was physically present and could vouch for me. Since Ive been a member before, I knew quite a bit of people and called around to see if someone was available to vouch for me. Guys… its me myself and I… Im not a rowdy person, wont be taking up much room.. really not an “issue client”.. As I’m calling, I came in contact with my cousin who connected and said yes she can totally vouch for me and can drive over to physically be there if needed- as she is saying this the front desk people got the memo and nodded their head, said that its fine, they know her and im good to pay for the day pass. I pay for the day pass. (which the whole vouching thing alone is a pain.. but whatever) Here’s the worst part: As I walk in.. A random coworker.. who had nothing to do with my transaction… who was inside the building, I didn’t see her, she was no where near contact of me… Chelsea to be exact.. PICKS ME OUT, comes up to me, and very aggressively kicks me out. No hi, no hello,.. she says “Ruthie said she didn’t vouch for you. You need to leave” As much as that didn’t make sense to you, it doesn’t make sense to me.. I never used Ruthie’s (who is a worker there) name to vouch for me. I never spoke to her and not sure why I am being approached or picked on. I feel like I was thrown into a 7th grade bully fest.. with 2 strangers I don’t even know… and I am a paying customer…. The entire situation was so bizarre. I asked to speak to her manager- knowing there’s no way she was a high up. TiGi came out. TiGi was so helpful, so kind, very reasonable and respectful. I told him the whole situation.. he was very kind about it.. bought me the first round of drinks and made sure I was taken care of. The behavior of Ruthie and Chelsea was completely unprofessional, and simply inappropriate. Incredibly rude. Only reason why I would give NAC any future chance...