Bay Club Carmel Valley

We re-joined the club in Feb. We love it since it is great location for the area resident and ample parking spot. They have added great new classes like Ignite and Hit. They also have outdoor classes so inside classes do not get crowded. The reason for 4 star is with being a huge place with cafeteria there is a big need for recycling bin and unfortunately they have none. I did complain to one of the staff and he said he is completely all for it and he has mentioned to the management. Also equipment in the inside need to be cleaned once in a while.

I'm now a disgruntled, soon to be former member. I joined the Bay Club originally in San Francisco where I felt like I was getting good value and liked having access to multiple bay area clubs in one membership. I moved to San Diego 2.5 years ago and paid the same membership fee for access to this single club and didn't even get the option to visit other clubs in California when traveling, so that was strike 1. Strike 2 - prices have gone up almost a third in this time but no discernible improvements in some of the key features I use at the club (changing rooms and showers need a desperate overhaul but it feels like I'm just subsidizing the construction of new pickleball courts!). Strike 3 - the huge summer camps make this club almost unusable and totally unenjoyable for large parts of the day for 2 months out of the year. So while this is a nice location and the personal trainers have always been great, I'm going to leave and make do with public pools. Might still be worth joining for families but as a single member you get screwed over.

This is an incredible facility (indoor/outdoor) but the staff are what sets it apart. I really appreciate the social offerings like a book club (!) facilitated by one of the personal trainers/yoga instructors, Melanie Bourassa (she’s awesome). The Club recognizes that health is about more than just burning calories and provides many opportunities to connect with fellow members (books for me, pickleball for my hubs). There are a lot of great clubs where you can work out but for me, the social aspects here are a value add.

Conveniently located in Carmel Valley which is a key plus for residents in Carmel Valley. I love the positive vibes in this club. Love the group class instructors, very professional. High quality amenities. Feels like a recreation center / community in my backyard. :) The only downside is that it is often packed. Zumba classes have no social distancing. :) Ignite classes are often with full capacity. But I guess that becomes your motivation to come! Be sure to join a shared membership which can significantly lower your monthly payment.

I'm not one to usually write bad reviews unless the experience warrants one. Sadly I didn't think I would write one for the Bay Club. We joined with enthusiasm and used this facility for our whole family - classes for my husband and I, swimming for my son and I and we were always interested in the events they hosted. But sadly we started getting hit or miss service and inconsistent communication. Some staff has been wonderful, some seem irritated anytime you ask simple questions and honestly didn't even look up when checking in. While we don't have expectations of being best friends, customer service is still something that we value with ANY business. The issue we have had the past several months was around communications and being told one thing by multiple people, then finding out it was not true. As well as advertising for events and then not delivering what was advertised. The club is nice, especially if you're a fan of tennis, swimming or squash. Classes are great, but nothing more then I've experienced at Equinox, Club Pilates or Class Pass in honesty. But the inconsistent and false communications are very disappointing especially considering the cost members pay and the caliber the business integrity it advertises. Not to mention family and friends who we share experiences with there, have paused or cancelled their memberships for similar reasons. While costs keep rising (which isn't an issue for us) the quality and experience is not rising along side them (this is the issue). You'd think after decades of business experience, customers would be top of mind. For us, that has not been the case. Sadly, they are losing a family that would have stayed for years if they simply prioritized business integrity and customer experiences.