Sawatdeekap,

I'm in Chiang Mai for a month or two near Thae Pae Gate. After walking around today, then searching the forums, I've come up empty handed for a gym. Can anyone point me to a gym close by (within 1km or so)?

Just need DBs up to 25kilos or so and a squat or leg press. I visited a hotel recommended on another post (and near myself), but was told they no longer allow guests. I'll try and walk by tomorrow to grab the name for other folks.

Thanks in advance!

If you didn't already, it might be worth going back to the hotel and offering them a price for a 1-2 month membership. It's hard to believe they would turn down a reasonable offer.

This may be a bit more than 1 km from Thapae Gate, but the Centara Duang Tawan hotel on Loi Kroh offers one month memberships for 1000 baht. They have the equipment that will meet your needs plus a really nice pool. It's the tall white hotel at the end of Loi Kroh near the Night Bazaar.

This may be a bit more than 1 km from Thapae Gate, but the Centara Duang Tawan hotel on Loi Kroh offers one month memberships for 1000 baht. They have the equipment that will meet your needs plus a really nice pool. It's the tall white hotel at the end of Loi Kroh near the Night Bazaar.

It's much too busy at the Centara OP probaly due to Nancy telling everyone about it .

There's Fitness Thailand near Changpuak Gate. Walking distance.

This may be a bit more than 1 km from Thapae Gate, but the Centara Duang Tawan hotel on Loi Kroh offers one month memberships for 1000 baht. They have the equipment that will meet your needs plus a really nice pool. It's the tall white hotel at the end of Loi Kroh near the Night Bazaar.

It's much too busy at the Centara OP probaly due to Nancy telling everyone about it .

Some people are moving to Fitness Thailand as it gets worse during the Winter because of all the tourists in the hotel that use it. Yesterday, it was already very crowded around 11 AM.

I wondered how long it would take before the resident Expat regulars at Centara started throwing dumbells at me! (Note to OP: we've covered this ground before on the TV forum. You may want to use the search function.)

I go to Centara five times a week, at various times of day and just don't see the problems the previous posters have mentioned. I've had to wait something like 3 minutes for a shower stall once and I had to dodge kids in the pool a time or two, but the staff always straightens 'em out without my complaining. Oh yeah, I think all the treadmills were in use once, but I just did the bike for a while until a treadmill opened up.

I'm amazed that successful business people would discourage newcomers from becoming customers of another business that they obviously enjoy and patronize. Thai business people are great at imitating successful businesses. If other hotels see the success of the Centara fitness center, then they are more likely to open up their fitness centers to residents. Some of these same grumblers have pointed out to me that Centara has many more machines than they did when they first opened. See, they're responding to customer demand, too!

Oh well, I doubt I changed any minds, but didn't want to let the grumblers go unchallenged. Meanwhile, I'm off to visit my favorite used book store near Thapae Gate, but I'm not telling anyone about it because it already is crowded with too many tourists (especially in winter) and I want to keep all the good books for myself and my resident Expat friends.

Oh well, I doubt I changed any minds, but didn't want to let the grumblers go unchallenged. Meanwhile, I'm off to visit my favorite used book store near Thapae Gate, but I'm not telling anyone about it because it already is crowded with too many tourists (especially in winter) and I want to keep all the good books for myself and my resident Expat friends.

A gym is a bit different to a bookshop or have you not noticed .

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out tomorrow.

NancyL, if you're ever in Phuket Town (where I'm living), I know some good bookstores. I do all my reading on my phone, so no competition here : )

I can't imagine reading on a phone. For one thing, don't you have to pay for the downloads? The used book shops are an economical way to read, esp when you sell back the books after you're done. Also, we've kept our membership in a U.S. library and we can download books in MP3 format for free to enjoy for a limited time (like two weeks). I have a SwiMP3 underwater MP3 player plus a regular player so I can listen to books when I swim and exercise at the Centara!

P.S. the locals still use the old name of the hotel "Duang Tawan".

Personally i hardly do any work out beside my finger pressing the keyboard .

there is a GYM just behind Computer Plaza and ICON ,

the GYM is not bad but not sure about the price . is about 1-2 km within -

seriously . chaingmai is so small so i suggests you hunt one down that is good - . you can walk 1-2 km more is also consider a good workout

i wonder if tehre will invent a robot that will do workout on behalf of human while we sit back whahaha

If you want a Gym in that area of town, its got to be Fitness Thailand, which is located behind icon square. If its a fitness centre you're after, then Central Duang Tawan is best for you in that area. FT doesn't offer a pool and the steam and sauna rooms a not up to a high standard, but it has by far the best free weights and machines then any other gym in town.

I wondered how long it would take before the resident Expat regulars at Centara started throwing dumbells at me!

When people correctly comment on how very crowded Centara often is, you find this to be a personal attack? Do you or your family own Centara?

I migrated back to the Centara from Fitness Thailand when the weather started to heat up. The pool at the Centara is the best that I have found for the price. However, as the tourist season begins, it is becoming more crowded. I'll be heading back to Fitness Thailand as the weather becomes cooler (the pool at Centara is not heated). Fitness Thailand's weights, machines and facility are far superior to Centara. More weights, more machines, more room and NEVER crowded. However, no pool. That's the only drawback.