It is not uncommon for people thinking about joining different health and fitness clubs to be a little confused by the choices available. Each person has their own set of needs when they join and clubs differ so it is important to assess your needs first.
Once you have done this it will make the search easier and hopefully you will be able to join a club that you will want to stay at. Many people underestimate the need for a club close to where they work or live because traveling distance/time play an important aspect of how frequently you attend.
A good instructor can make or break a club because he is the motivator and that is the most important aspect for users. For people that may have specific requirements or physical limitations, the instructor needs to be made aware of these from the start.
Ask the staff what additional services are available; how they treat you will give you a good idea how enthusiastic and professional they are in their work. If you have an interest in learning martial arts for example, see if the fitness club arranges lessons as many clubs have resident professional in a number of fields.
The clubs opening times is also something worth checking because if you work unusual hours you need to know they will be open and whether the general programs on offer are what you are looking for. If your fitness club offers group classes, choose the facility that offers the classes you really like; you can do a trial class to check it out if you want.
There is nothing worse than waiting for equipment when the gym is busy so ensure you feel happy about this before you join. One thing to look for is the age of the equipment; the older it is the more likely it is to break down which doesn't look good on the club.
Almost all clubs have a healthy social calendar and this is a good time to get an invitation before you join and perhaps meet few people you might be able to get on with when you're training. It is important to know the monthly membership fee and what it covers as some clubs have hidden charges, also check to see if they offer services at an extra fee and how often they increase rates.
Before you make your final decision, check a few other fitness clubs that are local as well as there is nothing worse that finding another, better club after you have already paid the membership on another. Take your time, there is no hurry and be wary of clubs that continue to contact you about membership as there is a fine line between a courteous approach and pestering.
More info on health and fitness can be found here Mens Health and Fitness