The most underrated Anytime Fitness in SG?

So recently, after gymming everywhere for 2-3 odd years (ActiveSG, FitnessFirst, Fitnessworkz etc), I decided to sign Anytime Fitness with an outlet that opened near my home. Discipline gets easier as the task you do becomes more accessible, right? One of the benefits I truly maximised was the access to every AF outlet. I’ve been hopping AFs around SG and even JB depending on my schedule, and experienced many outlets. So why not start a review series - and with AF Balmoral!

Honestly I came to try because I heard they had a free pool access - more on that later.

First off, the gym itself is not the biggest, don’t expect Chai Chee, E Hub or City Hall size and variety of equipment. It is shared with the hotel, so hotel guests can enter with their keycard via another door (and this means you are sharing with guests). If it gets crowded, you might have to wait or share equipment. Although I came at off-peak hour and finished my Pull day comfortably with zero interruption.

Onto the equipment:

Deadlift platform - 1 with bumper plates, belt & loading jack

Rack - 1 half-rack, standard plates with handles

Smith machine - 1

Dumbbell rack - max 30kg only, 2 bench (can steal the bench from smith machine if nobody is using)

Machines - enough, e.g. solo lat pulldown machine with many attachments, plate loaded midrow machine, chest fly machine, plate loaded leg press, plate loaded chest press, seated leg curl, etc

Cable - only 2 stacks, side-by-side, can do standing cable chest fly though

Cardio - Treadmills, stairmaster, standing cycling machine

Accessories - Bosu ball, yoga ball, foam roller, kettlebell, etc. Bonus: parallel bars

There is a multipurpose room but it is too stuffy inside. Although the mirrors and privacy might be useful if you want to practise posing.

Onto the pool - this is the hotel’s pool, open 6am-10pm, towels are provided, just take one from the towel rack. 1.2m deep, great for beginners, and enough distance to do some laps. Exit the gym and head straight out to access the pool (or just ask any staff), plenty of sun deck chairs and tables etc if you just want to relax or get some work done on your laptop. Expect hotel guests to use it too.

There’s also pickleball courts but you have to book them (ask the staff too, I don’t play pickleball).

Score:

Machine variety and quantity 7/10

Aircon 7/10, hot at certain areas when sun is coming in

Shower and changing room - 6/10 (3 showers 1 toilet, unisex changing area, small lockers, very basic hairdryers)

Vibes 9/10 (private hotel gym vibes, this is subjective though, some gymbros prefer big commercial style gym)

Overall 8/10 (I’m basically sold on the pool)

Summary: this is my new favourite spot for deload days or when I don’t need big racks (pun unintended). Good for a decent workout if you are just doing machine, db or cable work, and most importantly swimming. The standard plates are not plentiful - when I was doing my rows, I had to take plates from the chest press machine beside me.

If you want to see strong and anabolic people for motivation, hit some serious powerlifting with PRs, or if you use db above 30kg, go for the bigger outlets like City Hall. Otherwise, have fun!