I will be spending a week in NYC and was looking for a gym where I could spend the better part of the day with a friend. Take a yoga class, run, hit the sauna, have a drink, maybe a facial. Called Chelsea Piers Sports club but it is $50 for a day pass. Anyone have opinions about this place or another or know how to ge a discount? Thanks!

There are health clubs on just about every other corner in Manhattan. My advice is to walk into the closest New York Sports Club and tell them what you want. If they can't fulfill your needs, they'll point you to an Equinox or other facility that can.

$50 is ridiculous unless it's all-inclusive.

Another option would be to ask your concierge. Many hotels have agreements with a nearby facility.

New York Sports Clubs (located all over Manhattan) charge $15 for a guest pass. I'm not sure if you have to be with a club member to be let in. Many of them have dance classes and yoga; some have juice bars. I don't know about facials/spa treatments though. Do an internet search on New York Sports Club...the site tells you the locations and services provided at each.

When I was at Spadium in April (located in the Holiday Inn Hotel off 32nd and Broadway), they were getting ready to get their gym up and running. They have spa facilities, as well. That might be another option.

Contact your gym in your hometown and ask if they have reciprocal agreements with any national gyms and see if you can get a guest pass.

I have used the $50 pass for Chelsea Piers. It is probably one of the best gyms in the city. It is huge, with an Olympic size pool and every class you could ask for. Also they have an Origins day spa. You could go to New York Sports, but I'm not sure whether you could also get a facial there. The Chelsea Piers Club is an altogether more upscale experience. It just depends what you are looking for.
Alternatively you could just book a facial/massage at the Sports Club LA (also extremly upscale) and then you can easily use the faciltities sauna / pool etc. afterwards, without having to pay !!!

Went to Equinox on Broadway recently. Guest pass cost $25! And they were about to refuse any entry until we mentioned that we had called in advance and were told that members of some organization of gyms(sorry not more specific) could be admitted. Had a great time doing back to back spin class and cardio kick box, but I don't remember any spa services. They did have a juice bar.

I spent a Saturday at Chelsea Piers as a guest of a relative and it was wonderful...during the summer you can claim a lounge chair on the deck and soak up the sun...there are stretching classes in the pool, and so many other fantastic choices depending on what you like to do..not to mention the machines...the snack bar area is much more than that...great food choices...and I heard that there's a new restaurant on the premises...Origins Spa is a treat, too...I can't compare it to other gyms in the city, but I think $50.00 is worth a day at Chelsea Piers.