Before you make a commitment, make sure you know well what you're getting yourself into.

What are the terms of the contract?

Does the gym offer month-to-month memberships or will you have to sign for a year? What happens if you move or are unable to attend any longer? Many gyms will tell you "no problem," but it's usually not that easy. Read the fine print. What are the terms for canceling your membership? Can you get any kind of refund if you cancel your membership early? These are all valid questions and you should be able to get a straightforward answer to all of them.

Are trial memberships available?

Many large chains offer a two-week trial membership, which should be enough to experience the place and make a decision. If trial memberships are not available, ask why. If you're happy with the answer, buy a few day passes and visit the place on different days of the week and at different times to see how they handle crowds, classes, and regular clients.

What are the hours like?

Is the gym open at the time you'd be most likely to work out? If you don't get off work until 9pm and the gym closes at 10pm, do you really want to rush from work hoping you'd find a free piece of equipment? Is the gym open on weekends? If you're planning on taking classes, look at the schedule to see if any of the classes you like match your agenda. Great classes don't mean a thing if they're only available at times when you can't be there.

Are the trainers certified?

You want a gym where you can feel safe when you put yourself in the hands of the staff. Even if you're not thinking of getting a personal trainer for yourself, they usually walk the floor to help members with questions --You should feel confident that they'd know what they're talking about if you ask for help.