YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase

★H.P. Langer Sy-Quia

Fine if you play pickleball and shower at home. Otherwise, strongly recommend you look elsewhere. The facilites are outdated, dirty and crammed. But, worst of all, staff - especially swim instructors and lifeguards - are unfriendly, snarky and even abusive. We have witnessed members, including children, getting yelled at, when the Y staff is on their phones and not paying attention to genuine risks. If you’re going to take your children to swim class, I strongly advise to stay there and monitor the instructors. One of them verbally assaulted my 7-year old today, and now my son is too scared to swim in the pool on his own.

★★Pat Kuchta

The pools are TOTALLY MISMANAGED! The minute the outdoor pool is closed, there is NOWHERE to swim laps because the indoor pools are full with swim teams, lessons and rec lanes. No adjustments are ever made to accommodate lap swimmers who always bear the brunt when the outdoor pool is closed. Talking with the pool managers does no good because they always say, "we can't do anything"--well, why not? Lap swimmers pay to use the facility and typically are long-term customers. Also, the locker rooms are TOO HOT!! After a shower, you start sweating because the locker rooms are too hot and muggy.

★★★★★Heather Narver

I've been a member for 20 plus years amd feel a real sense of community here. Yes, it's crowded (a review in itself!). But many good features for all ages and friendly, helpful people who embody the values of the YMCA organization.

★John Doe

The gym is decent and if that’s all you’re looking for, I’d say it’s good for the price. However, I will never be doing anything aquatics related at this establishment. If you care about your safety, do not swim here. The lifeguarding staff is old, unfit, and believes it is appropriate to watch their phones while they’re lifeguarding instead of making sure the pool is safe. I don’t know what’s worse, that or the fact that the managers won’t seem to take any action to fix this. Additionally, the pools are filthy. There’s sand and dirt on the floors of most of the pools that nobody bothers to clean up. The ladders are either loose or outright broken. Some grates in the pool aren’t screwed in all the way. It’s as if the whole place was just abandoned. Needless to say, I was not impressed. I urge anyone who values their money and safety to steer clear of the aquatics portion of this establishment unless there is considerable change.

★★Von Xavier

Overpriced! Nice facility but 30 dollars US for a day pass just to use the dumbbells for a half-hour is absurd. I'd probably have some nicer things to mention but YMCA is gouging folk. I've been checking out a number of gyms in the area and day passes are averaging between 10 and 20 bucks for gyms just as nice as YMCA - some that are nicer! I'll be joining one of the nearby gyms but, on account of inflated entry fees, I'll not be joining YMCA!