Health clubs come in as many sizes, shapes and styles as the people who exercise in them, from the luxurious hotel clubs, to the trendy gyms to gritty weight training camps. So once you have made up your mind to get into shape by joining a gym, how should you go about selecting one that is right for you?

"All things being equal, the first thing you should notice is the service and whether or not you are taken care of," says Kimmie Mak, at Royal Plaza and Royal Park hotels. "You should get a full tour of the facilities to determine whether they have the sort of services and amenities that you are looking for. Make sure that you are given a fitness test so that the club can design for you a personal program that is tailored to your own needs."

Michael Lamb, group managing director of SPORTathlon Holdings agrees. There should be "adequate facilities to help you meet your fitness objectives." In addition, it should have "a pleasant en-vironment, somewhere that feels like your second home."

SPORTathlon operates and manages Spa health clubs at Exchange Square, the Sheraton and Excelsior hotels.

Mr Lamb further suggests talking not only to the sales people but also to staff to check their knowledge and service attitude. He feels that qualified instructors with the right attitude are extremely important factors in the selection process and likened personal trainers to friends and motivators.

At Spa health clubs, all new members are offered induction classes for three sessions on a complimentary basis. "Thereafter, there are gym staff to advise on general matters and personal trainers who, at a cost, can provide specialised training. We have a range of fitness assessments for those who like to monitor their fitness levels," Mr Lamb said.

According to Ms Mak, location is also an important consideration if someone embarking on a regular fitness routine is to go about it successfully. "Having to travel some distance in order to reach a club makes it difficult for a person to sustain the habit of going to the gym," she said.

In most cases, an individual's choice of health clubs boils down to what that particular person is looking for. Ms Mak advises people to consider both the value for money offered and what a gym offers to suit a person's needs. For instance, some people like to work out with weights, but other people prefer to swim. These people need to look for a gym that offers such facilities.

"The club of choice should be the one that caters to your needs. The luxury clubs places more emphasis on personalised service while no-frills gyms may suit those who likes to do their own thing and may have more narrow interests," she said.

For this reason, Mak suggests looking at your budget before making a decision. "Clients need to consider how much they are willing to spend and the kind of services and facilities they want access to."

Health clubs such as the Spa offers a range of membership categories to cater to different budgets. Mr Lamb advises people to avoid entering into long-term contracts. "If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is," he said.