Nothing throws me out of my routine like traveling. I completely stop tracking my food intake. I binge watch shows I’ve been meaning to catch up on into the wee hours of night. I sleep way past my regular 5AM wake up call. I get zero reading done.
However…
The one thing I try not to compromise is my fitness routine. I only WOD 3-4 times per week so my training volume isn’t that heavy to begin with. Completely avoiding a workout on a week-long vacation makes me feel pretty lazy. Not to mention, CrossFit® is one of those things where the longer you’re away from it, the more it hurts when you come back.
Over the past few years, I’ve dropped into countless affiliates. I want to share my process (Yes, I said process) for selecting where I drop-in when I’m on vacation.
It breaks into three simple phases:
Research: Finding the perfect Box to drop-in
Every gym is not built the same. Dirty facilities, ignorant coaches & cheap equipment are the tip of the “bad experience iceberg”.
I’m sure the box you go to at home is awesome on all accounts. That doesn’t mean they’re all built that way. In fact, I’d argue coming from an awesome affiliate gym puts you at a disadvantage when trying to find a drop in.
But enough scare tactics; here’s how you can find incredible drop-in locations no matter where your travels take you!
Use What You Have
The first, most simple strategy is tapping into your existing network. A simple post on your favorite social media channel (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) can render the rest of this guide useless.
If you’re in the incredible WODprep Athlete Insiders private Facebook group, then you can use that as your sounding board. With over 4,500 like minded athletes from all around the world, you’ll get a bunch of great suggestions. Not a member of WPAI yet? Join here.
Once you’re there, a simple post like this will go a long way:
If you have no friends, just keep reading. All hope isn’t lost.
Drop-in Resources
Let’s start by calling out the obvious resource: The Official CrossFit® Affiliate Map. This is the “all-encompassing”, official listing of active affiliates registered with CrossFit® HQ. DO NOT START HERE.
This map provides no tangible value. If you punch in the city or zip code you’re visiting, you will find a list of gyms nearby. But this map doesn’t give you any of the information required to make an educated decision.You want to start with a Google Maps search.
Go to maps.google.com and type in “CrossFit® near *Insert City Here*”. Here’s what a search for “CrossFit® near Mexico City, MX” looks like:
This is a huge map area.
You’re going to want to hone in on your exact location to narrow down the list to 3 or 4 locations you can reasonably get to. Especially if you don’t have a car while on vacation. As you zoom in, the left column will update to include only the gyms within the new map area.
Analyze the reviews for the Affiliates remaining:
Look for volume of reviews. So in the picture above, you can see “Black CrossFit Mexico” has 3 reviews with a 5-star average. I’m sure it’s the owner’s mom, dad, and dog that left those reviews. Pass. The top two Boxes (“Reebok” & “Cygnus”) have 23 and 19 reviews, respectively. I’m going to look into those further.
Note: Sometimes your only option will be to drop-in at a gym with little to no reviews. You should still go! It could be an incredible, tight-knit community. A hidden gem, if you will.For Affiliate Owners reading this, let this serve as a reminder. Ask your members to leave a review on Google or Facebook. Furthermore, do you have a GREAT gym? Do everyone a favor and leave a 5-star Google Maps review for them right now! The more detailed, the better.
The next step is to click on the name of the box to expand its’ information on Google, which is user updated. I’m going to spend a few minutes looking at the pictures uploaded by regular people/drop-ins. I’ll be skipping right over the stock images of chiseled athletes bent over a puddle of their own sweat.
Pro Tip
Try to find their Instagram account. This will give you a good look into their culture and facility. Here’s what I’m looking for:
- What type of equipment they have (racks, rigs, weights, KBs, DBs, etc).
- How big the box is (I like my space).
- If the facilities are well-maintained (organized and clean).
After filtering out some Boxes based on reviews and pictures, I visit the remaining affiliates websites. I want to see if they use a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) like MindBody Fitness, Wodify, ZenPlanner, etc.
I’m a stickler for tech. I’m sure there are great boxes out there that rely on the good old-fashioned whiteboard. However, that doesn’t interest me as much. I appreciate an affiliate willing to invest in tech to provide a better user experience.
Here’s a picture of my gym’s website. You can see the schedule and how many spots are open in each class. No guesswork.
Recent Workouts
The final box I check in the drop-in research phase is looking at their last couple of WODs. I hate going to boxes that have 30-minute MetCons that look like bootcamp circuits. No barbells, no kettlebells, no dumbbells. Just aerobic workstation after aerobic workstation. I also find it odd when there’s no strength component.
If you can’t find previous days’ WODs on their website, you can try to see if it’s on any of their social media accounts.
If their prior WODs look scary, you found a winner.
At this point, you might think I’m being too picky. I would say you are right, but I don’t mind. I have to be. Paying a ~$20 drop-in fee for one class is 2x what I pay per class at home. Not to mention, I’m still paying at home. So that’s $30 for just one workout.
Below is a picture of my wife and me in Mexico City at CrossFit® Vexsel. This is a tiny gym, but everyone here is extremely nice and accommodating.
ProTip
If you end up driving here, make sure you have 5-10 pesos for the “street parking attendant”.
Outreach: Start Contacting Boxes About Drop-ins
After I narrow my list of choices down to two or three boxes, I start calling. If I’m in a country that speaks another language, I’ll reach out via writing. Writing makes both parties feel less anxious about fumbling over words.
Pro Tip
You’ll hear back from a gym quicker via Facebook Messenger or Instagram DM. But as a courtesy, Affiliates appreciate an email with a few days notice. Please don’t be the athlete that frantically messages 30 minutes before class.
Here’s a script of how the communication usually goes for me:
I open by introducing myself and my intention: “Hi, my name is Sunny and I’ll be in *city/town* from *date* to *date*. I’m calling a few different boxes in your area to see where I want to drop-in. I’ve been practicing CrossFit® for years so you won’t have to pay special attention to me. It’ll be like I’m not even there. Do you accept drop-ins?”
At this point, I’ve piqued their interest by saying I want to drop-in. Saying I’m calling a few different gyms will add urgency. Finally, mentioning my experience is reassuring to them.
Side note: Don’t lie about your experience. If you’re a beginner, tell them.
After they tell me about their drop-in protocol, I follow up with timing: “I like to work out in the mornings. Typically the first class of the day. Is that class usually full or will there be space for me?”
After the confirm or deny a time slot, I ask about the cost. “Oh by the way, how much do you charge for drop-ins?”.
I used to avoid asking about cost, hoping it wouldn’t come up. Then I got caught with a $20 cash only drop-in fee and had nothing but credit on me. I also didn’t have my debit card on me, so I couldn’t run to the nearest ATM. I had to PayPal one of their members for the cash. Made for a good story, but also mildly embarrassing.
After they tell me their drop-in rate (usually $20), I counter. “The affiliate I go to charges $20 cash or $25 for a T-shirt as the drop-in rate. Would you consider doing the same?” .
This really is my gyms policy: $20 cash or $25 in Merchandise. Almost everyone opts for the Merchandise. If they say yes, great. If they say no, I reply “Ok cool. If I bring my wife can it be 30 for both of us?”.
Finally, If I’m staying somewhere for an entire week, I’ll ask, “Can you do 3 classes for the price of 2?”
Here’s a picture of my wife and me at CrossFit® Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland. These guys were super fun, helpful, and informative. They charge 20CHF per drop-in. I tried my negotiation on them and ended up paying 30CHF for two people and they threw in a free tank top for my wife.
Obviously, she’s not wearing her new tank top in this picture………
Drop-in Etiquette: How to Behave When You’re There
Early is on time.
Show up ten to fifteen minutes early (or earlier if they specify). Give yourself ample time to sign any waivers, have an ice-breaking convo with the coach, and get a lay of the land. Running in late will draw unnecessary attention towards you.
Be a polite guest. You are in someone else’s house. Respect their culture, and be open to a new experience. Accept this affiliate’s way of doing things. Unless asked, refrain from openly comparing the way they operate to the way you’re used to. “But at my gym, we don’t…”
No. Stop.
The differences, if any, are a good opportunity to learn. You can share your experience with your coaches and classmates when you get back home.
Take it easy.
I see no value in overexerting yourself while dropping in. Especially if you’re on vacation. You don’t want to get hurt while you’re away from home. Furthermore, nothing makes exploring a new city more painful than sore legs. Approach the WOD as a good opportunity to get blood flowing and remove any kinks caused by a long drive or flight. I’d also encourage you to avoid any PR attempts as a drop-in. You don’t need to impress these people, you’ll likely never see any of them again…
UNLESS THEY HAVE SOMETHING YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE!
Smile first.
When you make eye contact with someone, go first! Flash your winning smile and extend out your hand. Introduce yourself to one or two people. If you’re shy, look for someone of the same sex and age to make it easier on yourself. Ask a question!
“I’m in town for a few days, what are the two or three things I have to eat, see, or do while I’m here?”
Take a picture!
Right when class ends, ask the coach if you can take a “class picture”. If you’ve done everything before this correctly, they’ll be so glad you asked.