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How much is Life Time Fitness? Or other family fitness recs?
DH and I belonged to Life Time for several years before DS was born. We paid $100 per month for a dual membership at the lower-end clubs. After DS was born we joined LA Fitness, which we liked better- it was $60 per month for a dual membership plus $10 a month for daycare services. The daycare services were fine when he was young and didn't know any better- now he's 3.5 and has autism and wicked seperation anxiety. I don't think I'd feel comfortable leaving him in that daycare unless they happened to have hired some new and improved babysitters.
We want to try the gym again as something to do as a family. We're looking at the YMCA in Edina which apparently has undergone a renovation. The last time I toured them I was really unimpressed- while the equipment was new and nice, it was all underground and very hot and stagnant. They cost $101 for a dual including daycare. I'm thinking their daycare would be better for DS though, plus it gives us a family outlet to get involved with.
I want to call Life Time to see what their rates are (they don't list them on their website) but I don't want to be hounded by constant sales calls like we were last time. Can you give me an idea of their prices? We'd be willing to drive to their flagship clubs to use their family pools, so I'm curious what the range of memberships cost. Any ideas or other recs from people using the gym as a family? Thanks!
Re: How much is Life Time Fitness? Or other family fitness recs?
DH thinks that our Lifetime (St. Louis Park) is about $120 per couple a month. It is a Platinum club.
There is a pool and childcare center but I have never used either so I can't really speak to the quality of them.
This doesn't surprise me one bit. DH works very part time at our Lifetime and says it's not the best run company and they tend to hire nincompoops (not DH though, natch). :-) He works there to get free tennis time (normally $20/hour) and free membership. And we live close so it's the most logical place for us. If we were still paying full price for our couple's membership I probably would have jumped ship awhile ago. But, since we're "stuck" there I'm a-ok with it for now. It IS a nice place on the surface and I like the classes.
I'm really not looking forward to January 2nd. They TOTALLY oversell memberships knowing that tons of people will come there to fulfill their resolutions but many most likely will stop coming. New Years to Valentine's Day is usually really busy.
I can't work out at home though (my couch is too tempting) so this is the best solution for me. :-)
Wow that got long. Apparently I have lots of feelings about Lifetime. :-)
Aha.. that makes sense.. sad that they will play around with their fee structure like that. LA Fitness does something similar- DH and I paid $100 for startup fee but a friend of mine just refused to pay it. The next time we joined we weren't even asked to pay the fee.
When we were "gym shopping" the lady at LA Fitness magically got us included on some corporate deal she had just closed. She said we were SO lucky to get SUCH an amazing deal and she NEVER does that!!! Haha. Of course we saw straight through her b.s. story and said no thanks! I'm sure everyone gets the same, or similar, story.
I think gym memberships are like airplane tickets - no one pays the same price. I think it totally depends on who signs you up for your account and how nice they are feeling that day.
So with all that said when you find a place you like definitely try to talk them down. I think some places are still hurting because gym memberships tend to get dropped when the economy puts the squeeze on people.
DH and I use the Y in Elk River. Love it. We've used the childcare for my nephew when we had the kids and wanted to work out. Now all of our nieces/nephews have memberships through their parents and it's very cool to take them with us when we have them for weekends. When they didn's we used guest passes.
I love the classes they offer and that I can use my card at any one in the area. They just expanded their hours so they're open later and earlier. I love that it's not a fashion/makeup show for the most part and I don't feel like I'm on display at the meat market when I'm there. (if that makes sense?)
I joined the downtown YMCA last November and I love it. I don't use the equipment much because I typically just attend group fitness classes over lunch. BUT, when I signed up, they told me they replace their treadmills, ellipticals and such every two years which I thought sounded good.
I've been VERY happy with the Y. It is more my speed and the clientele comes in all shapes and sizes and are very friendly.
I didn't pay a joiners fee, my single membership is $65 a month and i pay an addtional $10 a month to keep a half size locker. I also have towel service for free because of some deal my employer has with them which is nice.
I often go to the West St. Paul Y with Meesa31 (or maybe it's South St Paul? I cant remember. it's off Robert Street) for BodyPump on Saturdays and that's a small club but its still nice enough for me.
I've never used the daycare at any of these because my son is old enough to stay home alone when we go to the gym on the weekends.