[MX rider]

Originally Posted by peggyb

I just found out that this is a benefit in my plan! Do you use it? Is it a full membership with classes and equipment use?

At Genesis you get everything free if you use your plan. They have classes everyday.
We go to the one in Brownwood. The one in Spanish Springs isn't as nice, but they're moving it and doing a complete remodel with new and more equipment. Should be really nice.

With your membership you can use both locations.

[OhioBuckeye]

Just me but I think it’s govt. inflation. Economy is getting out of hand!

[txfan]

The convenience of golf cart access and being within the "bubble" will forever mean TV costs will be higher than outside.

The amenity fee only goes so far before you'll realize it's way more expensive to golf, go to the gym, or eat, in TV than driving a bit and find higher quality golf and fitness outside.

Obviously it is a choice to make, and many can afford the fees, but I had a way different idea of what the amenity fee would include.

It's an observation, not a complaint.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by agnesd

My mother is visiting for the winter months. In November we were able to get monthly rate of $47.50 for her. Now it will cost her $100 for the month. Found this out after 3 days of talking with rec center personnel - they didn't even know about this change! This is an outrageous price for what they offer at the gym. I was told by the Recreation Dept Directors office that they did this because of inflation and in order to keep members prices down they eliminated the month pass for guests. Bad business plan because now they lost me as a member as well as my mom as a guest. (They were very eager to refund me the rest of my membership for some reason). I find this very puzzling and bad for business.

Looked into Genesis and Planet Fitness - both less expensive and they offer much more.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the plan was to eliminate the fitness centers in the rec centers and repurpose the space.
If you see a few more Genesis opening (especially one in LSL), then that is the long term plan.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by txfan

The convenience of golf cart access and being within the "bubble" will forever mean TV costs will be higher than outside.

The amenity fee only goes so far before you'll realize it's way more expensive to golf, go to the gym, or eat, in TV than driving a bit and find higher quality golf and fitness outside.

Obviously it is a choice to make, and many can afford the fees, but I had a way different idea of what the amenity fee would include.

It's an observation, not a complaint.

To us the amenity fee is a bargain for all the things we have access to for free, and how well maintained everything is.

As far as golf, yes the CC fee is too much after Jan 1st. But before that during the off season they're half price. Which is a very reasonable fee for 18 holes.

Eating out can be a bit more here, although not "way more" imo.
I just retired from Sysco, I sold food to restaurants in Southern Indiana. For the most part, prices at the places we go to here are not that far off from the accounts I had.

But generally I agree with you, it takes more money to live here. But for us, it's well worth it and we couldn't be happier.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I wouldn’t be surprised if the plan was to eliminate the fitness centers in the rec centers and repurpose the space.
If you see a few more Genesis opening (especially one in LSL), then that is the long term plan.

There is an Orange Theory Fintness at LSL. You can get a membership there free the same way we do at Genesis, if you have the right advantage plan. Actually you can join both.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by MX rider

There is an Orange Theory Fintness at LSL. You can get a membership there free the same way we do at Genesis, if you have the right advantage plan. Actually you can join both.

I forgot about the OT in LSL - it’s relatively new, right?

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I forgot about the OT in LSL - it’s relatively new, right?

Not sure on that one.

[MrLonzo]

I’m perplexed by the price increase as well. These are small gyms at the Villages with a limited variety of equipment, and the Precor weight machines don’t come close to matching others, like Life Fitness. They’re basically extended ‘home gyms’, yet charge as much as full service gyms. And they don't accept insurance plans which pay for gym membership or put memberships 'on hold' when the member goes out of town for a few months like many full service gyms will do.

I also wonder why they are still charging instead of including their use under the amenity fee. When I do the math, I’m sure their fees over the years have already paid off the equipment. Yet everyday I see dozens of unused bocce and shuffleboard courts which probably cost at least as much to build and maintain as a gym. It may be true that not many Villagers use the gym, but there are many people who do not play golf but pay amenity fees which support the golf courses.

[Jhnidy]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

Another great example of how #s can be manipulated. You are correct that price doubled. On other side of coin it went up by $5.00. If price was $3.00 and went to $10 it would gave gone up over 300%. Like a lot of other endeavors better off getting a monthly or yearly membership. A new Planet Fitness is opening up on 441 near Billys Cafe soon. Bet they will have memberships for <$30 a month.

An increase from 3 to ten is not 300%

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Jhnidy

An increase from 3 to ten is not 300%

It's an increase of about 233 percent.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by davephan

Good Original Medicare supplement plans include gym memberships for free. We have Silver Sneekers included with our Original Medicare supplement plan. Silver Sneakers gives you free access to hundreds of gyms. Watch out for the gyms that charge extra for fitness classes, like Crunch Fitness. Check out what the normal gym membership includes and does not include. If you have to pay out of pocket, usually you can get discounts. You can oftentimes get a drastic discount if you pay for three years in advance. But you need to be certain that you will be using your gym membership consistently. Many people get gym memberships, then slack off, and don’t use their gym memberships.

I bought a three year membership for about $18 a month before I had the free Original Medicare supplement gym membership. If I renewed the three year gym membership again, it would cost less than $6 a month. The normal month to month cost is about $35 a month. So, not everyone pays the same rate. You have to throughly check out how to get the discounts and free gym memberships.

Medicare Advantage plans should be avoided because the Medicare Advantage plans actually reduces the quality and quantity of your health care services. That’s why Medicare Advantage should be named Medicare Disadvantage.

There are many different Medicare Advantage plans. Shop around - some are very good with very good caps. Ours has a 1300.00 cap. We go to Infinity fitness in Fruitland Park (on 441/27) and pay nothing.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There are also free outdoor exercise machines IN the Villages. There's one at Paradise Park, and they just built a new one across the street (441) next to the Hacienda fitness pool. Pretty sure there are a few more scattered around the community as well.

[Laker14]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

It's an increase of about 233 percent.

I was about to disagree with you, then I realized you had it right and I had it wrong.

Math before coffee=bad idea.

[JGibson]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

I forgot about the OT in LSL - it’s relatively new, right?

It's new but it's not a gym in the conventional sense.

It's more just fitness classes with treadmills and no weights.
You can't just go whenever you want you have to sign up for the class in advance.

I was hoping they put a real gym where that useless Paradise Grill is that nobody is ever in.