Gym Membership

Dipak wrote:

Anyone recommend any cheap gym membership which are worth joining in Cardiff? Cheapest so far i found is Fitness First for £29 pm

haha. Im like you mate. I live in cardiff and trying to find a good gym. Fitness is the cheapest so far but I like Living Wells based in LLanishen. Its quite expensive though.

OFF TOPIC I KNOW
if only I could get a membership that inexpensive (I pay £52 a month and regard that as OK for central London)

I need a discount code for jjb if anyone has one.

Have you all checked out if these gyms offer corporate rates ?
I had been with my gym for quite a while when they sent out letters warning of an increase in the fees, and listing all the different types of memberships and charges. One was a corporate rate, which had more benefits than the one I was on, and was at least a third cheaper !!
Next time I was at the gym I commented on the fees going up, and asked "Who can get the corporate rate?" Two minutes later I learnt I should be !!. :eek: It was all down to who I worked for.
I have since paid the lower rate, and was just annoyed that nobody had bothered to mention it before, and that I had never asked.:mad:
Remember:- IF YOU DON'T ASK YOU DON'T GET !!!:A

When I have made enquiries at other gyms they often don't OFFER this, but if you ask they should have a list of employers/companies which fall into this category. It could be The Police, Council, or the local school/hospital, or a local firm/business. You will probably have to produce a payslip to prove it - though mine have never asked to see it since, and I've been a member now for years, for all they know I could have changed jobs !!
Also, if I dropped into the conversation with say Fitness First that Livingwell had offered me the corporate rate, they quickly said that they could give me Corporate rate as well.;)

Have you checked out your local Council run gyms, these often offer exercise classes and use of the pool on top of the gym useage, plus reduced rates for squash/badminton etc. Some reduce it even further for members who are rate payers of that council.:T

Last but not least, I assume you will have checked out the differing memberships most gyms offer - Peak and Off Peak, which can cut the fees considerably.
Must add, in my humble opinion, the cost is only one consideration. If the fees are low, but the facilities are awfull, is it worth it. Equally are the fluffy towels and shower gel really worth paying £10-£20 a month extra ?
Travelling distance and opening hours are just as relevant, as is.....Is it a friendly atmosphere ? Most gyms give at least a one day trial membership, some do up to a week. I have just received a Free 7 day Trial flyer for the Hilton/Livingwell. Give it a go, give them all a go. They all seem to have a high turn over of Would-be-Get-Fitters, who join and quickly let their membership lapse. My impression is ALL these gyms are constantly on recruitment drives, and much like SKY, are open to making better offers if they think they can sign you up.:T