Any virgin active members on here?

[Stupeo]

If so, did you manage to haggle a discount? Also, what do you think of the service etc.

I am looking to join our local VA (Lancashire Health and Racquet club) with the family (2 adults and 3 kids). The youngest can go in the crèche for an hour whilst the rest of us train/swim/do classes.

We had a look around on Saturday and was really impressed but they want £133 a month for the 5 of us + £40 join in fee. This is with the rolling contract so we are not tied in for a year. If we wanted a contract for 12 months, it would be £10 less.

Thanks.

[944fan]

I used to be a member at the MK Virgin Active. It was a very good club with good facilities, always clean and broken equipment was repaired very quickly.

I didn't try and haggle (it was only my single member ship £39/Month). When I cancelled they didn't try and convince me to stay or offer any incentive. I admit I cancelled in January which is probably a time when they get a lot of new joiners but they didn't seem to care about loosing a member. If you are going to be paying that much for all those members they may do a deal.

I have been a member of Bannatynes and David Lloyd before and I would say the Virgin one is the best of the bunch.

[mattikake]

944fan said:

I used to be a member at the MK Virgin Active. It was a very good club with good facilities, always clean and broken equipment was repaired very quickly.

Interesting. I picked up an eye infection after putting my hands on the floor in the MK club (press-ups in a class). I've had mates catch ringworm in the showers and foot infections from the changing rooms, all in the MK club.

Could just be bad luck, but I've used loads of gyms and have mates who have used even more. No such issues.

[Sushi]

Been a member of Farnborough VA for over a year now, never had any problems, it's always generally clean (cleaners are always wandering round with antiseptic spray and mops cleaning up), showers are clean.
I have a family membership for 2 adults and 4 kids, we pay £160 a month membership fees as we're on the rolling contract. We joined while they had an offer of no membership fees so that was good.
The kids (12yo,9yo, 3yo twins) all get to use the crèche or club V for the bigger kids, for up to 4 hours a day FOC. It saves a lot of hassle and they put on a lot of good activities during the summer holidays so it helps keep the wife sane.

[Buzz word]

Chelmsford VA, memeber for about 5 years it has gone from £47-£57ppm in that time on a rolling monthly contract. I paid no joining fee. Overall I think it's a well run place that's reasonably well equipped. Not much point talking details as it's not the one your joining.

[944fan]

mattikake said:

Interesting. I picked up an eye infection after putting my hands on the floor in the MK club (press-ups in a class). I've had mates catch ringworm in the showers and foot infections from the changing rooms, all in the MK club.

Could just be bad luck, but I've used loads of gyms and have mates who have used even more. No such issues.

fking hell, glad I left. I never had anything like that.

[Regiment]

I had a nose around the one in Nottingham near the train station, great facilities but the weights didn't go high enough and very pricey.

[Jamirecluse]

Being an active virgin is alot better I hear.

[bxacclaim]

Have been a member of VA Gloucestershire Health and Racquets club for about 12 months - £129 per month for myself and my partner. Also use VA Bristol regularly (once/twice a week).

To be fair to the Bristol club it would be a fair bit cheaper to be a member there.

BUT...they are chalk and cheese - the Gloucestershire club is streets ahead with much better facilities. Some points being obvious from the website (2 pools vs 1 pool), others you wouldn't realise without visiting - such as the gym floor being much bigger, better laid out and therefore being an altogether much more pleasant place to be.

Another point on VA - as I understand it, they have a contract with Technogym for new gym equipment. I much prefer the Life Fitness stuff which lives on in the Gloucestershire club. This may or may not be a personal preference but for me it is important and I enjoy a workout far more on the LF equipment(my girlfriend thinks the same). If you are likely to be fussy on this, check what is in place at the club you are thinking of joining.

In summary, VA clubs vary a lot, but then so do their prices...fair enough.

I'd recommend taking a monthly non-contract membership initially and then upgrade to a rolling contract once you are sure. It will cost a few extra quid until you upgrade, but worth it to suss things out. I did the same and have not regretted one second, I love going to VA Gloucestershire and it's worth every single penny.

ETA - I see you are considering a non-contract membership, so don't need the above advice! Also, despite best efforts we did not manage a discount when I joined or when adding my girlfriend, the best we managed was extra guest passes.

Edited by bxacclaim on Wednesday 26th June 19:27

[Stupeo]

Cheers all.

Managed to get them to waive the joining fees for the five of us - saving £55.

[thehammer]

Might as well reply on this rather than start a new thread.

Any one currently have a family membership? Would be nice to know the cost before having to suffer high pressure sales tactics.

Thanks

[TurboHatchback]

I completely misunderstood the title and came in here expecting so much more .

[soad]

TurboHatchback said:

I completely misunderstood the title and came in here expecting so much more .

Someone needs more sleep.

[Stupeo]

So, we ended up cancelling after 5 months. Then we joined again a year later - memberships had all gone up, but by standing firm on the joining fee we got that for free again.

I think prices vary depending on location and club.

EDIT: Forgot to say, kids prices is also dependent on age. We had to pay £7.50per month I think for our baby (< 1) and around £12 per month for the other kids. Total cost for 2 adults and 3 kids was £155 a month.

[thehammer]

Stupeo said:

So, we ended up cancelling after 5 months. Then we joined again a year later - memberships had all gone up, but by standing firm on the joining fee we got that for free again.

I think prices vary depending on location and club.

EDIT: Forgot to say, kids prices is also dependent on age. We had to pay £7.50per month I think for our baby (< 1) and around £12 per month for the other kids. Total cost for 2 adults and 3 kids was £155 a month.

Thanks for the info, that might work out to be a few very expensive swims.