Fitness Oriented Timeshares

[continia]

Hi
Anyone know of any timeshares that are fitness oriented. Looking for somewhere that has a good fitness/workout room(weights). Possilby aerobic classes, need a week to get me started on the right path.
Thanks,
Roz

[calgal]

Grand Mayan in Nuevo Vallarta has a great gym and several classes. My husband signed up and it cost a few dollars (10 or 20) for the week.
I stayed at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta many years ago, so don't know if this is current, but they had great aerobic classes several times a day (free).

[tashamen]

I think there are probably lots of ts that have spas (or are affiliated with spas), or have decent workout rooms, so you may want to look at the reviews here on TUG for the locations that youre' interested in. We usually hike in summer or fall and x-ski in winter so don't think about the workout rooms but I have noticed that some are certainly much better equipped than others. The only class I have taken at a ts was a yoga class at the Marriott Custom House a few years back - not sure if they still offer that (it was very good). We have stayed at several ts that offered some types of fitness classes, so it shouldn't be too hard to find them.

[continia]

Thanks for the replies.
There are a lot of TS with spas and workout rooms as well as the odd classes. I was looking for something more hardcore that specialize in fitness. The theme is fitness and getting in shape & eating right for the whole week. We have stayed at several TS in Florida, on the east coast, and Ontario but haven't found any with what we're looking for.
Roz

[geekette]

I don't think you'll find that in a ts - you should search spas.

[travelguy]

The closest to a real gym that I found was @ the Club Regina P.V. They have a separate new fitness facilty which is part of the new Westin Reebok refit. Plenty of cardio machines & classes, "real" weight machines, racks of dumbells, benches, etc. They also have a full spa, tennis facility and staff of trainers. My only issue was a lack of heavier dumbells and olympic style weights. Other Club Reginas and/or Westin resorts may have the same.

The gym at the new HGVC Las Vegas Strip resort was also good enough to get an OK workout. It was also the first time I saw a Smith Machine in a resort gym. Still not a hardcore gym though. We usually end up a LV Athletic Club anyaway.

We typically hit a gym close by the timeshare when we travel (if we feel like it ) since a broken treadmill and an rowing machine doesn't cut it.

[Al D]

Try Pueblo Bonito Rose or Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach in Cabo. These are the best hotel or timeshare gym/spa's I have found. Good equipment and free weights and a decent aerobics, spinning, martial arts floor.

The Royal Sands in Cancun is very good, but they turned the aerobics room into a cardio equipment room. Great for cardio, but bad for aerobics or martial arts.

[MikeM132]

Originally Posted by continia

Hi
Anyone know of any timeshares that are fitness oriented. Looking for somewhere that has a good fitness/workout room(weights). Possilby aerobic classes, need a week to get me started on the right path.
Thanks,
Roz

Find something at home. Take it from somebody who was where you are 6 years ago. A week at a spa is not going to do much except for that week. The secret of fitness is motivation and regularity. Find something near home you can get to on a regular basis and just start going. It doesn't really matter if you have proper technique (as long as you are safe on the equipment), and you don't need a trainer (a good many of them don't know any more than you do, anyhow). As the Nike ad says "Just Do It". Let your spa trip reinforce your fitness routine, not begin it. You have to be motivated to begin now. If not, you'll never continue after your trip and no good will come of it. Any kind of fitness activity done regularly is a help. You'll see.
I could never go to the gym 3x a week for one reason or another (this is what my free "trainer" session said to do). I have been going 2x a week for 6 years (even on vacation--Marriotts have gyms). I lost about 40 pounds and am in pretty good shape. 2x a week is something I can always schedule, so this is why I stick to that. I have maintained my "ideal" weight for 5.5 years now. Good luck, but DON"T WAIT. Motivate yourself and make fitness a habit. It gets much easier once you start.

[EAM]

DVC - Saratoga Springs has one of the best-equipped exercise facilities I have seen at a resort. It is better than my YMCA.

However, if you want to get started on a fitness program, I recommend checking out your local YMCA. You need someplace you can go for more than one week; you need someplace you can go several times a week as long as you are healthy enough to exercise.

[Rose Pink]

I think the OP wanted to get started on a fitness program, and did not mean it was the only time she meant to exercise. I can understand the intent of wanting to get away and submerge oneself in fitness for a week to kick-start a new lifestyle so to speak with none of the usual day to day distractions that interfere with good intentions. Still, as the above two posters have said, one does need to face the daily routine and make fitness a priority or it just won't happen. I do find I work out more when away from home. It's easier to go to the hotel gym and work out on the elliptical or treadmill for an hour. If I have to drive to a gym (like at home) it just doesn't happen and I have to find other ways to get activity such as gardening, walking or going to aikido class. I really hate going to the gym.

As others have said, a spa would be a more conducive, inclusive destination if one is looking mostly for lifestyle changes that include fitness and nutrition. However, they do cost alot and you can't trade your timeshare into one (that I am aware of). There are also fitness cruises--or so I've heard. You could trade into a TS that is near outdoor venues such as hiking, skiing, etc and get some fitness in that way, too. Another alternative is to find a gym or other exercise facility such as pilates near your destination TS and buy a weekly pass and maybe some trainer consultations with the caveats posted above.

Best of luck in your search.

[johnmfaeth]

There is a large, fully equipped fitness center at the five star Westin St. John. But in my trips there, I have never used it because I find daily snorkeling and hiking in the Caribbean to be all the workout I need. After a long day, relaxing in their hot tub with a cocktail works out any muscle pain just fine.

[catsmeow]

The Aventura Spa Palace in the mayan riviera has a decent fitness facility. We went last winter and used the gym a lot. They have many classes available - spinning, yoga, step, and even latin dance. They also have a full range of decent cardio equipment and weights. They had other things too - like aqua fit and water polo in the pools. There's also a climbing wall if that's your thing. We found it pretty challenging.
The spa facilities are really good too. It's nice to go down to the eucalyptus infused steam room after your workout. Also, as part of their all inclusive plan you can get fresh squeezed juices and smoothies right outside the gym.

[JudyS]

Originally Posted by EAM

DVC - Saratoga Springs has one of the best-equipped exercise facilities I have seen at a resort. It is better than my YMCA.....

I was also going to suggest a DVC resort. I actually think Disney would be a great place for a fitness vacation; several spas (Saratoga Springs & Grand Floridian, plus a couple in nearby hotels off of Disney property), good exercise equipment in the DVC resorts, permission to use the excerise equipment at the other DVC resorts for variety, lots of pools, and plenty of walking in the theme parks. The main problem would be resisting the junk food sold everywhere, although there is also a lot of healthy food available.