<p>So I saw the unlimited plan is $320 more and 18 meals is $215 more a term. The unlimited also has $200 entree plus. I was planning on getting entree plus funds anyway, so its more like I'm paying $120 more a term than basic for the unlimted plan. Which is cheaper than the 18 meal plan. But then I noticed no meal equivelancies. So how often to most people eat at retail locations covered by meal equivelencies? Cuz if I don't have any then I guess I'll spend a lot of money at these retail locations if the food is a lot better. And then the entree plus funds would be wasted. And now I'm starting to get confused with my rambling. So if anyone can decode this question and give me an answer that would be great.</p>
<p>I think you're confused by the retail meal equivalence thing.</p>
<p>Because there is none. </p>
<p>Places at the Union (Wendy, Subway, that Chinese place) accept entree plus, not meal credits.</p>
<p>You can exchange meal credits only at dorms (Conxion in south quad, or Alices Place in Alice Lloyd for example). Dinner meal credits are worth more than lunch meal credits, which are worth more than breakfast credits. </p>
<p>I'm getting the unlimited meal credits because the way I see it, I really only pay $120 and I get the convenience of eating whenever I want, however many times I want. Meal before workout, meal post workout. It's nice.</p>
<p>I know that. According to this site <a href="http://www.housing.umich.edu/dining/retail_dining.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.housing.umich.edu/dining/retail_dining.html</a>
places like Conxion and the Blue Apple are classified as retail dining locations. I was talking about these retail locations, not about outside retail locations.</p>
<p>If I go with 18 meals I can get meal equivelencies at these locations. If I go with unlimited I get 200 entree plus. Therefore if I were going with the 18 meals and went to one of these places I'd just be out one meal. If I went with unlimited I would be charges $4 or so entree plus.</p>
<p>I suppose unlimited is better since I can just drop in for some fruit or something if I need it between meals.</p>
<p>You dont want to get "meals" from there anyways.</p>
<p>The only good thing they have at the conxion is the grilled cheese, which you could make easily by yourself at west quad with the panini grill. </p>
<p>Yes you can get big ten burritos, but most of the time theyre old and the chicken is really dry and you're better off walking a few blocks to BTB and getting it yourself.</p>
<p>It's not retail dining, its more like people getting drinks for chasers, or buying junk food.</p>
<p>Do you honestly plan on eating at every single meal? I can't really think of a situation where somebody would need unlimited or 18 meals. Keep in mind you'll have days where you don't wanna get up for breakfast, or you have classes during lunch, or you end up going out/getting pizza for dinner.</p>
<p>Mainly people use retail dining as a way of blowing extra meal credits. The stuff is pretty overpriced, to the point that I'd never use it if I had to pay with actual money. But if you have extra meal credits, they disappear at the end of the week anyways, so you might as well use them.</p>
<p>I usually get up at six or seven each morning and go to bed around midnight. I don't know what my schedule will be like in college, but that is what it has been like for several years now. I usually do eat 3 meals a day, but I prefer to each many smaller meals throughout the day.</p>
<p>And this isn't all about me. My parents want me to be eating healthy...and if getting one of these plans is what it takes to keep them at ease then thats what I'll get. So no, I don't plan on eating at every meal, but if I stick with the 13 meal some nagging may insue. I'll also have a microwave and fridge in my room anyway.</p>
<p>I'll probably go with the unlimited since it seems cheaper than 18 meals figuring in the entree plus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input on the retail locations and their crappiness. This makes the meal equivelency thing for me a non-issue.</p>
<p>I'll wait until school starts before changing so I can ease into my schedule and then plan the meal plan around that.</p>
<p>See, you're thinking about this all based on the assumption that the dorm food is something you'll feel like eating when you wake up in the morning. Definitely wait, like you said, to taste the food first.</p>