Snowbirds question

[DisFan2]

Now that I've become thoroughly disgusted with our weather (I HATE the cold - actually hate isn't strong enough, I DESPISE the cold and winter) at the relatively tender age of 37, I believe I have convinced my wife that we need to winter in Florida when we get into our retirement years. Does anyone on the Canadian boards winter in FLA? How did you do it - rent, timeshare, own?

BTW - here in Ottawa, on May FREAKING 18 they're calling for frost tonight! Dear God, will it ever end?

 

[riu girl]

I don't have first hand experience with this but have spent a great deal of time reseraching this for my mother. She is interested in staying as many months as possible each winter. We have found the Panama City Beach area very reasonable. You can rent by the month there at older clean beachfront motels for a decent price (well under $1000US/month for an efficiency). We have looked at her buying property there but with the cost, maintenance and insurance it was very pricey. Renting at an older motel for 4 or 5 months was much much cheaper then considering buying.

Panama City Beach is in the panhandle area (Northwest) and the winters are definately not as warm as the Southwest or the Keys but was much more economical. Looking at the southwest or the Keys area an efficiency on/near the beach was around $3000/month.

A couple web sites to check out are www.vrbo.com and www.vacationrentals.com

Perhaps others will be able to offer some more opinions. I would be interested in hearing other opinions as well. DH and I have talked about this as well and are contemplating Playa del Carmen, Mexico for Jan/Feb once we are older.

Suzy V.

 

[CharlesTD]

I could not imagine winter with no snow and no sub zero temps that is just wrong LOL. I will trade you we are not getting the cold tonight and I would love it then it may kill off everything making my allergies go crazy the last week and a bit.

 

[grover]

I believe that this is what DH and I plan on doing once we hit our retirement years...no way on earth I want to stay in the cold! But like you I don't know anyone that does this so I have no real info. I don't know if we would choose florida..but then again I 'spose we better get travelling to the other warm spots if we ever plan on comparing!
So is it fine to go down to the USA for say 3 or 4 months with just your passport?
Has anyone ever thought of a RV?
Vanessa

 

[riu girl]

DH's parents own a deluxe motorhome (they have a Jeep they tow behind the motorhome). They spend 6 months per year in the US. They leave Oct/Nov and come home the middle of April. They have done this for about 6-7 years now. They have spent time in Florida, Texas and California. They belong to a club where they pay a yearly fee and then stay at high end trailer parks for a very inexpensive per night cost.
They are in their early 70s and love this way of life.
For me I think I would rather stay in one spot for the whole winter and not travel around all the time. But they love it. Every time they come home,they look more and more relaxed (and younger)!!!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Just remember that some income based government benefits for seniors are payable only the month you leave Canada plus six months. So try to keep it under seven months a year.

 

[barb45]

There are actually books about this - how to be a Snowbird (I saw them at the library a few weeks ago). I have a friend who does this and he rents a house in Vero Beach (about a block from the beach) and it's very reasonable - not sure but I think about $1000.00/month. It's a nice house too - I've been there for a few days. They rent for 2 months but I think they want to do 3 next year. If my husband ever gets to retire then we want to be able to do this. Today mostly cloudy and right now 52 degrees F. Sucks!