Snowbird Dilemma - What You Haven't Thought About
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- You are not your parents snowbirds, we the baby boom generation have different needs, family values and a different mindset.
How we snowbird in winter from northern climates of Canada, America and rainy Britain and Ireland. How can we manage being away with our family values.
Join our discussion for more.
#retirement #retireearly
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Your true honesty is what makes Norm & Tina the best retirement channel available. You could just say everything’s great and wouldn’t change a thing but life is always an evolution. Thanks for always keeping it real!
Wow, thank you totally agree life is an evolution and through what we are doing our ideas do change and we are happy to share Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷🍻
For many years in our 50s we imagined we might retire to Ibiza, but at age 65 I can’t think of anything worse!
Great for partying!
You've given us some great insight in this video. I've heard it said by many retirement planners that we are not very good at predicting what will make us happiest in the future. Some think the permanent vacation is what they want, only to miss the comforts and predictability of home, along with their social connections with friends and family. That doesn't mean we shouldn't plan, just plan to adapt as needed. This was a good reminder. Thank you.
Yes, we learn to adapt and adjust in retirement.
You are so welcome! sometimes Marty you think you have the answer 🤔 but it’s a work in progress as we have found out Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷🍻
What credit card is recommended for travel insurance?
@@ThisIsOurRetirementyou’re sharing what your true experience is all about and that’s valuable. Just like in working life we must remain connected. The goal posts can move and change. That’s where the fun is.
Part of our 25th anniversary was spent in Olhos de Aqua. Loved it! Thanks for sharing.
EXACTLY = Adapting to change is ONE BIG KEY to Life, in general = Always Changing and not static!!❤❤
Thank you for your valuable insight Tina and Norm. I am finding the more I travel, the more grateful I feel to live in Canada. We have our problems as a nation but I am so happy to call Canada home. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Safe travels. 😎🇨🇦
You are so welcome! we agree with you Wendy enjoy your weekend Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷☕️
Travel interests do change. Snowbirds have lots of options. Would recommend for these next few years while still healthy don’t let insurance restrict you too much because it will happen quickly that you can’t do the many months trips anyway and will naturally be leaning on 30 day trips. Window is short for longer trips. Enjoy while you can. Health is everything go go years go quickly and slow go years creep in.
Agreed. I retired at 55 and snow birding the winters was in my game plan. Now, seven years later, the doctor tells me not a wise idea to be away from November to April, ending this stage of my life. Shorter trips will become the new norm.
I believe it is Miss Dorothy who once said , "There's no place like home". 🐕🐕
Isn’t that so true Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷🇵🇹🍻
...and her little dawg too!❤😮
@@ThisIsOurRetirement
You 2 are "Animals"!!❤😮
My parents used to snowbird in Florida. They left Ontario late November, and returned mid March.
Their Xmas gift to any family was to pay for our accommodation if we visited them.
One unexpected benefit (?) was that the family was already used to them not being home for Christmas (made it easier after they passed).
We’ve never been comfortable with being away from home for extended periods. We’ve stayed in some pretty nice hotels/cabins and no matter how nice, the furniture, couch, bed isn’t as comfortable as home. When I go on vacation the last thing I want to do is cook. Do plenty of that at home. The hanks for your honesty. Really enjoyed this video. 🇨🇦🇺🇸☕️
One of the problems when you get to a place with good weather is that it is easy to forget the cold winter left behind, even if you see the weather reports. Your kids and family have 10 months of the year to see you at home, and you are still healthy enough to travel, so I hope that you indeed do take a second or third 30 day break next year if you only do a month in Portugal. My Aunt from Winnipeg would spend four months every winter in St Petersburg, Florida and that worked out well for over twenty years.
Ah! Ha! You are coming around to what we learned a few years ago. We believe in variety, so we have seen nearly 70 countries at this point. We do the 30 - to 35-day stints (with many repeats, too)and focus on enjoying the different cultures, cuisines, and people around the world, often times five times annually. We just spent two weeks in Thailand and Cambodia and are currently on a 14-day cruise out of Singapore.
Your advice to most others is sound, but everyone has different interests. As an unbelievable example, we stayed in a beautiful guest house with a delightful owner in Chiang Mai at Can$28 per day, including a wonderful breakfast of 10 choices. It was super clean as shoes were not even allowed to be worn inside. We had a huge room with private bathroom. Plus, we met great people from around the world. They received a 10 rating from us.
Cheers.
Roger
Guess it takes a bit of learning Roger, yes we are going for 31 days too Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷🍻
Norm and Tina are not the S.E. Asia type.
Funny you say that as we have already done a wonderful trip to China with river cruise 🚢 there too , also Australia, New Zealand , Panama Canal , Greenland , Mexico , Budapest , Prague , Cuba , Dominion Republic to name just a few places we have been . Perhaps you are quick to think you know who we are 🙂
@ThisIsOurRetirement How could you conclude that they are not SE Asia people? They are obviously seasoned international travellers, and they provide valuable insights, especially for the uninitiated but not exclusively. I value their content.
Roger
Thanks for reinforcing my experience as a snowbird. It's harder than people realize to leave your friends, family and home for two-plus months. I'm shortening my stay next year for the same reasons. If you get to Florida next year, the Sarasota/Brandenton/Venice are terrific!
There are apps and social media groups for passing along food at the end of a trip etc.
Watched this video on my home theatre in 4K, Norm and Tina. The background views were absolutely amazing -- in fact stunning! Cheers from Nova Scotia!
Great to hear! glad you enjoyed it David the beaches , cliffs , blue skies are what we come for just gorgeous have a great weekend Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🇵🇹🍻
Good points. I vaguely had an idea of the slow travel around the world, but then as I thought about it more I realized I probably wouldn’t enjoy it. Something about your own bed and routine that I miss! I think I would much rather do more short trips than a long extended one. Nice to get away, but also nice to get home 👍
We love to travel as well but for short periods of time. We love being home 🙂
Hmm thinking that way too Fiona Cheers 🇨🇦🙂❤️
We have only ever travelled locally for a few days or maybe a week at a time and now we can't even do that due to adopting a couple of cats that we can't really have looked after by anyone else.
I try and get away a couple of times a year in my 4wd for maybe a week at a time but that's about it.
We're making our place nicer all the time and we live in a very popular tourist area anyway so it really isn't an issue. Fortunately neither of us want the hassles of travelling but plenty of others think differently.
Whatever works that you can afford and are happy with I guess.
We did Spain for 30 days in January and it was perfect; home for 3 days and South Carolina for February, home for March (make maple syrup) and 2 weeks in Costa Rica leaving on Saturday.
That’s sounds great Paula , where abouts did you stay in Spain as we might be thinking of there in the future Cheers 🙂🍷
@@ThisIsOurRetirement Hi Tina and Norm, We stayed in the hills about 20km west of Denia (between Alicante and Valencia). It was a lovely 'estate' (aka ex pat community with people from all over Europe), they were all friendly people that we would meet on our daily walks up and down the massive hills (great exercise). You couldn't stay there without a car; we rented one for the month and one week we also traveled to Cordoba (3 days and so worth the trip), Seville, through Cadiz to La Linea, from there we walked across to the Rock of Gibraltar for the day, then on to Tarifa and we took a ferry to Morocco for the day. Back to the house for a week and then we drove to Barcelona for 4 days. Wonderful country, reasonable prices, very cheap wine and beer and very friendly people. We really enjoyed the driving because we got to see so much of the country. I enjoyed the time, I didn't feel rushed but I wouldn't have wanted to stay for longer for the reasons that you have mentioned. We came home for a few days and then off again to South Carolina, Murrells Inlet. I commented on your Myrtle Beach video that where I stay is about 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach but a world away, a nice community and I am right on the ocean in a tiny condo which suits us just fine.
Thanks for sharing the info Paula 🍷🙂
This totally makes sense to me. I find trips longer than 4 weeks aren’t exciting. If you stay in a place for a long period its just your life, where’s a more limited period is exciting.
My husband and I agree, we go to either Maui or Marco Island for the month of February plus three travel days.
To be away from family and friends, and our pup Finn, even though they may come to visit two months or more is just too long to be away from home. We love our home( uptown urban condo)and the very nice routine that we enjoy.
It's really about balance.
Enjoy your channel!!
Greetings from Southern Ontario, just back from Marco Island FL 😊
We would miss our grandkids if we were away that long. We wouldn’t want to be gone that long either. Beautiful view guys!
Yes we miss ours too it’s hard to FaceTime with the time difference 😂 next year 31days will be perfect . Have a great weekend guys 🇺🇸☕️🇨🇦🙂🇵🇹
Ya, I would miss family and my pets. I’m thinking 12 days is all I can do right now. My husband and I have been away before and find at about 10 days we start to want to be home.
Thank you for sharing all your experiences so that we can learn from it. I will be considering all of what you share on your channel as I soon head into retirement ❤
You are so welcome! 🙂🍷
I totally agree with your thoughts. Seventy-plus days is a long time to be away from kids and grandkids. That's a brilliant idea chopping up your snowbirding into manageable chunks.
Thanks Robert Cheers 🍷🙂🇨🇦🍻
So appreciate you sharing your experiences!
I was so curious about this topic, and your video was really interesting! We are strange "snowbirds " who spend winters in Texas and summers in England. I have learned a lot about myself in the past 4 years after this dual continent living and watching all my UA-cam friends who are full time global travelers. In our older years, Ian and I REALLY need a comfortable bed to sleep in, healthy food to eat, and a chance to maintain our workout schedule. By setting up a second home base in Gloucestershire, we have access to all those things. From there we take shorter trips around Britain or Europe but have a home to come back to ❤🏡. Thanks for another great video! XX Dara
Glad you enjoyed our video , you are lucky to have two home bases , we agree we too like a home base to come back too with your own bed and stuff !!
Take Care and get well soon 🇺🇸💐🇨🇦
@@ThisIsOurRetirement cheers! 💖
Thank you for sharing
Great plan!
We were in Praia da Luz for 28 days and loved it. We stayed at an apartment we found on Vrbo for 900 euros.
It looks beautiful there have fun
Thanks for your video and definitely food for thought for us next year when we start taking longer trips.
Sure, you might save on insurance, but you’ll be spending it on airfares and shorter term rents are way more expensive.
2.5 months is just a vacation. Snowbirds go away for the whole winter, 5 or 6 months. Rents are cheaper for longer terms.
You’re not meant to live just the same as at home. You’re meant to be out and about doing new things. Why go to another country to just do the same-old, same-old? Especially when you’re only there for a month.
Many thanks for your learning experience and sharing with us!
Have a wonderful time!😊
Great advice and thank you for your honesty guys, it is so refreshing 👍🏻🇨🇦
I think 31 days is plenty for one place, especially with grands waiting for you at home. BTW thank you for being our “pioneers” going out ahead to scout out the territory for those of us looking forward to retirement.
You two are a delight.
I'm so drawn to Portugal
Hello, I have been doing snowbirding for the last 6 years for 2 months a time. There is no place I've gone where eating out is less expensive than cooking in. The spices and oils are just not that big of a factor. Of course you can mix it up, I usually eat out once a day or once every two days. Towards the end of a trip I let the food run out and eat at restaurants more often to minimize waste. I love your videos, keep up the great work!
Thanks for the informative insights.
Our pleasure! 🙂
Wonderful video -- so interesting to hear your perspective and experience….thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much for your honesty. 🎉
Our pleasure Cheers 🇨🇦🍷🇵🇹🙂
I enjoyed this video! We have split our snow birding up and enjoy that. We were in Hawaii for the first 2 weeks of December at a very well stocked condo. Then home for a week or so, Christmas with our family in KC Mo for 5 days, then drove to Arizona for the month of January. We sit a 3 bedroom VRBO with my sister and bro in law . Very well stocked - best we’ve ever had!! Lots of cooking utensils, even crockpot and waffle iron!! All the spices, etc we needed except for a few things I brought from home. It was 2 levels, 3 bedrooms and right on a reasonable golf course- our guys love golf! Then we stayed 5 days with our other daughter, on to Sedona for 4 days and stopped in to see the kids in KC on the way home!! I like it broken up some. We also had lots of friends and family in Phoenix. We were able to eat at home half the time and out some. We don’t eat breakfast so it really just amounted to making suppers. Portugal looks beautiful!!!
This is not International travel but all within your own country - that definitely makes it easier not having to cross borders.
We are following you and also trying to find what fits our pocket book, our environment and our health (we don’t love the cold and snowy Newfoundland winters anymore). As for family, one grandson here on the Island and two toddlers is in western Canada. Two years ago we lost my parents, mother in law and two elderly aunts so we thought it would be nice to go to Florida for a few days and then over Christmas take a 10 day cruise, it was okay but we won’t do it again…..so as it got closer to summer we decided to drive across Canada to visit the kiddies. After watching your videos we have been considering going to Portugal…..because of declining health we want to do it all now …..but I realize that there is no place like home. Thank you Tina and Norm for putting it out there. Sorry for the long message.
I'm leaning the other direction - making Europe home. Home would then become the vacation spot, and giving family and friends a landing spot to travel to Europe. I'm not looking so much at a permanent vacation, but having the easy connectivity to do more traveling without the expense and exhaustion of flying to and from the US west coast.
Will it be for a few years? For life? We'll see what the reality is vs. the imagination.
I don't have children or parents and my husband passed away over 10 years ago. Big difference.
You go girl! Sounds like a great plan.
We moved to Europe about eight years ago, first France now Switzerland (the francophone part). We have never regretted it. I suggest spending some time learning the language to B2 level or better. Good luck.
So pleased to see you in Olhos de Agua. That is where we are going for the first time for a month this winter. Delighted to hear you took the bus from Albufeira as that is what we want to do to get to the Old Town, etc. Previously we have stayed in Albufeira. This will be our fourth winter , always for only a month, and have done most of our own cooking. When I mentioned to my husband your suggestion we eat out more he was very enthusiastic. No lack of options in the Albufeira area that is for sure.
You guys have the whole world to explore!!! Enjoy!!!
Love you guys. Thanks for the video. Go for what works at the time and always keep learning.
Thank you! Will do Pamela Cheers 🙂🍷
Looks fantastic. Love the beach.
It really is! Enjoy your weekend Betsy 🇨🇦☕️🙂🍷🇵🇹
very good insight
Hi Tina and Norm, like your suggestion, less time but more family fun too. X:)
Love this … you’ve been travelling and sharing your experiences - this honest account of your personal winter break is really welcomed. Plans change and that’s ok. Thank you for doing what you do and sharing your experiences. We travel to different places on the Algarve regularly. It is an easy option winter/spring/summer and autumn from the Uk. Thanks for another great video . Enjoy the rest of your time in the Algarve.
Good on you to be able to evolve and adapt.
Thank you 🙂
We found that we are ready to return home in roughly 4-5 weeks. Go home. Stay roughly 6 weeks. Get recharged. See family and friends. Then we are excited about trying a new place. We live in a place that is considered semi snow bird. No really cold weather here. But we leave here in the summer to escape the heat and crowds. No one way is best for everyone. You do you!
Very interesting ! Useful advice as usual. Thanks for the thoughts. We stayed in Othos de Agua last year and loved that beach and bar and used local bus service to get around. Enjoy your time in Portugal. X
Thanks for another interesting video. I like the change of scenery throughout the video.
Thank you very much! 🇨🇦🙂☕️🇵🇹
I agree with you about pantry items. I have addressed that by packing some things like small resealable bags of spices in my suitcase. I also look for small bottles of things like olive oil in stores, which cuts down on how much you have to toss at the end of the trip.
First - great picture quality on the video! Thank you for being so open and honest regarding your experience and the need to be flexible in retirement - at a time in life when many become less flexible/open to change.
Love you both!
Thanks Kathy 🍷🇨🇦🙂🇵🇹
Another great video!
Glad you like them! Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷🇵🇹
Thanks!
Thanks so much Pat 🍻💕
I appreciate your view on longer trips. I agree that being away from family would be hard. Long the views!
We don’t know what suits us until we try different options. Learning how we want to travel is part of the fun. You have a good plan going forward!
We love cruising in winter but find 22 days is our limit. Miss our family. Thanks for sharing!
I always eat out when on holidays. The best way is a cruise 🛳 ship for 2 weeks. Heaven . 😊 Go to Rome or Milan. My favorite places.
Thanks for this video, it’s very informative. 21 degrees how nice here in Montreal it’s only minus 11, Albufeira looks like the place to be. …………🤗🇨🇦
Best video you have done to date! Seriously....❤
Wow, thank you! 🙂
Appreciate your honesty and non cement attitude. Things change. And that's okay.
We are Canadian snowbirds in Mexico for 4-5 months of the year but your complaints about the apart-hotel (and rentals in general I find) is why we ended up buying our townhouse in Mexico after 4 years of renting various AIrbnb places. That said sometimes you are trading one set of problems for another. Of course a big plus is that in our winter place we have extra space and our own "stuff" that we can leave behind waiting for us when we get back. Another upside in Mexico is that carrying costs are low and no AC or heat is needed in the central highlands where we are. The top up for our "snowbird" travel medical does add some cost but then so does flying off to various places for 31 days each as you are planning, either way it's not a deal breaker for us.
We also have neighbours in Mexico that we've come to know and have made good friends with that we are happy to see every season (they watch our house while we are away too). The downside is, like an owning a cottage, you own a second property and you know houses, there's always something that needs to be looked after. We have children and grandchildren back home too but between their work, school, after school activities, plus our daughter is a teacher, we don't see them that much during the school year. Overall we've made the right decision for us but as I said owning is not problem free either. I'd say owning versus renting is a win some lose some proposition.
Retirement is just like life, no one is exactly the same and people have to find the right balance for them. Spending every day on the beach with a drink in your hand may look inviting when you are slugging it out at work but in reality, much of living down south or in Portugal for the winter, is just living. Of course we go off to see interesting sights from time to time (as we also do when we are in Canada) but most of it is just regular day to day living. Sometimes people ask us what we do when we are away for the winter and I answer: "Pretty much what we do at home except with better weather". Given that I'm not sure we'd like living for 2-1/2 months in an apart-hotel, I think it would start to feel a bit cramped after a while.
Your plan of traveling more for shorter periods sounds like a wonderful way to visit lots of warm winter destinations and I am sure you will have fun exploring them. Who knows, maybe one will even tempt you to stay a bit longer. Retirement is what you make it. Enjoy!
what part of Mexico are you in? I'm buying something there in 4-5 years. Tulum area was always top of the list. How do you like your area?
@@blackwatch7151 We are on a lake in the mountains about an hour outside of Guadalajara. We aren't beach people and I know for sure my wife wouldn't like the heat and humidity that's present on the coast so we decided that this would suit us better. At 5,000 ft of elevation the daily highs are typically 26C in the day and 16C at night year round with low humidity which suits us (and my wife in particular).
This no knock against Tulum, or Portugal for that matter, I think they are lovely places. It all depends on what you are looking for.
Great video guys! Your experience, so well explained, can certainly help others evaluate their alternatives.
Thank you 🙂🍷
Thanks for exposing the reality of extended travel. Highly appreciate sharing your experience. Always learning something new. Have a great weekend❤ 🇨🇦 🇵🇹 🍻
Glad you enjoyed it, our pleasure in sharing have a great weekend Cheers 🍷🇨🇦🙂
Excellent and honest advice.
Time and health you can’t control and races into your lens rapidly. Seize the day.
“ Snowbirding ever 30 days” 👍
Thank you! 🙏🏼
Thanks so much we agree Billy 🇨🇦🙂🍷🍻
Sounds like a cracking plan - stay warm ✅
Thanks Steve 🙂
Hello Tina and Norm. First of all, I really like your channel, you as people, good and sensible information and the best t-shirts. I am a retiree from Finland and moved to Portugal 12 years ago. I had the Algarve experience about 2009. Spent there almost a year and bought a car (Nif needed) just to get to know the Algarve from east to west. At that time I rented an apartment, new build, in Encosta da Orada, Albufeira for 500€ per month. It was a lease from private people, some holiday rental site. I think Airbnb came later. Ok, it was then and it would cost more than double these days. Anyway, I think that you hit the nail with sharing your experience about living in an aparthotel for two plus months. And you are a couple, imagine doing it alone. I was very happy in Albufeira, alone in my apartment. It was nicely decorated and had everything for normal living, felt like home. I was exploring new territories everything was exciting. Well, my message today is, you get eventually bored with the beaches and the restaurants etc. Ok, you escape the harsh winter, coming from Finland I know how it feels. To cut the long story short, I ended up purchasing a home in Ericeira, a surf village near Lisbon, lived there about ten years and moved last summer, 2023 to the Viana do Castelo, the most northern 'city' in Portugal. I love the variable climate, not sunshine all the time, but the most beautiful green landscapes and fantastic architecture made of granite. I know that you are snowbirds and want a bit of sunshine in the winter, but Viana do Castelo and the north of Portugal is definitely my recommendation for anyone to relocate.
Northern Portugal is beautiful. The Expat Everywhere couple live in Porto but say that Viana do Castelo is their second favorite city in Portugal.
Thank you for your insight!! You have given us some things to think about. We are planning an extended trip this summer to escape the desert heat!! We decided to break it up a bit and return home for a short while in between destinations. Our first trip will be to northern Washington and we can travel by train or ferry to Victoria or Vancouver. Cheers!
I think some RVers are finding that the lure of constant travel wears thin as they miss having continuity in their social circle. I think your plan for next year is great. Multiple shorter vacations are a good way to enjoy travel but still have enough time for family and friends.
I've noticed the increasing prices for Aparthotels in Algarve and Costa del Sol since the pandemic. And you are right, they have gone up faster than short-term apartments. I have been cross-shopping the big sites Airbnb, Booking, VRBO, etc, and it's amazing some of them will be $300 cheaper per month for a unit in the same building. But finding a local realtor is often cheaper than all 3 options, although one has to be more wary of scams.
You may consider a month in Algarve, then take the easy journey over to southern Spain and do another month to avoid boredom.
hi guys i totally agree......its too long away to just GO......my sister and i stayed for two weeks and it was fantastic we met you twice....xx then the summer season started...anyway we look forward to january next year godwilling...........but there is no place like homexx
Good insight. I wonder if you have been to the algarve so much you could be wanting new places and adventure. So far 21 days is the longest we have been gone (too many family responsibilities). For now I think we are just enjoying long vacations just staying in hotels and eating out. Your videos offer so much great advice!
Well done for being so open minded and honest guys - thoroughly enjoying your journey through retirement. Totally agree with you on long hotel/motel/B&B stays. Having a little break during a long Canadian Winter is great, but a week or two is enough for us - we're not beach bunnies or sun worshipers. A bit of sunshine just can't make up for lost time with family in our books. We take a couple of month long RV trips a year, while the grandkids are in school. The beauty of the RV is that all your stuff comes with you - including cheese graters!! I like being able to make our own food - we tend to eat healthier that way and enjoy the odd meal out as a treat.
Thanks Susan for sharing we aren’t sun Worshippers either we just like to walk on the beach 🏝️ and can do it easier here have a good weekend Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍷
Year 15 of Snowbird lifestyle in Arizona. November till end of March. Purchased a couple of year in...still best for us. The trip down gets a bit tougher each year but adding cruise and get a ways to each winter keep it interesting. Families are pretty busy so we "move" holidays to when we're around and everyone can get away with their familiy and friends..
Thank you for sharing your traveling experiences with us. It always looks so beautiful there, the sky is so pretty.
We are having somewhat of a roller coaster weather, today it's 65f in Indiana. Thanks, John.
Our pleasure! thanks for watching 🇨🇦🍷🍻🇺🇸
This may be your best, most practical video yet, guys (and I love all you vids). Your experiences really resonate with people, so thanks for sharing them with us. I understand the need to return home for a while and then go off again. Perfectly reasonable. Take care, and thanks again. 😊
Our pleasure! glad you enjoyed it have a wonderful weekend Cheers 🙂🍻🇨🇦
I agree
Being single and self employed I have been able to travel to the same area for over 20 years
I love Olhos and I can remember the days when the Holiday family even let their own villa.
Your advice is priceless and I intend to follow a similar plan.
Thanks for sharing what you are learning. We just returned from 2 weeks in the UK back to Va. in February! It was fun, Man City match, visited family and friends in Edinburgh and Yorkshire. Ended up with 3 days at an Air BnB in the South Lake District where we used to live. I found the time at the AirBnB so relaxing. I did some laundry, cooked breakfast, we had pub lunches in the lakes and dinner back in some of our favorite restaurants. I realized that if 2 weeks was good that our summer trip there might just be fine for only 30 days. I miss my family and friends and just think one 30 day summer trip and another 2 weeks before Christmas is enough. We never know unless we try. Thanks again.
Thank you both, Norm & Tina, for the relatable and insightful videos! In this video, you mentioned family and grandchildren. We too miss our grandchildren, yet enjoy traveling. Unfortunately, our son-in-law is a major obstacle for us visiting our grandchildren as we wish. So we moved away, twice, only to find ourselves wishing we were there. I believe this dilemma of an unpleasant in-law is a common situation for grandparents. So, we volunteered in Ukraine and then traveled. Thanks again! Dean & Cindy
Congratulations on the success of your channel.
Seems that it is allowing you to spend more lavishly.
By the way, double edit at 8:52.
Great video, Tina and Norm. I like the way you adapt to get the most out of the time you spend there. Shame about the meals issue regarding cooking for yourself, but I'm sure eating out when you can is a great experience.
We are also doing takeout and enjoying new places to eat and haven’t been disappointed with any so far Dave Cheers 🇵🇹🙂🇨🇦🍻
We loved meeting you both in Albufeira twice 😊 Love all your comments here. We stayed for 3 weeks and felt limited with the kitchen facility and basic spices. Hope to see you again next year in Portugal. Stay healthy and happy❤
It was awesome meeting you too have a great weekend Cheers 🇨🇦🙂🍻🍷
I agree that Airbnb or hotels can be frustrating for cooking items, having to throw out food at the end of a trip. In my case, I bought a condo in Costa Rica and use it as my home base for the winter, renting for a month or two and using the rent money to travel. This year, I’ve been here (my first year of retirement) for 6 months and even now, I am looking at getting rid of food that will not keep until next year. By renting my place and increasing the rent to follow the market, I’m able to pay for my travel accommodation elsewhere even when the prices increase. Love your channel.
My grandparents, who lived in Indiana their whole lives, spent the winter months in Florida. They had a camper, and at first, it was just a couple of weeks, but as time went on, they got bigger and bigger campers and stayed longer and longer. They would stay in the same camp ground every year and made friends there. We missed them but they really enjoyed it.
Hi! I agree with you on shorter trips. I found that same going to Fl in the winter. Too much to catch up with on my return. Life is not,simple these days as seniors. Enjoy! It looks beautiful! Kathy
Yes! Thank you! enjoy your weekend Kathy 🇨🇦🙂🍷
Hi Tina & Norm good to see you again and I think it’s very good you are testing and adapting best way 😊🥂
Regards. Christopher Barker
We think so too Christopher have a wonderful weekend Cheers 🇬🇧🇵🇹☕️🇨🇦🍻
I think the plan to change it up a little, while still including a trip to the place you love, is a great combination! Enjoy the rest of your Portugal trip, and safe travels back home!
That's the plan! thanks Denise 🇨🇦☕️🇵🇹🙂
We have been doing the snowbird thing in the algarve for about 5 years also. We have found that places like Continente offer smaller size condiments which are just perfect for our 6 week aparthotel stays without the waste. If we do have leftovers they are well received by aparthotel staff. Your point regarding the travel insurance top up is well taken. In our case it’s not as expensive as yours so we feel it’s maybe just be a matter of shopping around. The aparthotel that we use also provides free storage for our small appliances etc to returning patrons. With a little imagination we’ve discovered lots of workarounds. Changing it up is also a good option. Instead of returning this year we opted for a tour in Asia. The 20 day tour cost about the same as we can stay in the algarve for 6 weeks including airfare. A different adventure and we will be back to the algarve next year.
It is interesting to see so much of difference in the opinions. As for us, we spent 81 days in Albufeira this season-from mid November to the early February. Most of the time we enjoyed cooking at home as eating out , although much cheaper than in Canada, still would be much more expensive compared to home-cooked meals (our 2 bedroom apt with full kitchen for about CAD1500 , 5 min walk from Oro beach with a huge terrace, but -alas-across from multiple karaoke places- was very good. We would advise to contact real estate companies which are into renting (not all are) as monthly winter rates for EUR 1000 are quite doable in Albufeita. We would gladly stay in Algarve even more, but yes, we also had to top up our medical insurance + 90 days limit for Canadians do not make it possible. At the same time we realize that our circumstances are quite different- 3 of our 4 children and all our grandhildren live in various european countries including Portugal.
I agree do your research and search out places with fully equipped kitchens. We have rented out our place in the Algarve in the summer in the past , sadly it is not available in winter months because that is when we are here. We have it fully equipped with all the neccessities for cooking and dining in, Including cheese graters and cork screws .
Just joined your channel. Finally someone in my tribe - you know facing same issues in this chapter of life.
Thanks so much, welcome here there are many of us!
Appreciate this video. I was wondering if you had grandchildren and if you missed them. This video really is good about addressing those questions. If we were going to snowbird my wife and I were wondering about if missing our children and grandkids will be an issue.
I think you came up with a good solution with breaking up your trips in increments of 30 days. Thank you for bringing up some other great points along with solutions. Once again great video. I love you guys.
Your very welcome having family time and just your own space at home is important to us to blend with our travel Cheers David 🙂🇨🇦🍻
I agree with having 2 separate month long get aways in different locations. Have you looked into spending time in Arizona? There is so much to see and do. Day trips galore. I look forward to your videos, thank you!
When we have looked at Arizona it’s always been expensive for accommodations. We would love to go there!
Very insightful video. Your experience is similar to ours. Our travel card gives us 21 days os insurance, so we did 3 twenty one day trips this winter. Two trips to mexico where flights are very inexpensive for us, and one to Portugal ( lisbon, Porto and Faro ). One of the full time vloggers made an excellent point that they have to stay on top of the travel deals year round, and that your best travel value may change from year to year. In Portugal we find that we eat lunch out, and have a small breakfast and dinner in our hotel. The lunch values are amazing!
Sounds a great plan David 🍻🙂
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your opinions. You might enjoy an Airbnb more... they likely will be more equipped and feel more homey. We all have our own reasons for what we do and how we choose to live and there is no wrong way. I don't have anything that truly draws me back home like you do (with Amber living so far away and in the US)... and I think if people miss me they can come visit (when I move)... but that is definitely not for everybody! You two are treasures!
Always lovely to hear from you Jen 🇨🇦🙂☕️🍷🇵🇹
I started snow birding in 2018 and figured I would stop once I got bored of it or simply couldn't. Well, the latter has occurred so this is my last trip. Back to shoveling snow. Ironically, this was the first time my brother and SIL joined me (that was cool). Yuma, Arizona is always my destination but have been all around California and New Mexico too (weather permitting). Edit: 25C this past week and sunny here. No rattlesnakes ... yet.
I understand exactly what you're experiencing.
After 3 weeks in Mexico I was ready to come home.
The advantage of Mexico is the short inexpensive flights so 2 to 3 visits per winter is doable.
As for insurance I went with manulife and it was $240ish for 1 year and 60 day coverage each trip.
Thanks for sharing maybe we should consider Mexico 🇲🇽 Cheers 🇨🇦☕️🙂
You must not be Canadian, or senior. As a senior Canadian, our travel insurance is $2000 a year.
@@missmayfloweryour saying just being a Canadian you get 2000$ travel insurance every year.
@@Reno-4570 Very common if travelling. I got nailed with a $6,000.00 USD hospital bill in 2019 but insurance paid their fair share.
@@missmayflower , 59 yr old Canadian, born and raised.
I can't wait to have this problem. 😄
I am happy to hear this! The next time you come to the Algarve, you won't have to schlep around supermarkets and do your own cooking...you'll be eating in the fabulous Portuguese restaurants, eating food cooked the Algarvian way and enjoying every mouthful. You'll fall in love with the Algarve all over again for sure! I really look forward to next year's videos, where we will see you both with smiles on your faces and twinkles in your eyes. Rock on, Tina and Norm. Can't wait to see what's next for you in your next videos!
Thanks Sharon for your comment and support hope you are having a great time here in the Algarve Cheers 🇨🇦🍷🙂🇵🇹