Let us know if you have tried the snowbirding lifestyle and give us your thoughts. For more information, check out our blog and find our more about where we lived in Florida. retirementtravelers.com/snowbirding-in-florida-the-surprising-pros-and-cons Happy journeys, John and Bev
We are RVers and have been snowbirds during some winters since we retired. Florida most often, but also the southwest, Gulf Coast, and southeast coast.
My husband and I grew up in Florida, but decided to retire in the mountains of North Carolina. We knew we could not maintain two homes, so decided that we would live in NC and just visit Florida. Typically, we rent a place for 6 to 8 weeks in Florida during our coldest months. Also, the middle and south of Florida are more crowded during the winter, just as you described. However, the northern areas of Florida, including the Panhandle, experience their slow season during the winter months. Yes, it is a little cooler in northern Florida, but it is still very warm compared to North Carolina and points north. We really enjoy the Panhandle in the winter, but would never go there during the very busy spring and summer months. This coming winter we decided to spend our cold months in Florence, Italy. We have been all over Europe, but have never spent that much ti e in a single spot. Really looking forward to trying something different this year!
Thanks for the tips and sharing. Hope you were spared from the flooding. You might enjoy our videos about "flexpatting" or slow travel in various countries around the world each year. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
We have been snow birding in W. Panama for many years to escape the cold, dark and rainy PNW in the winter months! It has everything we want for a very active lifestyle and a great community with many volunteer possibilities. Giving up our beautiful mild summers to live there full-time isn’t desirable, but it’s affordable allowing us to have two places. Renting first is VERY important!! Keep the great information coming!!
This is great information. Being snowbirds in Florida has never been appealing to us. You pointed out the costs of having a second home and the logistics of getting there, having the stuff you need and whether to keep a car there or not. What is much more appealing to us is to rent and spend a few months in a place. The next winter stay somewhere different. You get fully immersed in the culture and can see/experience everything you want.
Thanks. Not having all the stuff has completely changed our retirement life. Snowbirding sounded great at first, but we quickly experienced the downsides. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
I always enjoy the information you two share! We did not have the funds to have a place in a warm climate along with our home in Michigan. By selling everything we owned, we were able to purchase a truck and Airstream RV. We are so thankful we are living "on wheels" now, so we can travel this great USA and go where the weather suits us. We wintered in Florida last year and did not enjoy the amount of traffic and the expense. This year we are trying Arizona. Great advice you guys! - Michelle
Our pleasure! We loved our 2 years going around the country in our Airstream. So many great memories. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Wonderful video from my favorite travel duo. Your advice to rent before buying is so important to "test the waters" and instead of just focusing on Florida, be snowbirds in different parts of the US as renters and you may fall in love with places you never imagined both inside and even outside the US. You kids keep living the dream. 💝
My husband and I are not quite on the same page, but close. This winter we are leaving 🇨🇦 to spend 3 months in La Paz. Mexico. At least it is somewhere we’ve never been, but while my husband will be happy to simply be somewhere warm and near water, I would like more variety. There is so much world to see and, at 65 and 69, I sometimes feel that we are running out of time. You’re both very fortunate to be on exactly the same page! Looking forward to your upcoming travels!
Thanks for following along with us and good luck with your travels in your "go-go" years. Life is short and we wish you guys lots of adventures. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
We 100% agree with your conclusion that running two homes is quite expensive, we did it for 12 years with a home in a remote country town and a coastal city apartment. Though they were only about four hours drive apart we spent a lot of time on the road, and having two of everything is certainly costly. Once my wife retired from Nursing at the country hospital we sold our country place and moved full time to our "sanity escape" city apartment, it is close to an International Airport and many other services, the money we we're saving annually we spend on travel. Thanks J&B for your helpful insights on active/practical life after retirement.
It did surprise us how much we were spending!!! Glad things are working out with your lifestyle and getting to travel more. Thanks for following along with us on our journey. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Make sure you don't buy near a pickballl court because of the noise. The annoying pickleball noise is a huge bone of contention in many neighborhoods now.
Good to see your faces and hear your advice! The recommendation to consider TN is excellent. I live south of there, but as I plan my retirement, I'm considering states without income tax. Of course, traveling is my top priority. Going to check out Quebec City this winter! I hope you and your family are well. ❤
Thanks and glad you are enjoying our channel. Quebec City is wonderful in the winter. Hope you get to see the Winter Carnival. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Great information, Guys. As we are approaching retirement, we inclined to own less. So instead of buying we are just renting for couple of months in Hawaii, trying to shorten canadian winters. we love the balance of it: enjoy some of the winter with white snow, skiings, relaxing in hot springs, having this special Xmas vibe with family and go to Hawaii after that plus travel inbetween. Personally, do not like Florida that much, prefer Maui.
Thanks for watching and good luck with your retirement plans. We agree that less, really is more. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
17:40 Half Backs ... also for the west. When someone retires to Hawaii, changes their mind, moves half back to CA WA OR for example. Same for Canadians that retire to HI. Still want "close" access to vacation HI a month or so; with one residence only west coast. Year around coastal living -- but not 100% HI
Was disappointed you didn’t mention Portugal. With the US about to enter an uncertain future, our google searches showed Portugal as in the top 10 of places for Americans to relocate. I’m sure you’ll get lots of “what about” but was genuinely surprised Portugal didn’t make you list and now uncertain that’s the place I’ve been told it is.
I'm retiring at the end of this week. As much as I would love to spend the winter in Florida to escape the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, the cost of renting a place during that time of year is prohibitive. So next winter I'll be escaping to South Padre Island, TX (it will be for at least one month, but could possibly be three; will have to see how my retirement funds look in about 8-9 months from now). Winter is their off season down there, so I can afford to stay down there for far less than I could in Florida. Other escapes I have planned over the following two winters are Myrtle Beach, SC and Gulf Shores, AL (even though both are far chillier during the winter than Florida is, they are a far less expensive as that time of year is also their off season (both are also much warmer than Wisconsin is at that time of the year). As you can tell I have to be budget minded when planning my winter getaways.
Have you ever considered living part-time abroad. We think it's a great way to spend your retirement. It is incredibly rewarding and very easy to do. Here's a video that you might find interesting: ua-cam.com/video/3qIKOCImvo4/v-deo.html We have some other videos on our channel, but this is a good one to start with. We love so many places and since you are willing to change locations each year, why not give it a try? If you do, be sure to let us know how it goes. Thanks for your comment! John & Bev
Thanks for sharing. Have you considered doing international winter stays? We did a video last year about "flexpatting" around the world that might be of interest to you. It is more affordable than the US. John and Bev ua-cam.com/video/3qIKOCImvo4/v-deo.htmlsi=i5QjgQto-tZ4MXaB
@@RetirementTravelers Right now my son is still in college, so spending my winter overseas isn't in the cards quite yet. If I ever decide to winter overseas I would consider the Philippines. Not only is it an English speaking country, but also has a very favorable exchange rate (currently 59 Pesos to the US Dollar).
Before I watch I want to comment. Florida has become very expensive. I live in SWFL (Cape coral) and the traffic is horrible, prices are higher than ever, insurance is thru the roof. So anyone coming here be mindful of that. I will regretfully be selling my home and moving next year because I do not see myself being able to travel while living here.
Our insurance in FL has gone up a LOT in the last 3 years as well. Shopping around has brought no relief. So many insurers have left the state completely.
Thanks for commenting. We loved our time living on the east coast of Florida, but could see the cost increases of insurance, taxes, HOA dues and general inflation hurting our ability to travel. Happy journeys, John and Bev
Good luck and hopefully you can convince him to give some great international destination a try!. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
As always, we love your videos. We like visiting Florida, especially Hutchinson Island. However, we'd never live there. The cost, weather risks, and political leanings are not for us.
Love your videos and your upbeat, common sense approach. Florida has become very different and expensive. It does not offer an accommodating experience to women nor the LGBTQ community. Life's too short to hate! This is why I love your videos.
Great video thank you We love golf so much. Coming from Colo we are also very active. Would you mind sharing what part of Florida you all liked so we could rent in that area to check it out?
Check out our article on the bottom of the video. You can check out our club. We loved it so much. There are so many, but we loved how it was a small community and offered everything you could want in a club. They have two championship golf courses, a tennis and pickleball facility, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and many activities. John & Bev (thanks for subscribing!) retirementtravelers.com/snowbirding-in-florida-the-surprising-pros-and-cons
I don’t know how long ago you lived in Florida but the past seven years or so the relentless humidity and heat have progressively gotten worse to an intolerable level almost eight months out of the year. And so have the hurricanes here in SWFLA. I’m honestly sick of being smothered in. I’ll take a few months of cold and occasional snow where I can dress properly and go outside. There are no outside options to stay cool. Since we are actively looking to get out I’ll say come on down and see for yourself as we need to sell this place. 😉
My wife and I want to thank you both. The only thing you take with you is the difference you make in other people’s lives and you have made a difference in ours. Consequently we gave you and your channel a shout out in our video: How To Live Abroad And Travel Full-Time In Retirement With Slow Travel ua-cam.com/video/s4rs2N4JDFc/v-deo.html
Thanks. We wish you the best with your channel and hope you have amazing adventures in retirement. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
You each make up a delightful couple. I watch this channel for travel information but the added bonus is receiving that knowledge from a happy, pleasant source. I would like to add: As a native Tennessean, we are experiencing a massive influx of folks moving here which is causing an overpopulation burden for our state and its people. Perhaps next time you can endorse Kentucky as a better place to live. 🙂 Best wishes for continued success with your channel and for many more years of travel ahead.
I think the idea of snowbirding has changed a lot in recent years. I'm in my 60's and the thought of being in horrific heat 8 months a year is not appealing. Tanning in the sun is not healthy and today the tanned baked skin looks like fried chicken lol. I also love the changing of the seasons and staying close by my kids. I know many my age who now want to stay in the north and just travel occasionally from here.
We are home for a family matter. We know that our community is eager to see travel content, but we're doing the best we can at this time. Thanks for your patience and thanks for subscribing! We have some big plans in 2025. John & Bev
Let us know if you have tried the snowbirding lifestyle and give us your thoughts. For more information, check out our blog and find our more about where we lived in Florida.
retirementtravelers.com/snowbirding-in-florida-the-surprising-pros-and-cons
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
We are RVers and have been snowbirds during some winters since we retired. Florida most often, but also the southwest, Gulf Coast, and southeast coast.
My husband and I grew up in Florida, but decided to retire in the mountains of North Carolina. We knew we could not maintain two homes, so decided that we would live in NC and just visit Florida. Typically, we rent a place for 6 to 8 weeks in Florida during our coldest months.
Also, the middle and south of Florida are more crowded during the winter, just as you described. However, the northern areas of Florida, including the Panhandle, experience their slow season during the winter months. Yes, it is a little cooler in northern Florida, but it is still very warm compared to North Carolina and points north. We really enjoy the Panhandle in the winter, but would never go there during the very busy spring and summer months.
This coming winter we decided to spend our cold months in Florence, Italy. We have been all over Europe, but have never spent that much ti e in a single spot. Really looking forward to trying something different this year!
Thanks for the tips and sharing. Hope you were spared from the flooding. You might enjoy our videos about "flexpatting" or slow travel in various countries around the world each year.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
We have been snow birding in W. Panama for many years to escape the cold, dark and rainy PNW in the winter months! It has everything we want for a very active lifestyle and a great community with many volunteer possibilities. Giving up our beautiful mild summers to live there full-time isn’t desirable, but it’s affordable allowing us to have two places. Renting first is VERY important!! Keep the great information coming!!
Glad you are enjoying our channel and thanks for the feedback.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
This is great information. Being snowbirds in Florida has never been appealing to us. You pointed out the costs of having a second home and the logistics of getting there, having the stuff you need and whether to keep a car there or not. What is much more appealing to us is to rent and spend a few months in a place. The next winter stay somewhere different. You get fully immersed in the culture and can see/experience everything you want.
Thanks. Not having all the stuff has completely changed our retirement life. Snowbirding sounded great at first, but we quickly experienced the downsides.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
I always enjoy the information you two share! We did not have the funds to have a place in a warm climate along with our home in Michigan. By selling everything we owned, we were able to purchase a truck and Airstream RV. We are so thankful we are living "on wheels" now, so we can travel this great USA and go where the weather suits us. We wintered in Florida last year and did not enjoy the amount of traffic and the expense. This year we are trying Arizona. Great advice you guys! - Michelle
Our pleasure! We loved our 2 years going around the country in our Airstream. So many great memories.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
@@RetirementTravelers Thank you, you too! 😊
Wonderful video from my favorite travel duo. Your advice to rent before buying is so important to "test the waters" and instead of just focusing on Florida, be snowbirds in different parts of the US as renters and you may fall in love with places you never imagined both inside and even outside the US. You kids keep living the dream. 💝
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for following along with us. We are living the dream.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
My husband and I are not quite on the same page, but close. This winter we are leaving 🇨🇦 to spend 3 months in La Paz. Mexico. At least it is somewhere we’ve never been, but while my husband will be happy to simply be somewhere warm and near water, I would like more variety. There is so much world to see and, at 65 and 69, I sometimes feel that we are running out of time. You’re both very fortunate to be on exactly the same page! Looking forward to your upcoming travels!
Thanks for following along with us and good luck with your travels in your "go-go" years. Life is short and we wish you guys lots of adventures.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Great advice. I pray your family is healing and moving forward. So sweet that y'all can be with them.
Thanks so much. We are enjoying our time in the US with family.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
We 100% agree with your conclusion that running two homes is quite expensive, we did it for 12 years with a home in a remote country town and a coastal city apartment. Though they were only about four hours drive apart we spent a lot of time on the road, and having two of everything is certainly costly. Once my wife retired from Nursing at the country hospital we sold our country place and moved full time to our "sanity escape" city apartment, it is close to an International Airport and many other services, the money we we're saving annually we spend on travel. Thanks J&B for your helpful insights on active/practical life after retirement.
It did surprise us how much we were spending!!! Glad things are working out with your lifestyle and getting to travel more. Thanks for following along with us on our journey.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
My wife and I live in Florida but have been traveling to cooler international places in the summer to get away from the heat.
That's a great idea! Just curious, what countries or regions have you visited? John & Bev
@@RetirementTravelers This year we went to Cuenca EC for June July....doing our planning for next summer now.
Make sure you don't buy near a pickballl court because of the noise. The annoying pickleball noise is a huge bone of contention in many neighborhoods now.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Good to see your faces and hear your advice! The recommendation to consider TN is excellent. I live south of there, but as I plan my retirement, I'm considering states without income tax. Of course, traveling is my top priority. Going to check out Quebec City this winter! I hope you and your family are well. ❤
Thanks and glad you are enjoying our channel. Quebec City is wonderful in the winter. Hope you get to see the Winter Carnival.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Great information, Guys. As we are approaching retirement, we inclined to own less. So instead of buying we are just renting for couple of months in Hawaii, trying to shorten canadian winters.
we love the balance of it: enjoy some of the winter with white snow, skiings, relaxing in hot springs, having this special Xmas vibe with family and go to Hawaii after that plus travel inbetween.
Personally, do not like Florida that much, prefer Maui.
Thanks for watching and good luck with your retirement plans. We agree that less, really is more.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
17:40 Half Backs ... also for the west. When someone retires to Hawaii, changes their mind, moves half back to CA WA OR for example. Same for Canadians that retire to HI. Still want "close" access to vacation HI a month or so; with one residence only west coast. Year around coastal living -- but not 100% HI
Great suggestions. Thanks for sharing.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Was disappointed you didn’t mention Portugal. With the US about to enter an uncertain future, our google searches showed Portugal as in the top 10 of places for Americans to relocate. I’m sure you’ll get lots of “what about” but was genuinely surprised Portugal didn’t make you list and now uncertain that’s the place I’ve been told it is.
I'm retiring at the end of this week. As much as I would love to spend the winter in Florida to escape the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, the cost of renting a place during that time of year is prohibitive. So next winter I'll be escaping to South Padre Island, TX (it will be for at least one month, but could possibly be three; will have to see how my retirement funds look in about 8-9 months from now). Winter is their off season down there, so I can afford to stay down there for far less than I could in Florida. Other escapes I have planned over the following two winters are Myrtle Beach, SC and Gulf Shores, AL (even though both are far chillier during the winter than Florida is, they are a far less expensive as that time of year is also their off season (both are also much warmer than Wisconsin is at that time of the year). As you can tell I have to be budget minded when planning my winter getaways.
Have you ever considered living part-time abroad. We think it's a great way to spend your retirement. It is incredibly rewarding and very easy to do. Here's a video that you might find interesting: ua-cam.com/video/3qIKOCImvo4/v-deo.html We have some other videos on our channel, but this is a good one to start with. We love so many places and since you are willing to change locations each year, why not give it a try? If you do, be sure to let us know how it goes. Thanks for your comment! John & Bev
Thanks for sharing. Have you considered doing international winter stays? We did a video last year about "flexpatting" around the world that might be of interest to you. It is more affordable than the US.
John and Bev
ua-cam.com/video/3qIKOCImvo4/v-deo.htmlsi=i5QjgQto-tZ4MXaB
@@RetirementTravelers Right now my son is still in college, so spending my winter overseas isn't in the cards quite yet. If I ever decide to winter overseas I would consider the Philippines. Not only is it an English speaking country, but also has a very favorable exchange rate (currently 59 Pesos to the US Dollar).
Before I watch I want to comment. Florida has become very expensive. I live in SWFL (Cape coral) and the traffic is horrible, prices are higher than ever, insurance is thru the roof. So anyone coming here be mindful of that. I will regretfully be selling my home and moving next year because I do not see myself being able to travel while living here.
Our insurance in FL has gone up a LOT in the last 3 years as well. Shopping around has brought no relief. So many insurers have left the state completely.
The infrastructure is 46 years old.
Thanks for commenting. We loved our time living on the east coast of Florida, but could see the cost increases of insurance, taxes, HOA dues and general inflation hurting our ability to travel.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
All reasons why we left Cape Coral as well
Golfing in Costa Rica? Yes!
If only I could talk my hubby into living and golfing outside the states. Nothing but the Villages will do😂
Good luck and hopefully you can convince him to give some great international destination a try!.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
As always, we love your videos. We like visiting Florida, especially Hutchinson Island. However, we'd never live there. The cost, weather risks, and political leanings are not for us.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
As I approach retirement, my goal is to own less stuff, have less taxes, pay less fees. Buying a home in my retirement years is not appealing.
We love not having a home in retirement. It has completely changed our life for the better.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
For a stay somewhere of 1-3 months. Do you stay in a hotel or do something else ?
Most people rent homes for 1-3 months of Snowbirding. John & Bev
Love your videos and your upbeat, common sense approach. Florida has become very different and expensive. It does not offer an accommodating experience to women nor the LGBTQ community. Life's too short to hate! This is why I love your videos.
Glad you are enjoying our channel. Thanks for following along.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Great video thank you We love golf so much. Coming from Colo we are also very active. Would you mind sharing what part of Florida you all liked so we could rent in that area to check it out?
Check out our article on the bottom of the video. You can check out our club. We loved it so much. There are so many, but we loved how it was a small community and offered everything you could want in a club. They have two championship golf courses, a tennis and pickleball facility, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and many activities. John & Bev (thanks for subscribing!) retirementtravelers.com/snowbirding-in-florida-the-surprising-pros-and-cons
I don’t know how long ago you lived in Florida but the past seven years or so the relentless humidity and heat have progressively gotten worse to an intolerable level almost eight months out of the year. And so have the hurricanes here in SWFLA. I’m honestly sick of being smothered in. I’ll take a few months of cold and occasional snow where I can dress properly and go outside. There are no outside options to stay cool. Since we are actively looking to get out I’ll say come on down and see for yourself as we need to sell this place. 😉
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
canadian dollar has dropped a lot vs USD... very costly for us canadians to visit florida etc
Thanks for sharing.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
My wife and I want to thank you both.
The only thing you take with you is the difference you make in other people’s lives and you have made a difference in ours. Consequently we gave you and your channel a shout out in our video:
How To Live Abroad And Travel Full-Time In Retirement With Slow Travel
ua-cam.com/video/s4rs2N4JDFc/v-deo.html
Thanks. We wish you the best with your channel and hope you have amazing adventures in retirement.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
You each make up a delightful couple. I watch this channel for travel information but the added bonus is receiving that knowledge from a happy, pleasant source. I would like to add: As a native Tennessean, we are experiencing a massive influx of folks moving here which is causing an overpopulation burden for our state and its people. Perhaps next time you can endorse Kentucky as a better place to live. 🙂 Best wishes for continued success with your channel and for many more years of travel ahead.
Thank you so much for this comment. It made our day!!! John & Bev
Canadian Geese are smart! Just follow them 😊
Love the analogy. Thanks for sharing.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
I think the idea of snowbirding has changed a lot in recent years. I'm in my 60's and the thought of being in horrific heat 8 months a year is not appealing. Tanning in the sun is not healthy and today the tanned baked skin looks like fried chicken lol. I also love the changing of the seasons and staying close by my kids. I know many my age who now want to stay in the north and just travel occasionally from here.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on snowbirding.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
I am a Florida native. If I was well enough to move, I would. It’s not the same Florida I grew up in.
Thanks for sharing.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Never go to US again. Rather put up with winters in Canada.
Enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Can I ask why you feel this way?
@@stevehoward3981 Like most people we feel it is unsafe so no way.
@@sallylee6934 I like to come to Canada for the same reason lol.
Hope you get back to actual travel videos soon!
We are home for a family matter. We know that our community is eager to see travel content, but we're doing the best we can at this time. Thanks for your patience and thanks for subscribing! We have some big plans in 2025. John & Bev
No thanks.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/