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Snowbirds Shorten Vacations

SHELLY avatar
SHELLYSoWal Insider
5,263 views
State's snowbirds shorten winter trips to save costs

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MELBOURNE - Florida's mild climate and world-class beaches continue to draw Northern retirees seeking temporary refuge from harsh winter weather, but tourism experts say many of these snowbirds are shortening their stays.

Rental rates have risen to keep up with spiraling property insurance rates from recent hurricanes, pricing some retirees out of the market.

''Prices in rentals have gone up because of insurance. We're 98 percent booked for February and March, but booked about 75 percent for January, which is very unusual,'' said Lisa Durgin, a Cocoa Beach-based Realtor who rents to snowbirds.

Durgin said this January is among the slowest she has seen.

Blanka Kovarik, a retiree from Toronto, said many of her friends are planning shorter stays in Florida this winter.

Along with the increased rental costs, gas prices and rising medical expenses are also a factor, she said.

In Brevard County, for example, a study by Schulman, Ronca, Bucuvalas, Inc., found that the number of snowbirds fell nearly 9 percent to 27,600 in 2005 from 30,300 in 2003.

Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, said that snowbirds have been stricken with ''Florida fatigue.''

''Snowbirds are not returning to Florida as they used to,'' Pizam said. ''We're not getting as many repeat visitors. Other destinations are competing with us as well. Also, remember that snowbirds have a lot of expenses, with insurance and medical costs, and they have less money for trips. So, rather than cutting out the vacation completely, they're staying for a shorter time.''

Business are feeling the crunch, said Rob Varley, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism.

''The season is shorter, and the part-time residents are not coming as soon, either,'' Varley said.
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(Now that I think about it, I don't see near as many cars driving down the road with their left turn signal flashing...and flashing...and flashing)

Replies

34
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#2
On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if the overall number of Canadians were higher, based on the number of Ontario license plates I'm seeing around town. I'm getting the odd Canadian coin in my pocket. (But alas, the vending machines down here don't seem to take Canadian coinage like many of them do Up North) And there were actual Newfies at the Snowbird Expo on the Island the other day.

Is the Canadian dollar actually worth real money again or something?
JoshMclean avatar
JoshMcleanBeach Fanatic
#3
I was thinking the same thing eh! I have never seen so many Ontario license plates in my entire life.
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#4
If the snow bird (makes the sound "cheap-cheap") season is shorter, it may be due to warmer than usual temps in the north east this year. :idontno:

I think you could exchange that Canadian coin in for even more US cash.

If you don't think the snowbirds are here, go to the Destin Publix before 10am, but bring your patience with you. :funn:
Mango avatar
MangoSoWal Insider
#5
[ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8735889757702013026"]What snow birds do for funn. [/ame]
Paula avatar
PaulaBeach Fanatic
#7
Hey Mango... :floor: :floor: :floor:
flyforfun avatar
flyforfunBeach Fanatic
#8
Sure has not affected my short term rental's at One Seagrove Place Condo's, all of my units are full of snow birds until mid March. Guess that is the advantage when you invest in beach front property that has been there for 20 years and has a solid rental history! 30-A property is so much more beautiful and unique than the rest of Florida, so I don't see how this article even equates to this area. My weekends down this year have been the best ever!
rapunzel avatar
rapunzelBeach Fanatic
#9
What snow birds do for funn.

Funny...I thought they just tried to drive the rest of us crazy. I was eating at the Outback in Destin last night (my doctor told me to I needed red meat, and I couldn't think of anywhere else to get steak alone). Anyway, I was sitting next to a table of Snowbird couples. Both women had ordered chicken, and the men had ordered steaks. Both steaks were sent back because they were overcooked. The steaks came back, and one was not the cut of meat the gentleman had ordered, one was cold. Third steaks were the charm, but the ladies had finished their chicken, so one of the men suggested the women get free dessert "to make up for them having had to sit there for so long."

Oh, and the guy's opening remark to the waiter had been, "Oh, we thought you'd forgotten about us." They'd been waiting about two minutes.

I don't know how people wait tables between 5 and 7 this time of year.😱
Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal Expert
#10
Sure has not affected my short term rental's at One Seagrove Place Condo's, all of my units are full of snow birds until mid March. Guess that is the advantage when you invest in beach front property that has been there for 20 years and has a solid rental history! 30-A property is so much more beautiful and unique than the rest of Florida, so I don't see how this article even equates to this area. My weekends down this year have been the best ever!

Yes! I spent the better part of 2 days on a goose chase for Mom- she decided to come in February. Seagrove beachfront is locked up. And good for you FFF!:clap_1:
Paula avatar
PaulaBeach Fanatic
#11
PS: I'll be very happy to be a snowbird someday. Though it's stunningly, magnificently gorgeous in Michigan these days (the ice storm left such magical crystal-like ice on every tree branch and for the past two days, the sun has been shining so all the trees in our neighborhood are glistening like tinsel on a Christmas tree - it's truly awesome), I'll be very happy to have a one-month winter in Michigan and spend the other winter months in SoWal. And I promise to behave (as most snowbirds do)!
seacliffes avatar
seacliffesBeach Lover
#12
My beach house is booked solid this winter....
Rita avatar
Ritamargarita brocolia
#13
Funny...I thought they just tried to drive the rest of us crazy. I was eating at the Outback in Destin last night (my doctor told me to I needed red meat, and I couldn't think of anywhere else to get steak alone). Anyway, I was sitting next to a table of Snowbird couples. Both women had ordered chicken, and the men had ordered steaks. Both steaks were sent back because they were overcooked. The steaks came back, and one was not the cut of meat the gentleman had ordered, one was cold. Third steaks were the charm, but the ladies had finished their chicken, so one of the men suggested the women get free dessert "to make up for them having had to sit there for so long."

Oh, and the guy's opening remark to the waiter had been, "Oh, we thought you'd forgotten about us." They'd been waiting about two minutes.

I don't know how people wait tables between 5 and 7 this time of year.😱
Rapunzel, Did you happen to notice if the snowbirds had been reading this just prior to being waited on??

.
whitesandsBeach Lover
#16
I can see how the "snowbird" thing can really get to people...I'm a "snowbird". My husband and I were at a local restaurant a few days ago. There were two couples at the table next to us. When the wait person was in the vicinity of their table, one of the gentlemen said "Butter". The waiter person asked "Would you like some butter?" The gentlemen repeated "Butter". The young gentleman who was looking after their table replied "Yes Sir". In a short few seconds he returned with some butter. Lord I felt for that waiter. He was a gentle person.
SHELLY avatar
SHELLYSoWal InsiderAuthor
#17
I think you could exchange that Canadian coin in for even more US cash.

A Canadian Dollar is worth about 85-US Cents...that's why they try to foist their change off here. I'm sure the waiters are less than pleased went these coins show up in their tips.


.
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
#18
A Canadian Dollar is worth about 85-US Cents...that's why they try to foist their change off here. I'm sure the waiters are less than pleased went these coins show up in their tips.


.
I never was good with Canadian math. :floor:Thanks for the correction. I guess I can melt all of those Canadian pennies that I was saving. Hey, wait a minute, I may be on to something. If the copper in our US penny is worth more than one cent, we could buy a bunch of Canadian pennies at an even cheaper price and melt those down for even more money.

Whitesands, for the record, not all snowbirds are rude or bad people. I believe they are doing here what they are accustomed to elsewhere. I have some really good friends :wub: for neighbors who are converted snowbirds. We now have them for nine months out of the year instead of only three.
beachmouse avatar
beachmouseBeach Fanatic
#19
In Michigan, the custom with the Canadian coins was to just kind of shrug and pass them along assuming they're worth US face value. Most of the pop machines would take them just like US coins too.

There was an article in the Daily Fishwrapper a day or two back saying that reports were that winter bookings were slightly higher than last year across the Emerald Coast.
Paula avatar
PaulaBeach Fanatic
#20
As for snowbird behavior, from what I see there are rude people and kind people in every age group and other category (class, profession, race, nationality, etc.). I'm sticking up for snowbirds everywhere :wub: and when I'm a snowbird I'm going to take VERY looooong vacations in SoWal in the winter and Tuscany in the summer. (And I'll hold my head high and proud when I order -- politely -- the dinner specials then go watch the sunset on the beach after dinner.)

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