Most Snowbirds Are Renters, Travel by Car
Category: Retirement Planning
October 6, 2021 — The results of last week’s survey on snowbirds are in. Many thanks to the community spirited folks that filled it out! While we can all speculate about snowbird behavior, it is satisfying and interesting to find out what people like you do in the real world. The results are roughly consistent with our 2018 survey on this topic, which had a much larger response rate. You can compare those results as well as find a link to Part 2 of that report, which lists ideal snowbird pairings and many comments from people who snowbird, here.
Overall
Most of the people who completed it are snowbirds, which reflects a natural interest in the topic. The results show a great variety of when people leave for the winter and how long they stay. Some of the most interesting results were comments about how people found their winter place, and how Covid has affected their plans. We have summarized the results for each question below, which we hope might be useful in your own snowbirding lives.
- Will you go somewhere warm this winter (be a snowbird), and for how long.
Most of the people taking the survey were snowbirds. There were roughly equal numbers who will go away for periods from 1 to six month. One fourth plan on snowbirding for less than a month.
Comments on "Most Snowbirds Are Renters, Travel by Car"
Carolyn says:
I retired 18 months ago and part of my retirement plan was to leave Massachusetts for 3 months each winter for Florida. I cancelled last winter because of Covid and stayed home awaiting vaccines. Now, even though I’m fully vaccinated, I am holding off on making FL plans for this winter again. I am uneasy heading anywhere where hospitals are overflowing with patients in case—God forbid— I have a health emergency or accident.
Ellen says:
Our first snowbird trip was last year for 3 months. It was kind of spur of the moment and we didn’t really plan too much. This year we will be gone 6 months and are wondering if there is a good list of things to do the close up each house as we leave it empty. And how to handle mail. We weren’t happy with forwarding it last year. Should I do a permanent address change every six months?
Admin says:
Ellen, the mail is a challenge when you go away a long time. I have tried USPS forwarding, both the free and the paid (Xpress Mail) service but wasn't that happy. Some people I know like it though. We have the person who checks on our house collect it and send it in a flat rate USPS priority mail box every 2 weeks to our snowbird destination. You can also change the address on the most important mail and then change it back. See our Snowbird's checklist - many people commented on this. https://www.topretirements.com/blog/home-and-garden/snowbirds-leaving-for-the-winter-checklist.html/
Samuel (Sam) Pace says:
I would like to hear comments from anyone who snowbird in Gulf Co. Fl ( Port St Joe area) or Bay Co. . Fl ( Mexico Bch, Tyndall AFB Area, Panama City ).Especially anyone from Southern NJ ,S Eastern Pa , De or MD. I know Hurricane Michael in 2018 took its toll on area. I lived in Gulf Co. for 2 yrs 1980-82 and know things have changed over the years. Last visit to area was August of 2016. Brought my my family down for the 1st time , stayed at El Governor in Mexico Bch . Great time!
Danno says:
Dakota Post is the best mail-forwarding I have used (see link below).
https://www.dakotapost.net/mail-forwarding
Bill says:
We have our mail forward to a friend locally. The only mail we usually get for Jan-Mar is typically tax forms. The rest is junk.
Sierra says:
We live in MN and have wintered in AZ and FL. We used USPS forwarding without any problems, so maybe anyone having issues might be dealing with some USPS service locations. This winter -- Palm Springs. Just bouncing around trying different places.
Darla says:
We just made our drive from upstate NY to our snowbird home in the southwest and have to agree that most snowbirds travel by car and many by RVs. This year unlike last year the rest stops were busy with most parking spots taken and people picnicking. We thought about 50% wore masks like we did because of how busy they were. My personal opinion is there are many more RV drivers this year but not sure they were mostly snowbirds. And my research is just based on the rest stops.