Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
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A year ago, my husband and I spent Thanksgiving at the beach and I loved it! It was that much better because Courtney and Bob, our Midwestern friends and their group of eight were in the area at the same time. We met them for dinner, walks on the beach and also gave a tour of our newly renovated vacation rental. When Courtney asked if I planned to decorate for the holidays, I told her no because I truly didn't think it could happen. Now, a year later, I realized yes I can decorate for the season!
Logistics were the biggest concern, but there were also considerations about finding the right mix of fun and festive versus too much, such as installing a full-sized Christmas tree in our 792 square foot space. Let's not forget the importance of appealing to as many people as possible without offending those who are not particularly religious or find the December holidays depressing.
Many snowbirds arrive at their warm weather home in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and/or New Year's Eve. Decorating with hints of the holidays is easier and less stressful, yet it feels quite homey.
For those who have vacation rental/s, providing a special touch of the holidays is memorable and may be the unexpected charm that helps build a loyal repeat client base. If you are already in the area for yearly maintenance, it's a good opportunity to add/remove the seasonal decor. If you cannot be there in person, perhaps your property manager or a local trusted friend or professional service can help out. Just make sure your decor isn't on display too early or too long past the holiday season.
Make a plan and set a budget. Be cautious not to overspend and invest in pieces that convey quality. Cheap close-out items are not endearing. I shop at national retail stores such as Home Goods, Marshalls, Kirklands, Hobby Lobby and Tuesday Morning and seek quality items that will enhance, not detract from my overall plan. If the item doesn't meet all of the criteria and I don't absolutely love it, I don't buy it. Less is more. Know your objectives, stick with them.
Snowbirds who own second homes vs. vacation rentals have much more freedom to do as they wish. There's more options for the type, size and nature of the decorations, as well as whether to store them on site or transport them to/from your primary home. No matter whether a second home, rental or vacation rental, a decision is required to make space to store your decor year-round on site or choose items that can travel in a vehicle with minimal damage. "Coming up missing" and breakability are less important for second homes since no one but the owners will be handling them.
Planning as far in advance will give more time to think, research, shop, place custom orders and make changes. With that in mind, please consider the following ten tips.
Related Post: https://midlifesnowbird.com/snowbird-holiday-decor/
Step one is to determine how you will handle transportation and storage. With that in mind, it will shape the framework for the rest of your plans. If your decor has to fit into your vehicle along with everything else, keeping the scale smaller is essential. Breakability is also part of this stage of planning. Fragile items should be carefully packed in bubble wrap within a sturdy box. If shipping your decorations, weight and bulk will add to the cost.
TwoChoose a theme and color scheme. The goal is to create a feeling -- an ambiance or whiff of the holidays. After much thought and online research, at first I thought I would focus only on coastal themed holiday decor -- natural elements such as starfish ornaments and blue and white kitchen towels with a smiling crab and "Santa Claws" emblazed on them. Instead of classic red/green, I envisioned watery blues, sea green and white. In hindsight I believe this is a rookie mistake.
It wasn't until I realized the decor still needs to feel "Christmas-y" that I changed my mind. Right or wrong, I decided to incorporate both traditional and coastal. Truthfully, the real turning point was I saw the most beautiful red and black buffalo plaid coffee mugs and knew I had to have them. So my theme became both coastal and red and black buffalo plaid. Ying and yang. "Christmas-y" and coastal in a fun, festive manner.
After all, when we were in our southern community for Thanksgiving, there was a beautiful mix of coastal and traditional decorations everywhere. A huge inflatable Santa in his red suit juxtaposed next to the white sandy beach of the Emerald Coast. We enjoyed rows of red poinsettias that were planted in the gardens of the public shopping areas; evergreens dripping with giant red ornaments and traditional red and green garlands draped from the exterior of the charming Seaside post office. Beautiful white lights twinkled in the evergreens as well as bejeweled the trunks of the palms. Christmas-y with a coastal twist.
Determine how many spaces you will decorate. I chose to focus entirely on the open areas of our vacation rental which is the main living/dining/kitchen space, plus the front door. I did not bring anything into the bathrooms, hallways or sleeping spaces. My decision was made in part due to transportation space as well as understating rather than annoying the guests who stay at our property. Remember, we are creating hints of the holidays, not going full steam holiday overload like scenes from the movie, "Christmas Vacation."
Keep it mostly neutral. Avoid too many cute messages that can quickly become annoying. Every time someone enters the front door
they will be reacting to your decor. A simple wreath on the door, as an example, is less irksome than a sign proclaiming "Sand is the New Snow" or "Seas and Greetings." No thanks! These messages get old fast. Likewise, not everyone is religious or shares the same religious views. Therefore a muted version of the classics may be a better option. Quintessential boxwood or evergreen arrangements with winter berries, fuzzy white trim and red and green tartan plaid convey the season in a secular way. Instead of a religious-themed liquid soap dispenser, choose Winterberry, Frasier Fir, Peppermint or Sugar Cookie.
Rethink and reimagine how to display your seasonal decor. Because we have no space for a traditional Christmas tree in our rental, a charming 7" hand-made Christmas tree constructed of starfish is a great substitute. Deconstructing elements of the Christmas tree in the form of gorgeous teal blue ornaments displayed in a driftwood bowl are fun without taking up much space. Sparkling garland in a white platter on the server buffet create another element of the tree without the tree itself. A small, charming Christmas ornament above the coffee bar area completes the concept of the deconstructed tree.
Think beyond the obvious. Displaying seasonal items on the countertops and end tables is nice, but don't overlook the feeling of Christmas. As an example, I purchased a charming 500 piece puzzle with a snowy country scene, old red truck, red barn and adorable Golden Retrievers. The scene has nothing to do with the beach, desert, lakes or mountains, it is appealing to nostalgia. Puzzles and the holidays are perfect partners. You will create guest loyalty because of your thoughtfulness tying into childhood recollections of family gatherings. Holiday coffee cups and accessories such as red buffalo plaid pot holders bring up warm memories of sipping something hot and baking cookies. Your guests are "home for the holidays," your job is to make it feel like their home away from home.
SevenBalance your decor. Thanksgiving kicks off the winter holiday season and New Year's Eve wraps it up. Find the balance of the start, end and everything in between. Follow the 15 - 70 - 15 rule of 15% beginning, 70% middle and 15% end for displaying seasonal items. I chose a beautiful seafoam green glass pumpkin with flameless votive to represent the Autumn harvest and Thanksgiving (15%). For the December holidays (70%), display teal ornaments in a bowl, a starfish Christmas tree, red buffalo plaid hot pads, Winterberry liquid soap, a festive puzzle and red/green tartan and boxwood arrangement. A sparkly garland with ice bucket and coordinating wreath on the door (15%) represent New Year's Eve as well as the winter season.
Safety first. If you don't want your guests burning scented open-flame candles due to safety and insurance reasons, don't encourage it by putting real candles in your rental. Instead provide flameless candles with fresh batteries. If your vacation rental includes pets and kids, don't leave fragile glass breakables within easy reach. Place them up high or don't include that type of decor at all.
Determine what not to bring. I love soft throws for the couch, especially in the winter. However, for sanitary and other reasons, I gave up the idea of leaving any seasonal throws for the holiday guests to use. Same for holiday throw pillows. I also vetoed items such as real pumpkins or live seasonal plants of any kind. At some point you have to set boundaries of where to start and stop. Your choices will be different than mine, but decide to edit yourself to know when enough crosses into "too much."
Leave a gift for your seasonal guests and/or yourself. If you have extra holiday decorations or order customized mugs or personalized items, consider leaving a gift for your holiday guests. Twenty bucks is a good budget that brings many happy memories to you and them. It's better to give than receive. The goodwill of paying it forward will always balance out. Cheers to the holiday spirit!
-- Hilarie Burton, American actress, businesswoman, author and producer
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In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
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With the popularity of online shopping, online scams are also at an all time high. Rental scams can be especially devastating because guests may not even realize they've been taken until they show up to the property. Yes, it happens and it's heartbreaking.
I'm a member of several regional rental groups via Facebook where renters and rentals are matched via posts such as, "In search of a pet-friendly, 2/2 gulf front condo with pool and amenities for January/February of 2023. Max budget is $8,500, including fees." Property owners post photos and details of their units if it matches the request.
I cringe when some of the replies provide no link to "their" listing, yet ask the potential renter to "PM me for a special discount" or they provide a link and say, "Your dates aren't showing as available due to a computer gliche, but PM me and I can book your stay." These are huge red flags. Your instinct should be kicking into overdrive. If there is no direct electronic trail to the listing and/or there's explanations that aren't logical, be extremely careful or consider moving on. If it's not adding up, something is wrong.
Prior to our first season as a snowbird, my husband and I became very nervous. We booked our rental nine months in advance of our stay via a web site that promotes/manages about 50 properties. I conducted a fair amount of research to be confident enough the listing was legit. Sixty days prior to arrival, per the contract terms we pre-paid the property manager in full for the entire stay, which was a large amount of money. We had no first-hand information about the property, only the online description and photos.
A few days before we were to depart, we received a message that we would not be able to check in to our 3/3 gulf front unit due to exterior maintenance that would block our access to the door. Another much smaller 2/2 unit in a building down the street would be ours for the first week. Oh heck no! This was NOT what we signed up for. After much back and forth, we negotiated concessions to move into the 3/3 for two days, then would move down the street for 4-5 days and then back to the original unit. I was very apprehensive of the possibility that not only the property management company could be a scam, but that the rental was fake too. We were so relieved to find that we were wrong. I conducted even more research and affirmed the rental was real and the property management company has a stellar reputation.
If you are seeking a new property and are unfamiliar with it or the area you're considering, I've offered 14 tips to assist with spotting potential rental scams. Although there's no way to be 100% sure, whether staying at a new place during snowbird season or the off season, careful research can result in a better outcome.
Credible is the key word here. Well known rental web sites such as VRBO, Airbnb, Home Away and BringFido.com are a few examples. Web sites that broker thousands of listings AND have a budget to advertise their sites are typically acceptable sources. However, having said that, it doesn't guarantee the LISTINGS are legitimate. Fake listings are rampant and the images are usually stolen from actual listings. This is why it is important to conduct further research once you locate a potential rental.
Craigslist is a well known web site, but it is not devoted strictly to vacation rentals and therefore it is not what I consider a good source for vacation rentals. Regardless of the source, further research is recommended.
Some property owners don't want to pay the fees for listing on a well known web site. Smaller rental web sites may be a good option. They may have names such as "Vacation Homes by Owner" or something regional such as "Texas Vacation Rentals." If a listing is on both a smaller source and a well known source, that adds credibility. However, it is not a guarantee of anything.
Typically, if a property is professionally managed, it will also be listed on the property manager's web site. You can compare various dates with the major web site and the property manager's web site. Both sites should show the exact same dates as open or unavailable because they are synchronized by the computer. If there is a discrepancy, that's a major red flag.
Typically, booking directly through the property manager will save additional fees. The major web sites usually add more fees to the guests with line items such as "Host fee," "Service Fee" or something similar. The fees are in addition to the cleaning, taxes and other state and local fees.
As mentioned above, online referral groups are a great way to match renters with rentals. However, as previously stated, be very careful about responses that do not have a direct link to the property and/or there are requests to private message instead of publicly message each other. The social media groups attempt to keep scammers out, but there is usually no formal vetting process. Specialized social groups are always targeted by scammers who create fake accounts with stolen photos of innocent people.
I devoted a recent post entirely to evaluating online photos and listings of vacation rentals. It is worth reading prior to booking a new or unfamiliar rental property.
Domestic and international scammers typically are not English scholars. Typos, poor grammar and punctuation are all red flags; however, perfect English is no guarantee of anything either (or vice versa). If the listing and/or correspondence are riddled with poor grammar, punctuation and typos, ask to personally speak with someone. If you can get someone on the phone, that's the first step. I doubt they will be available for a call if they are a scammer. If they can speak English, yet their written correspondence is poor, proceed with caution.
Be aware listing photos and descriptions may be stolen from legitimate properties. Conduct multiple online searches for the property and look for conflicting information, such as multiple listings for the property with differing contact information.
Perhaps a listing shows an attractive smiling woman or a family with young kids and a dog on their social media profile and refuses to correspond with you via any other method than electronically, that's a red flag. Scammers pretend to identify with their targets by appearing to be trustworthy. Chances are the photos are stolen.
Public records such as tax and property records are easily located online in the county in which the property is located. Look up the name of the owner/s, how long they've owned the property and how many other properties they own. Their primary address will also be listed in the records as well as the names of any other owners.
If a property is owner-managed and the address of the contract doesn't match the address of record, find out why, then verify the answer. Some properties are owned by siblings or partners as an example. That's fine, but it would seem odd to have differing addresses on a tax record versus a rental contract. Look up all addresses to verify the facts to tie it all together. If all of it doesn't match, beware.
If you are in the vicinity of the prospective rental, ask for a personal showing or meeting. If you cannot meet in person, a phone conversation with the owner or PM is helpful to get an idea of their opinions and feedback of whether a property may be a good fit for your needs. Especially if you are staying more than a few days. They may have other properties to recommend and you can ask questions about how many properties they manage, if they are local, how long they've been in business and so forth. Ask for references from previous guests.
Ask if the property is for sale. If it is, there is a chance your reservation may be cancelled due to the owner transferring the title, which will negate your contract. If you are unable to personally speak with someone after multiple attempts and you're only receiving electronic communication, that is a huge red flag.
Ask to speak with previous guests who have stayed in the property and can verify the advertised images are fair, the condition is what was advertised and whether they received prompt attention in the event of issues that needed resolved. Ask seemingly random questions about the neighborhood that you already know the answer from online research, such as "Where is the nearest pharmacy?" How far away and what is the name of the closest restaurant? If your "reference" hesitates or doesn't know the answers fairly quickly, they are perhaps not valid references.
Compare the cost of the prospective rental with similar properties. If the availability, terms and rate are too good to be true, that's a huge red flag. Ask a lot of questions about why the rates are so low. Is it new to the rental market? Was there a last minute cancellation? Are there any problems that may be a factor such as a bug infestation, ongoing construction or other inconveniences? What guarantees can the PM or owner make to assure their property is legitimate?
Never pay a deposit with funds that aren't protected in the event of fraud or misrepresentation. If you pay by credit card, you'll still have to go through the process of requesting a refund, but there's a better chance of recovering your deposit. Many popular money apps provide zero protection to the person sending the funds. Once the money is sent, it's gone. Do your homework prior to sending money to anyone for any reason. If the money app's policy is no refunds, you will have zero chance to recover any of it in the event of fraud or any other reason.
Typically, because of the credit card fees and significant expense of a long term rental, the balance is typically paid with a check 60 - 90 days before arrival. Look into the address of where the check is to be mailed. Does the address match the property manager or owner's address? If not, ask why.
You will have no protection from fraud, cancellation or any other issue without a valid signed lease agreement. The lease agreement will have the full names of you and the property manager or owner and the terms listed, including the amount of the deposit and balance, dates of stay, due dates for the balance/payments, policies including the cancellation terms as well as refund and dispute resolution policies. Never accept a contract or agreement unless it thoroughly addresses everything to cover yourself as well as the property owner. If you are getting high pressure to hurry up and pay a deposit without signing a complete valid lease, walk away. That is a huge red flag.
If your rental is offered online and there is an electronic contract that you can sign to reserve it, that's a standard industry-wide practice. Reserving electronically protects the renter and rental agency from disputes about when and what was agreed to. It also takes the unit off the market so it doesn't become double-booked. If the property you are considering does not offer an electronic contract, find out why. It may be the owner prefers signed paper contracts. Allow enough time for a contract to be prepared and signed, but ask for assurances that the rental will be held during this time.
Perhaps they don't offer any contract. They may say they don't like contracts or haven't had time to prepare one or downplay that it isn't that important. If there's no contract, there's no deal. Walk away.
If your potential property is desirable, it will have more people interested in renting it. However, if the PM or owner is using high pressure tactics such as indicating it will be off the market before the contract can be executed and signed, that's a red flag. Never agree to pay a deposit or rent a unit without first or simultaneously executing a valid contract.
If the property legitimately has multiple offers at the same time, ask how they will determine who is accepted. If they have a reasonable explanation, you can either go along with the plan or find another place. Sometimes taking a property with less demand will make it easier for you to keep coming back because there is less competition fighting for it.
Always conduct thorough research and listen to your instinct before renting a property that is new or unfamiliar. Once you are confident of your choice, you can focus on prepping for your stay.
-- Albert Einstein, German Theoretical Physicist
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
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As snowbirds return home to begin the off-season, much reflection goes into what can be done differently for the next season. Life changes happen from year to year, budgets change and energy levels for travelling to/from your destination may not be where they used to be. Snowbirds evaluate if they want to return to the same place, try a new area or whether to return at all. Because housing is the most expensive aspect of being a snowbird, rates are a major consideration of where to stay. [Costs of Snowbird Rentals: Beach, Desert, City-Metro]
Recent interactions with two readers reinforced that misconceptions related to location are far more widespread than they or I realized, which is why it is important to recognize regional differences in pricing. As the tried and true adage says, it's all about "location, location, location." Most people are well aware that being a snowbird in Maui, Hawaii is going to be much more expensive for multiple reasons. However, the cost of housing in every snowbird destination, no matter where you are headed, will be affected by peak and off-peak season. As an example, peak season in Hawaii is not January, it is summer when families are on school break. Seeking lesser known communities is another option for better housing rates. If you are considering a change, carefully take a look at what you're seeking because you may find that by making an adjustment in location based on popularity and/or peak vs. off peak season, you may be able to get so much more for your money, which can make all the difference of your snowbird lifestyle.
At the beginning of 2022, a reader from south Florida contacted me and we enjoyed a lengthy phone conversation. Cindy told me she's a longtime, now retired snowbird who lives with her husband in the Fort Myers area five months of the year and the rest of the time is devoted to their home in mid-Eastern Wisconsin. During the course of the conversation, the topic of north vs. south Florida came up.
Cindy's perception of northern Florida is that it can be quite chilly in the winter (true) and that winter, which is peak season in south Florida, is also peak season in northern Florida (false). Cindy was surprised to learn summer is peak season in northern Florida because it's when families come to the beach for summer vacation. South Florida is considered by many to be too hot in the summer. Some people, such as myself, consider south Florida to be too hot in the winter as well. I don't mind Northwest Florida's jacket weather and truthfully am not interested in residing in hot weather all year round.
This brings us to the crux of the North Florida vs. South Florida rental rates. South Florida is desirable in the winter because of the consistently warm weather with temps in the 70's and '80s. That's an attractive quality and prices in South and Central Florida are reflective of the climate. Due to supply and demand, rental prices are significantly higher, even as much as two or three times higher to get the same square footage, amenities and views as their counterparts to the north. Just ask my friend Vicki. She looked into moving closer to her daughter who was based in Key West and was shocked at the gulf front prices of south Florida. Vicki stayed where she was in Northwest Florida, it was too good to pass up.
Another reader, Bill, recently wrote to me and said, "I was a solo snowbird last year and met some folks. It worked out fairly well. However, I would prefer to buddy-up with someone for companionship and sharing of expenses. Do you have suggestions of where to find someone?... Thank you and best wishes."
I asked Bill the area where he stayed and whether he preferred to remain there, then brainstormed many ideas of where to find a roommate. Finally, I offered one last thought and suggested, "It can be expensive to be a snowbird and reducing the amount of time away, staying in an area that is not as warm or moving inland to a less expensive spot may be helpful. As an example, south Florida is incredibly expensive during the winter months because it is their peak season. Northwest Florida in the winter is the off season and peak is during spring and summer."
Bill said, "Thank you so much for the prompt reply. I was in south Florida (Cape Coral) and it was very nice (and expensive). I drove down so I wouldn't need to get a rental car. I'm in southeastern Wisconsin and it was 1,400 miles each way, and I swore I'd never do that drive again 🙂 I really hadn't considered northwest Florida since the weather can be iffy and I assumed prices would still be on the high side since peak season... but, you have enlightened me with understanding that winter is NOT peak season (using Destin as an example) and rentals are very reasonable per VRBO search. An added bonus is that the drive is 400 miles shorter so It would be a two day drive instead of three. So thanks for planting this seed. I will also explore some of your other suggestions."
Don't overlook checking into less well-known snowbird areas. During correspondence with an extended family member I'm newly acquainted with, we discovered we both enjoy the snowbird lifestyle. Mike and his wife travel extensively in their RV throughout the year. He said, "If things go as planned, we are hoping to spend next winter in Biloxi, Pass Christian or Waveland, all are in coastal Mississippi. We actually really love Florida for a lot of reasons, there are so many things that we enjoy, but anywhere on the Gulf Coast makes us happy. Now that we are older, I think Mississippi makes us happiest... We get the beach, ocean and warm weather without having to fight the crowds or the traffic."
Mike stated, "It’s half the cost and living on a limited budget it makes a lot of difference. Biloxi is really nice, it has everything we need. Most things are within walking distance from our RV park. Plus, we are right across the road from the beach. I get up and walk along the beach for an hour, then an hour back, starting at 5:00 am every other morning. It’s so nice, there’s a 27 mile sugar white sand beach. At that hour, it’s like I have the whole beach to myself. Well, if you don’t include the seagulls, terns and pelicans."
For property owners, here's another huge advantage to buy in an area that is off-peak in the winter. No matter whether it's north vs. south Florida or north vs. south Arizona, central vs. south Texas or elsewhere, the strategy is the same. If you buy a property where winter is off-peak and stay in it for the snowbird season, then you can return home and rent it out for premium rates while you are home and your rental guests are enjoying the peak summer vacation season.
Many times I've been asked by non-snowbird friends and family, "Why don't you stay further south?" It's all about location, location, location and I love where we are in Northwest Florida.
-- Tasha Bee, UK-based community artist