Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
Peach Park in Clanton, Alabama is a favorite pit stop that we purposefully build into our travel itinerary Road Trip Prep: 60 Days Out Two Goals, It’s Not Just the Mechanics of Prepping for a Trip The first few years my husband and I wintered …
My broad checklist includes travel to favorite Northern warm weather destinations prior to heading south [Photo: Lake Wawasee, Indiana] Check, Check, Check–Checklists! Plan Now for Less Stress Later Winter is months away, yet now is the time to get it together for the upcoming snowbird …
As both an owner and a guest, I've seen the good, bad and ugly for check in procedures and expectations. For example, a couple years ago our newest neighbors were standing in the hallway quite awhile with their adorable dog, Cookie. I learned they were waiting on an agent of the local rental company to come and unlock the door so they could unpack their loaded vehicle. Why? A keyless entry doesn't need anyone to let a guest in, especially if they are checking in within the allotted time. Every management company is different and you'll want to be very prepared for how you will get into the property, especially if it's before or after hours. Things happen and don't always go according to plan.
Personally, I love the road trip, the process of transitioning from our Northern home to our Southern home. It's a time for adjusting to new and letting go of the old. Part of the journey involves finding the charm along the way. A huge part of that is planning the stops, including the small town road side stands as well as the super travel centers and interstate highway attractions such as Peach Park in Clanton, Alabama.
Below is a list of useful topics that take a little time to think about and prepare for, but are worth the effort to save time and hassles later.
I thought I had just about everything figured out for our upcoming snowbird season until a couple days ago and realized I have no idea where the contract is. It's not in the usual places and we need to verify our payment information with the property manager. The amusing thing is, we are the property owners. But we need a contract and payment just like everybody else.
At least 30 days' prior to departure, locate and review your contract for policies, check in and departure times, access codes, pet fees or other fees and anything else you might need to refresh in advance. If your rental includes a golf cart, verify details that information as well.
Maybe you're super fortunate there's only one way to get to your destination. Not so much for us. Even though we spend a lot of time on I-65, there's always lane changes, river tolls, "Sunpass" tolls and construction or lane and road closures. Weather and accidents are another unpredictable problem on the interstate.
Once we exit the interstate, there's a myriad of route options that take us through the beautiful back country of Southern Alabama. We have found Waze to be a huge help to get us to our home in Northwest Florida because there are many variables with routes, fuel centers, food and more. Road trips are already stressful and anything you can do to know when, where and how you're traveling is a life saver.
By reserving and paying for your hotel as far in advance as possible, you will likely not only save money, you'll also be promised the type of room you prefer. For us, pet friendly and convenience to I-65 is most important, followed by a King bed, in-room microwave and refrigerator, reasonable price and located in Athens, Alabama, our favorite stopping point. Other considerations include ADA access, cancellation policy, proximity to restaurants and fuel centers as well as in an area not plagued by crime. During busy season, such as holidays and the start of Spring Break, snowbirds and spring breakers are intersecting at the hotels and you'll want to get your room booked before they do. Other competition includes long term hotel guests who may be in the area for their trades or special events such as weddings and celebrations. By reserving in advance, you'll dodge many of the unknowns by waiting too long to book.
Be sure to know your codes! We have a code for the gated complex, access to the beach gate, fitness center and yet another code for our property's keyless entry. Our vehicle also has a convenient keyless code that I use quite often. If I'm walking by, I don't need to
bring my keys if I need to get something out of there. We use the cargo space as a "mini garage," and store our utility bags, boxes, tools and much more.
Log your codes into your phone or somewhere that you can easily retrieve them in a hurry. At home we have a ton of codes too, but I use them more often than I do in the gaps between time in our winter home. Usually we update our snowbird codes prior to departure because they change about 4 or 5 times a year. As we drive up to the gated entry, it's less stressful to have them ready.
Never ever assume that just because you've stayed in the same place multiple seasons that nothing will change for the better or worse for your next stay. It's wise to ask your property manager or owner for any possibilities of the following:
--Planned maintenance/closure of pools, hot tubs/spas, fitness centers, sports courts, elevators, etc
--New amenities such as covered BBQ grill areas, volleyball, pickleball, tennis courts, etc
--Activities, social events and local festivals and events
--Construction or renovation of the individual unit/home where you will be staying for the season
--Construction/renovation of the complex where you will be. This could include closure of your balcony or patio area; closure of walkways and parking spaces, loud noise, dust and other unpleasant issues.
--Local businesses that may change their seasonal hours of operation. Some close for the entire month of January for various reasons, so if your heart is set on frequenting a favorite coffee shop or establishment, you'll want to know in advance if it's going to be open when you plan your morning coffee run or evening stroll to the local winery or pub.
A cautionary tale:
I met a lovely Arkansas family who selected their winter rental because it was located directly across from the elevator. They knew their elderly mother would be staying for a couple of weeks and were pleased to get a top floor unit right by the elevator. Their joy was ruined when they arrived on site to find the elevator was closed for at least a week due to being upgraded and replaced. There were other working elevators, but they were too far for the mother, who had mobility issues. So the family had no choice and went home. I felt terrible for them, but it just didn't work out. Guests with ADA needs or elderly dogs may experience a similar situation. By checking in advance, problems can be identified and hopefully rectified prior to arrival.
-- Alan Lakein, American Author
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Many snowbirds retreat to their warm climate homes in October and November, which means now is the time to get prepared for the countdown to departure.
If there's unfinished business at home, figure out your projected timeline to complete them, bring the projects with you or delay them until you return. By being proactive, you'll be less stressed out later. Yard/landscaping, home
repairs, maintenance, roofing, decluttering, correspondence, files, bills, banking, improvements, hobbies, and more to name a few.
Contact your trusted friends, family and neighbors to help you while you're away. Who will be handling your mail? Houseplants? Packages/deliveries? Snow plowing? House sitting? Unexpected problems? Work ahead and let your team know when and how they will be needed. Just because they helped you in the past doesn't guarantee they'll be available or willing to help again. Set up a plan A, B and C if you can. Of course, the more you can do yourself, the better. Set aside a budget to pay for the necessary help unless you have someone to trade duties with. If it's someone who insists they won't take money, send them a gift card. It's important to make them feel appreciated. No one wants to feel used or taken for granted. Don't forget to
give them access instructions for your home, including security codes.
Don't forget to update your pet tags and medications such as heartworm/flea/tick preventatives. If you have "snowbird" business cards, update and reorder if needed. If you use checks, restock your supply. Same for your prescriptions and anything else that may be important.
Do you have doctor's appointments, vet appointments and other unfinished business such as meetings with your tax and financial advisors? Get them scheduled and done at least a month or several weeks in advance of your departure. Don't forget to schedule one last hair appointment before you depart. If possible, schedule upcoming appointments for the first part of your snowbird season and get those out of the way.
Merge, purge and weed out your stuff. Donate to charity or have a garage sale. It will feel better to lighten the load in advance so you don't have to think about it while you're away and it won't be staring you in the face when you return home in the spring. I'm not one who is a natural organizer, but being organized is fundamental for any snowbird. My favorite organizational tool? Plastic storage bins in all shapes/sizes. Photo albums, family keepsakes, toiletries, linens and seasonal items all reside in storage bins. Don't forget to label them. Also, purge, back up and organize your passwords, computer and electronic files as well.
Now is the time to check your existing security systems and consider increasing your security. If you already have a security monitoring system, consider upgrading it before you depart, such as adding more glass break sensors. Other security measures include more interior and exterior cameras and installing deadbolts to any exterior door that doesn't already have one. Motion sensor lights are another good option. If you haven't already installed a keyless entry to the garage, do so now. If it's available through your third party security vendor, add an alarm to your sump pump for peace of mind.
If you rent your snowbird home, outstanding balances will typically need paid anywhere from 60 to 90 days in advance. Review your contract for any other details that may be pertinent. The goal is no surprises. Be sure to stage the folder containing your rental agreement and proof of payment along with your other important documents that need to move south with you.
Reserve your hotel for the trip both down and back well in advance.
Because we travel with our Golden Retriever, we book our favorite hotel for the half way point to our snowbird destination. They have a limited number of dog accessible rooms and we don't want to miss out. Not only does the staff remember us, the rooms have mini refrigerators and microwaves and the hotel has a fantastic breakfast buffet. Plus they charge a very reasonable fee for the dog. Not every place welcomes pets and for both us and our dog, knowing what to expect makes the trip slightly less stressful.
Check your calendar and make your social plans with friends and loved ones to avoid a last minute scramble. Our first season, we hosted a farewell lunch for family several days before we left. It was the last time we would see them for awhile and it turns out it was the last time they ever saw our beloved Golden Retriever, Reilly, who sadly passed away while we were in our southern home. By making plans before leaving, you and they will tend to cope better when away for an extended time. This year we made plans to meet up with our snowbird friends on Labor Day weekend -- before everyone heads back to their winter homes again.
Thoroughly go over your vehicle and determine what maintenance needs done. Change the oil, purchase new tires if they are less than 50% and get a general check up. Don't forget about winterizing vehicle/s being left behind. Take photos of your odomoter readings and put the keys to your vehicle/s in a safe place where only you know where they are. Don't provide temptation for theft or anyone else. Be prepared for possible deflated tires and dead batteries upon your return.
On the way home from our third season, we decided it was time to switch from a sedan to a full-sized SUV for increased cargo space and to help our furry passenger, Bodie, more easily enter/exit. Bodie wouldn't climb into the sedan without an assistive boost each and every time we made a stop, so his needs were an important consideration. Eight months ahead of our departure for season four we brought home our "beast." This gave us enough time to evaluate and purchase additional accessories including a pet barrier as well as a new ramp for rear entry so our dog can easily enter/exit.
I pack reduced quantities of herbs, seasonings and spices; wooden spoons, spatulas, mini server spatulas and flippers, serrated knives and just about anything else that can fit into one shoe-box sized plastic storage bin. If you have favorite custom spice rubs and blends, pre-make an appropriate quantity before leaving home so you aren't hauling 14 ingredients only to use a small amount of each. Canning jars are excellent for transporting smaller amounts of liquids if you can avoid breaking them during transport.
Prepare a contact sheet for your closest friends and loved ones with your address, dates of travel and any pertinent details. Distribute it well in advance of departure so you don't have to worry about it at the last minute. Notify all other appropriate businesses and entities, such as your newspaper and change of address for your mail. Don't forget any other delivery services who may need to be put on a seasonal hold. If you can temporarily stop your cable tv service, it could save some money.
Get your packages ready several weeks ahead of your departure and avoid the last minute crunch that inevitably happens as departure approaches. Because we are self-employed, we have computers, a printer and products, including parts/accessories that are shipped in advance. Getting the timing right is an art form, but is much smoother when you are prepared.
Last, but not least, clean and prep your home for a season away. If your home will be unoccupied, turn off the exterior water line. Adjust the blinds and thermostat, set up your lighting self-timers, turn on the security alarm and trust that your systems and pre-planning will pay off for another successful season away.
--Andrew O'Hagan