Snowbirds Shorten Vacations

[SHELLY]

State's snowbirds shorten winter trips to save costs

Link

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)

[beachmouse]

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]

I was thinking the same thing eh! I have never seen so many Ontario license plates in my entire life.

[Smiling JOe]

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.

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.

[Mango]

[ame="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8735889757702013026"]What snow birds do for funn. [/ame]

[Camp Creek Kid]

What snow birds do for funn.

[Paula]

Hey Mango...

[flyforfun]

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]

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]

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!

[Paula]

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]

My beach house is booked solid this winter....

[Rita]

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??

.

[Miss Kitty]

..MargaRita's back!!!

[dbuck]

What snow birds do for funn.

Mango, that is SO you.

[whitesands]

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]

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]

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. 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 for neighbors who are converted snowbirds. We now have them for nine months out of the year instead of only three.

[beachmouse]

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]

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 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.)

[spinDrAtl]

Our snowbirds are down for maybe the 6th year in a row and for the usual time - Jan 2 or 3rd until March 17 or so. In fact, every year when they leave, they mail the key back to us and ask to reserve for next year.

I was at the condo over New Year's and on the morning of Jan 2, it seemed as if the flood gates had opened. Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, etc. etc. I couldn't walk two feet without stepping on a snowbird. :)

[30A Skunkape]

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.

Sounds like he was auditioning for a Parkay commercial

[Miss Kitty]

Sounds like he was auditioning for a Parkay commercial

...OMG...I thought the same thing, but couldn't remember the Parkay part!!!!

[Mermaid]

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 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.)

I hope all of us Baby Boomers become considerate snowbirds. I was not impressed with the snowbirds we encountered on the way down to SoWal after Christmas. I don't know whether road fatigue figured into the equation, but at nearly every gas station we stopped at, the snowbirds we saw were not practicing the golden rule. One Michigan car with an older couple blocked not one but two pumps while they were going inside the store to get an ice cream cone after filling up their tank. That's only one story I could relate. It was really irritating sharing the road with them.

[Jdarg]

I love them! I have not run across any grumpy or rude ones yet. If you want some fun, stop at any condo complex at happy hour on a pretty warm day. They all meet each other outside and share a cocktail and the sunset, and they are so sweet and happy to be here, and chatty chatty!

BTW- just to explain, I am not trolling the condo complexes at happy hour to party with the snowbirds. I was doing some research for my mom's visit.

[kathydwells]

I love them! I have not run across any grumpy or rude ones yet. If you want some fun, stop at any condo complex at happy hour on a pretty warm day. They all meet each other outside and share a cocktail and the sunset, and they are so sweet and happy to be here, and chatty chatty!

BTW- just to explain, I am not trolling the condo complexes at happy hour to party with the snowbirds. I was doing some research for my mom's visit.

Sure Jenny, any excuse to party!!!

[Jdarg]

Sure Jenny, any excuse to party!!!

Dammit- you caught me.

[kathydwells]

Dammit- you caught me.

[Snowfanatic]

[QUOTE=rapunzel;195131]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.

*************Let me be sure that I understand your opinion. You seem to believe that it is ok for the restaurant to serve overcooked steaks and then replace them with cold or incorrect orders...but it is not ok for the customer to complain.

Perhaps each snowbird should invite a local to a northern locale where restaurants compete on quality and excellence of cuisine.....not on volume or big parking spaces for pickup trucks. Most restaurants in Walton would not last 90 days in more competitive communities.

[6thGen]

[QUOTE=Snowfanatic;198043]

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.

*************Let me be sure that I understand your opinion. You seem to believe that it is ok for the restaurant to serve overcooked steaks and then replace them with cold or incorrect orders...but it is not ok for the customer to complain.

Perhaps each snowbird should invite a local to a northern locale where restaurants compete on quality and excellence of cuisine.....not on volume or big parking spaces for pickup trucks. Most restaurants in Walton would not last 90 days in more competitive communities.

I believe the point was that our friends from the north do not always display the Southern hospitality we've come to expect in the area. But since you mention it, the restaurant was Outback, and now that the parent company has been bought out by private equity, you can expect a ton of people fired, a bunch of money borrowed to jazz it up and put out a better product, and when they cannot borrow any more, an IPO.

[seacliffes]

Perhaps each snowbird should invite a local to a northern locale where restaurants compete on quality and excellence of cuisine.....not on volume or big parking spaces for pickup trucks. Most restaurants in Walton would not last 90 days in more competitive communities.[/quote]

Perhaps if it is so bad here maybe you should stay home. I have traveled all over the world in a variety of situations for over 40 years and I have always found that common courtesy goes a long way. People who work in restaurants are human beings and should be treated as such. Patrons are not superior to workers and this concept of trashing someone who is put in a personal servitude role makes me sick. I have patronized restaurants all through the "North" and I can tell you that from my perspective they are not as great as you must think they are.

[bdc63]

Quite a love/hate relationship between locals and vacationers/snowbirds.

The locals LOVE the off seasons because there is less traffic, they can get into any restaraunt, etc. But the locals NEED the prime seasons because most of their businesses depend on visitor traffic.

It seems like a bit of a generalization to imply that all snowbirds are rude. Likewise, it would be a generalization to call locals rednecks.

Maybe a "truce" is in order?

[Rita]

Quite a love/hate relationship between locals and vacationers/snowbirds.

The locals LOVE the off seasons because there is less traffic, they can get into any restaraunt, etc. But the locals NEED the prime seasons because most of their businesses depend on visitor traffic.

It seems like a bit of a generalization to imply that all snowbirds are rude. Likewise, it's a generalization to call locals rednecks.

Maybe a "truce" is in order?

Logical people know that the restaurant "scene" described by Rapunzel happened to be "snowbirds" in this instance but is repeated throughout the country by many sorts of people, though I would hope not often. Usually it is how the situation is handled as much as anything.

I agree with the "truce" and realize that people often speak (type) in generalizations that are easy to take wrong.

.

[Smiling JOe]

After having worked in the food/bev industry for a long time, I may not be as quick to send back orders if they are slightly under or over cooked, unless I order Tuna and it is cooked beyond medium, but I am smart enough not to order Tuna at questionable places.

Food is not always prepared correctly as ordered. However, some people don't know the correct degrees of doneness on steaks. If a steak is not cooked as ordered, the customer has every right to send it back, even three times, in order to get it right, no matter how long it takes. Frankly, if I were the one who sent it back three times, I would be a little upset. As a manager of a place where the customer had legitimate complaints about the food preparation, depending on the situation, I would probably buy them a bottle of wine, round of drinks, or desserts, and maybe even give them a discount card for their next visit so that I can have a chance to make them leave happy, and spreading the good word of mouth about the attention they received at my restaurant.

I have walked out of several restaurants after sitting unacknowledged for 5 minutes. I don't care if you can't take my drink order immediately, but at least look me in the eyes and let me know that you see me and that you will get to me shortly. However, I would never make any comments like, "did you send the cook out to catch the fish?," although I hear that quite often. I want to keep my server happy so that he or she remains attentive. When you are mean to the server, forget about that server checking on your table often. There is something about sticking one's finger in a light socket that just turns them off.

There are many types of snow birds, just as there are many types of regular joes who live here year round.

Respect your servers, tip well, be patient when a restaurant is busy. If you don't have time for patience, cook your own meal at home. Remember that the server doesn't cook your food, so be kind and win them over. Your kindness to them will get you results.

[Paula]

Yup, I agree with SJ, always respect the servers (unless they are horribly rude in which case you don't have to be disrespectful, but yo also don't have to reward that behavior). I was fired as a waitress -- It really was hard work and I just couldn't figure it out.

Regarding snowbirds, I like being around "older people" and very much hope to be one some day. I also want my children to seek out and enjoy "older people" -- I wonder if it's a U.S. cultural thing to speak of older people in negative stereotypes. As someone whose parents died before they reached real old-age, I look at older people in restaurants and supermarkets and other places through special eyes (somewhat longingly) and perhaps more appreciatively, wishing I had older people sitting at my table more often. One of the things I love about SoWal is that it has all ages -- from the youngest young and I hope to the oldest old.