Snowbird rates

I would certainly agree with C-Bears regarding both the choice of parks and the location/proximity to the beach and local amenities. It is a great area. We, however, did not choose this area because of the extremely heavy traffic and the fact that Summerlin Rd. is your only reasonable route north, and Estero Blvd. IS your only route south -- and that one is really bumper-to-bumper in season.

Once you have spent some time here, you learn that distances are measured in time, not miles. It can take hours to go from Fort Myers Beach to Bonita Springs unless you leave early and return late. Still, it would be worth it to many.

For others, who like to explore and visit more of what SW Florida has to offer, the Estero/Bonita Springs area offers everything that can be found in Fort Myers Beach, but with better mobility and less time spent sitting in traffic.

Stay mobile and do it all. Yes, you really do get what you pay for, with a few exceptions along the way. Those exceptions are not going to be widely talked about on the internet, for fear of prices going up for the current renters.

Your past will dictate your needs, and your perception of an area. Since everyone has a different history, use their needs only as a starting point for yours. Some love to live in area's of only dust and rocks, while others love the big city pulse.

Plan on at least $35 a night and over a couple of years of traveling it will all come into balance. Once you find what works for you, then you can go after reducing the nightly cost to spend the winter. Till then it is very unwise to cut corners trying to save a buck. Spend the money upfront, so you can save money in the long run.

We tried Texas, Arizona, and Florida. We actually didn't stick with Texas and Arizona more than a short season. For us Texas just did not have the best winter weather. Arizona was okay but for some reason the DW likes water.

South of Sarasota (Florida) is where you will get the best all-around winter temperatures.

We are in the Fort Myers/Fort Myers Beach area and have been the past two years. I do a 4+ mile walk every morning that takes me though 4 RV resorts, all of which are within 2 miles of the Beach and a little over 3 miles from Sanibel Island.

Gulf Waters RV Resort: sites are all RV's, size lots are about 50'x120' surrounded by landscaping. Extended winter stays run about $1,500 a month, but that includes water/sewer, electric, internet, cable, taxes, everything. Pets welcome.

Indian Creek: sites are mixed park models and RV's, size lots vary and are small. Small roads but well maintained park. Rates are cheaper but everything is an add-on. Overall the monthly winter stay rate would probably be close to $1,100. Pets welcome.

Siesta Bay RV Resort: sites are mixed park models and RV's, size lots vary and are small. Roads are bigger than Indian Creek. Rates are about the same or maybe slightly higher than Indian Creek because everything is an add-on. I am guessing, depending on your electric use you would pay about $1,200 a month in the winter there. No pets allowed.

Palmetto Palms: Owner/Owned park with 90% park models. Some owners have vacant lots they have set up for RV's. RV size limit is about 35'. Rent charged depends on individual owner but runs somewhere $400 and $700 but you have to add electric. Sites are not that big but this is a pretty nice park.
Pets only allowed on perimeter lots.

My point here is, if you want really good temperatures and want to be within a bicycle ride of a beach, then you may consider one of these parks for a "first year experiment" of this area. We stayed at Siesta Bay last year and liked it, but then while down here we checked out Gulf Waters and made reservations here for this winter.

It's very simple. You get what you pay for and the longer you stay, the lower the daily cost will be. When we retired 10 years ago we opted for Yuma AZ because of the warmth(warmer than both Phoenix and Tucson). I picked a nicer place off the internet and 10 years later we are still here. There are many places in Yuma for less money. There are many "cheap" parks with very limited activities. You could stay in one of them and sit around all winter talking about all the money you are saving. PM me for more info on Yuma AZ.

An earlier post mentions a private rental in Titusville that starts at $1300 + electric. I wouldn't take that offer when you can stay in Imperial Bonita Estates in SW Florida for several hundred less including electric.

Florida priced us out, so we now winter in AZ. The prices vary from town to town. We are in a super nice RV park with loads of amenities 30 miles east of Yuma and the lot rent is $295/mo, to less than $140/mo on an annual lease. Go 30 miles west, into Yuma and the prices are double our prices, or more. You want to stay in Phoenix, then again, it varies, but is much higher than the Yuma area. We do the annual lease and come out ahead, plus have our lot available anytime we want.

RGV parks are from $150/month and up, as the salesmen say. There are plenty to choose from. If you are counting days over seventy degrees, then South Florida is better. We throw in the wind for free. I have stayed in both South Texas and South Florida. Half or less rent here in the RGV. You wonder why I am a Winter Texan? This is the third day in a row that they promised eighty degrees and this is the first over sixty.

Pick campground by using all the info. on their website, review the reviews, look at a overall map of the area, use this site. We picked one for wintering using this method and found ourselves driving across the causeway into town almost daily. So we drove around and picked a different park and put down deposit for the following winter. This is our 4th. year here and Very Happy!

If you want a particular spot that is your favorite one then, at least in the Arizona parks we've stayed at, you make reservations for the following year when you leave, Otherwise it depends upon how much you want a particular park as to when you get reservations. Lots of people just wing it and move as necessary.

Barb

Naio wrote:
So... how do people pick a park in an area they have never been in? Just choose based on reviews and photos, and reserve for the whole winter? Or drive down and take pot luck?

I'm most interested in the low-cost end of the spectrum, if that changes things.

The advice we received on our first trip to Texas that worked out really well: Stay in a state park in the general area you plan to spend the winter. During that time, personally visit the private parks.

Pictures don't tell the whole story and a what you like in a campsite is very individual. The only way to tell for sure is go there personally and see it "first hand."