Potential Snowbirds - LOTS of questions!

[KrowNB]

Hi. We're Canadians who have never been to Florida but are seriously contemplating spending next winter down there - Dec to Mar. We spent 2 months travelling in a Class B in 2015 but now have a TT - Hideout 25RKS. I think we could do the 4 months in it as far as size goes, although through the winter we'll be mostly stationary while in the Class B we were travelling and changing locations almost daily.

Our TT has a "Cold Weather Package". I'm not sure what that entails. I know it has ducting to take heat from the furnace to keep the tanks from freezing, at least in moderate cold. I don't know if it has extra insulation. I do know the windows are single pane. So I suspect while travelling down in Dec we'll have to leave the plumbing winterized till we get far enough south. I know at times they get cold snaps in FLorida. I assume there are many that have similarly-weather-capable rigs as ours that survive them???

We know people that head south in the winter but they all either own/rent trailers in mobile home parks or stay in other rental accommodation. Most people from this area head to the Tampa/Zephyrhills area. So we're aiming at that area as well.

We have been Googling campgrounds in that general area and are really blinded from seeing the forest for the trees. A lot of "campgrounds" seem to be more full-time units with row upon row of permanent setups. Others seem to cater to 1/2Mil$ rigs. We'd like to find somewhere where we wouldn't feel out-of-place with our unit - with other TT or 5W similar to ours. We don't need luxury - ie we don't need a golf course but would like a pool and the ability to keep active outside. We want to feel secure. Costs seem to range from $300-$1500US/Mo for a pad to put our trailer on. There must be BIG differences in what you get for your money.

So we're looking to you experts for advice:

1) Do many others with TT head south or are rigs our size a rarety? Are there considerations we may not have contemplated in staying months in a home this size? Are we nuts?

2) How do we find a campground that meets our needs? Find one that caters to setups like ours? What price range per month should we expect? Some have electricity included in the rate; others have added costs for stays longer than a month. How much would monthly electricity cost be on average?

3) Should we book one place for 4 months and take day trips from there or should we move around - a month at a time in different locations? If the latter, would we have trouble if we book the first month from here and then wait until we're down there to decide where we want to go next? Would we have problems finding a place to stay on short notice like that?

4) Are there any specific campgrounds you could recommend, considering the above info?

5) Is it necessary to book in advance or are there always sites available? If we have to book in advance, how far ahead should we do it?

6) When travelling down and back, do you recommend booking camgrounds along the route or would there be little trouble finding some with available sites?

7) Finally, for Canadians, what is the best option to obtain cell and Internet service? Purchase a disposable pay-as-you-go phone at Walmart?

Sorry for the long post. As you can see, we need LOTS of advice.

Keith & Linda

[Yeti_plus]

For cell and wireless internet, we use AT&T go phone. Before we left for Alaska last year I got an unlocked cell phone from Costco but it was only unlocked for Canadian carriers. I made some phone calls to Samsung and got the international unlock code.
When we got to Alaska I went into the AT&T store and bought a sim card and a plan. It is pay as you go so it was on in Alaska, off in Canada and then refilled it in Washington state for the trip back to Ontario across the US.
This winter I refilled it for the month we were in Florida, and will refill next time we travel south of the border.
Only a select few have my US number and the Alaska area code keeps them from calling unless it is important!!!( added unplanned benefit :))
Recently there have been several cell phone post on here that have all the providers fighting for business, so it could be a matter of having an unlocked phone andgetting a sim from whichever provider you choose.
Or as you said in your original post, pick up a phone and plan from Walmart.

[KrowNB]

Thanks everyone for your advice. We've done a LOT of surfing this past week and finally settled on a CG in Zephyrhills. Reservations made! Still wondering about what the best option cell service is for Canadians on an extended stay below the border.

I've also asked the moderator to move this thread to the Snowbirds forum.

Keith

[GoPackGo]

Get your reservation in Florida NOW for next winter.

'Winter' is much milder below I-4. I stay down near Port Charlotte and 'winter' showed up for a few hours before dawn about 5-6 days during January/February. I think we may have touched 40 degrees on those nights. Brutal. I say this because Florida gets more expensive the further south you go.

I stayed for a winter in Williston Crossings RV Park in Williston. Really a nice place and I recommend them. About 15-20 miles SW of Gainesville and 45-50 miles from Cedar Key.

I use Rvparkreviews.com when traveling. Just pick a city and state and a list will populate with places to stay. I use it all the time.

[2oldman]

KrowNB wrote:
Do I have to send a request to have it moved or will they do it automatically?

you can try the 'Notify Moderator' link above

[Jayco-noslide]

We head to Fl,Al,and Ms. in mid Jan. from Illinois in a 30 ft. Class C. until late Mar. We stay in maybe 10 different location any where from 2 nights to 4 weeks. We use almost exclusively state parks or national parks/forests campgrounds. We like nature not manicured private campgrounds. Nearly all have elec. and water usually not sewer. Many limit to 14 days but not all. There are many great campgrounds throughout Fl. and along the northern Gulf Coast. But for southern and coastal Fl. you need reservations immediately. Don't know a thing about the private ones.

[KrowNB]

jplante4 wrote:
Don't double post. One of the mods will move it. Plus, you'll get completely different answers in the Snowbirds forum 🙂

Do I have to send a request to have it moved or will they do it automatically?

[KrowNB]

Thank you, djgarcia. Very helpful info.

[MarkTwain]

KrowNB wrote:
Hi. We're Canadians who have never been to Florida but are seriously contemplating spending next winter down there - Dec to Mar.




We have been Googling campgrounds in that general area and are really blinded from seeing the forest for the trees.
1. Go to Good Sam RV Parks app. Pick the city or location you are interested in staying at. Then start screening specific RV parks that have all the amenties you want or need. This app will give you all the specific information about each individual RV park. The more amenities the higher the price.

We don't need luxury - ie we don't need a golf course but would like a pool and the ability to keep active outside. We want to feel secure. Costs seem to range from $300-$1500US/Mo for a pad to put our trailer on. There must be BIG differences in what you get for your money.

2. The longer period that your reservations include the lower the rate. Making reservations 6 or more months ahead will give you a greater chance of getting reservations

So we're looking to you experts for advice:

1) Do many others with TT head south or are rigs our size a rarety? Are there considerations we may not have contemplated in staying months in a home this size? Are we nuts?

3. You are not nuts! Check with the Rv park as to the min. length of trailer they allow and how old can the trailer be. Many have a 10 yr. rule.

2) How do we find a campground that meets our needs? Find one that caters to setups like ours? What price range per month should we expect? Some have electricity included in the rate; others have added costs for stays longer than a month. How much would monthly electricity cost be on average?
4.Electricity is generally not included. The average cost varies on your usuage but $80 per month is a safe number.

3) Should we book one place for 4 months and take day trips from there or should we move around - a month at a time in different locations? If the latter, would we have trouble if we book the first month from here and then wait until we're down there to decide where we want to go next? Would we have problems finding a place to stay on short notice like that?

5. Snow Birders generally stay an average of 4 to 6 months. Going there without prior reservations could create difficulties for yourself in getting a spot. Depending on which RV park you choose, I would suggest a min. of 2 months and hope that other parks are not full during the winter months.

4) Are there any specific campgrounds you could recommend, considering the above info?

6. Take your time looking at the Good Sam RV parks application to help you narrow down and select the park that meets your wishes and needs.

5) Is it necessary to book in advance or are there always sites available? If we have to book in advance, how far ahead should we do it?

7. Snow birders generally book 6 months to a year in advance if you want to assure yourself of a reservation. Down load a site map of each park so you can select a site or area you would like. Generally I stay away from sites that are right next to busy streets or corner lots.

6) When travelling down and back, do you recommend booking camgrounds along the route or would there be little trouble finding some with available sites?

IMHO, always make reservations, you can always cancel or change reservations. Better to be safe than sorry.

7) Finally, for Canadians, what is the best option to obtain cell and Internet service? Purchase a disposable pay-as-you-go phone at Walmart?

Sorry for the long post. As you can see, we need LOTS of advice.

Keith & Linda

[jplante4]

Don't double post. One of the mods will move it. Plus, you'll get completely different answers in the Snowbirds forum 🙂

[KrowNB]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'll look at the north- and south-west. Still looking for as much advice as possible. I guess I should have posted in the snowbords forum. I didn't see it there. I assume it's against rules to double post.

[lbrjet]

I wouldn't worry about the size of your rig. You won't seem out of place anywhere you go. Make reservations for Florida now. I'm sure many parks are already full. I would plan a couple of hotels until you get out of freezing temps.

[Lwiddis]

Consider the Southwest.

[2oldman]

Posting in the Snowbirds forum might be a better choice than here.

KrowNB wrote:
Our TT has a "Cold Weather Package"... I do know the windows are single pane.

6) When travelling down and back, do you recommend booking camgrounds along the route or would there be little trouble finding some with available sites?

Single panes aren't too good in cold weather.. or hot. You should have no trouble finding parks sans reservations, as long as it's not on a Friday in a popular area.

[VoodooMedicineM]

Ellenton Gardens has what your looking for. Stayed there twice in the last 3 years.

[jplante4]

We did our first winter on the road last winter (2015-2016) in a motor home. We had a lot of the same questions and we had no idea where we would go. We had a couple of places we wanted to be (Thanksgiving in W. Palm area with relatives, Christmas in Sarasota with friends), but other than those 2 we were open. Here are my observations.

* People from the same areas in the north tend to go to the same areas. The county park we were in in Lake Worth - John Prince Park- was 75 percent K-beckers. We went to a campground north of Tampa (Rock Crusher Canyon) that was 75 percent Michiganders.

* The further south you go, the further in advance you need to make reservations, to the point where if you didn't make reservations when you left last year, you probably won't get in this year. This mostly applies to places you'd stay for the entire winter season. You can find last minute places due to cancellations, but it's hit and miss. If you're the kind of people who like to know where you'll be 3 weeks from now, stay north of I-4. However, if you want to spend $100+ a night, you can find a site anywhere south of I-4.

* Do not disregard the "forgotten coast" - the Gulf coast north and west of, say, Homosassa and out to and including the Destin area.

* First time I would not book the same place for 4 months, but rather travel around the different areas and see what you like. We did a max of 2 weeks in one place. Most places we stayed a week. Move on Wednesday.

* On the way to Fla and back, you'll need to research campgrounds that are open year round for an overnight stop. The further north you go, the fewer are open. Walmart, Cracker Barrel and Cabelas usually allow overnight stops.