Mikeeg
Freehold New Jersey
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Joined: 04/25/2007
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I'am thinking of packing up next fall and trying our first yr. Snow Birdng in Central Florida and would like to see what some of you have paid for your full vacation. Campground site and fuel and utility fees.including fuel down and back.Is it cost effective over condo rental unit We would due a four month stay Dec.,Jan.Feb.and Mar.Back first of April.
Also was wondering if trip home to Jersey area is two days or three in April as this passed week we stayed at Hilton Head and return trip on Sat. and Sun. was a traffic nightmare.we were in my daughters handicaped van but it was no fun normaly wife and I would Drive thru to N.J. but had to stop it was to crazy.
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cwit
Upstate New York
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Joined: 07/20/2008
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Been going down from upstate NY for 5 years. Would not want to know the cost.WE stay in rv parks for 3 months and love it.
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Doug and Cassi Glass
Clifton Forge, VA
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Joined: 02/20/2006
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We leave home in Va mid Nov and get home in mid May. At Patrick AFB now moseying home.
RV park cost averages about $500-550 a month.
Fuel cost round trip fuel about $1700.
Eating out about $500 a month.
We stay exclusively in military famcamps so our cost in Key West is about 1/4 of civilian rv parks,
We have to dry camp at Key West for several weeks at a time so gasoline for our little Honda gen set is about $200-250 just for gen + another $300 for the jeep while in KW. We bicycle a lot but use the jeep for groceries, evenings in town, etc.
Not a cheap getaway but figure I can physically and fiscally handle it about ten more years. Sure beats shoveling snow and freezing.
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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If snowbirding wasn't cost effective why would so many RVers do it? Take a look at Cross Creek in Arcadia, FL for their cost. It used to be that one would have to pay for an entire year but the cost was still less than other parks. Not sure about activities, etc.
Dick_B
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jerseyjim
New Jersey
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Joined: 09/02/2005
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My experiences with $$ snowbirding:
Military RV areas excluded....a "snowbird" resort in Florida is around 900 bucks a month. Plus electricity....only a few bucks...so don't worry about that.
A "snowbird" resort, in say, the Phoenix area of Arizona...400-500 bucks a month, also plus electricity.
However...the gas (diesel) usage difference, just might make the RV prices ...maybe evens out. Drive to Florida....2000 miles more or less, round trip. Drive to Phoenix, 5000 miles round trip, more or less.
Personally, I like Arizona better. But at 4 bucks a gallon.....who knows? Figure 5-8 grand for any 3-4 month snowbird trip. It ain't cheap...the normal bills keep coming in...
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samsphones
north carolina
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Joined: 02/08/2007
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Snowbird parks in central will run 500-600 nowhere near 900, we stay in one that is 585 plus electricity. If you want the true cost you need to deduct heating and electricity costs you have at home because they will be a lot less, also deduct your fuel cost when at home. The food cost should even out as you have to eat anyway.
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Lar's
Traverse City, MI
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Joined: 10/19/2003
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I guess location can account for the cost of the park, further from the coast, cheaper, but you shouldn't discount the electric cost. Somehow my rig seems to use a lot, even when we conserve dramatically by using resort showers etc.. Electric can run from .15 to .17 cents per Kwh .. so figure that as another expense.
Oh, all worth it btw. Last winter was our first away, and it looks like we'll keep this going as long as possible.
Lar
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BASSMAN50
INDIANA
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Joined: 01/17/2008
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If you get anywhere close to the gulf you will pay $900.00 plus. Some of the parks offer Dec or April at a discounted rate. The park we stayed in was $2,900.00 for Jan, Feb, Mar..... April or December was $199.00 So for 4 months it an average of $775.00 a month. Elec was included.
If you go to the center part of the state it's a lot cheaper for camping....
Fuel cost....Your distance to and from Fl. divided by MPG X cost of fuel.
Food...you have to eat no matter where you are. However going out to eat in Florida is a hobby for some :-)))
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past-MIdirector
Michigan
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Joined: 03/03/2007
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We fornd a nice no thrills park in Stuart, FL with full hook ups includes cable TV for $495 a month. Your fuel is going to be your biggest expensive and will vary depending on price. Cheapest was in the 80's from Hometead, FL to MI was under $75 in gas and this years at $701. That was one way!!
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charles
Ohio
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Joined: 08/11/2002
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There is Sundance Lakes Resort located at Port Ritchey, Florida, a little north of Tarpon Springs on the west coast, monthly fees are around $600.00 plus electric and cable. They have a lot of activities and meals, large clubhouse, pool, friendly people, most spend the winter there, etc. If you want nearer to the coast it's an older facility but priced right. Also very near to just about any restaurant or retail outlet you can think of.
Nick
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