Hi all
We purchased a 2004 Coachman Sportscheck Elite 40' motorhome in May of this year. We are retiring in the fall of 2009 and are selling our home and becoming full time rvers. We are planning on spending the summers in Ontario with our son and grandkids and spending our winters in the southern US.
I have been doing some research on some rv parks/resorts in the southern US as we are hoping to book one for October/November 2008 to March/April 2009. There are so many resorts/rates its hard to pick one. We need your help in deciding which ones to check out.
This is gonna be all new to us and we are full of question and seeking any info any of you experienced snowbirds can offer us.
What would be the best state/area to stay in for the winter?
Can you recommend any parks/resorts with a reasonable rate?
What about mail, etc?
Do we need any special permits/visa etc to stay in the US for a 6 month period?
What about health insurance?
There are plenty of other questions/doubts going through our minds as this is a big step for us to take.
Any advice/info etc that you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
You need to define your definition of "the southern US." Do you want cheap? Do you want warm weather 24/7?
Here are a few campgrounds that you may want to investigate:
Fort Myers Area Campgrounds
American Outdoors 16900 Tamiami Trl 941-267-3030
Cypress Woods RV Resort 5551 Luckett Rd 941-694-2191
Ebb Tide Travel Park 1725 Main St 941-463-5444
Fort Myers Beach RV Resort 16299 San Carlos Blvd 941-466-7171
Fort Myers RV Resort 16800 S Tamiami Trl 941-267-2141
Fox Trailer Park 2020 Queen St 941-995-4695
Garden RV Park 2830 Garden St 941-995-7417
Gulf Air Travel Park 17279 San Carlos Blvd 941-466-8100
Hidden Cove Trailer Park 2961 Frierson St 941-334-1820
Indian Creek Park 17340 San Carlos Blvd 941-466-6060
Iona Ranch 16295 Davis Rd 941-466-0440
Lazy J Adventurers 1263 Golden Lake Rd 941-694-5038
Oyster Bay Parks 1711 Main St 941-463-2171
Pioneer Village MH & RV Resort 17200 Pioneer St 941-543-3303
Raintree RV Resort 19250 N Tamiami Trl 941-731-1441
Red Coconut RV Resort 3001 Estero Blvd 941-463-7200
San Carlos RV Park & Island Resort 18701 San Carlos Blvd 941-466-3133
Seminole Campground 8991 Triplett Rd 941-543-2919
Shady Acres Travel Park 19370 S Tamiami Trl 941-267-8448
Siesta Bay RV Resort 19333 Summerlin Rd 941-466-8988
Sun community 19333 Summerlin Rd # 575 941-466-4900
Sunseekers RV Park 19701 N Tamiami Trl 941-731-1303
Swan Lake Village MH & RV Resort 2400 N Tamiami Trl # 207 941-995-3397
Tamiami RV Park 16549 N Cleveland Ave 941-995-7747
The Groves Campground 16175 John Morris Rd 941-466-5909
Tropical Trailer Park 1825 Linhart Ave 941-332-0019
Upriver Campground & RV Park 17021 Upriver Dr 941-543-3330
Woodsmoke Camping Resort 19554 US Hwy 41 941-267-3456
beerman5050 wrote: What would be the best state/area to stay in for the winter?
There really is no "best." Everyone has their favorites...we like Arizona, but others like Texas or Florida.
Quote: Can you recommend any parks/resorts with a reasonable rate?
It'd be much easier to do so if you narrow down exactly which state you're interested in and the area within the state. Also, what do YOU consider a "reasonable rate?"
Quote: What about mail, etc?
Most fulltimers here in the U.S. use a mail forwarding service to handle their mail. I don't know if that's an option for you, as a Canadian. Perhaps your son would be willing to receive your mail and forward it on to you from time to time?
Quote: Do we need any special permits/visa etc to stay in the US for a 6 month period?
I don't think so, but your fellow Canadians who have experience spending the winter in the U.S., will be better prepared to answer that question.
Quote: What about health insurance?
I'm not sure exactly what information you're looking for here, but, again, any information about Canadian health insurance would be best answered by your fellow Canadians.
As an American who has been to the Rock let me try and help by giving you some general information. The popular places are deep south Texas, central and south Florida and southwest Arizona. All will keep you much warmer than a gallon of Screetch consumed in your local Corner Brook Pub.
You mentioned price so I will give you my opinion that Texas RV parks are the least costly based on comparable amenities, however, Florida is closer for you.
The State of Florida has about 800 RV Parks. Deep South Texas (primarily the Rio Grande Valley) has about 500 RV Parks. You may want to save Arizona for a time when fuel is less costly. Even if you don't consider Arizona, this means lots of choices. A top flight Florida RV park will be well over $1000 a month. An equivalent RV park in Texas will run around $650.
So.......... how much do you want to spend and what type of park interests you the most?
I have been to all the places mentioned and more. For me..... my choice is Texas and I have met a number of Newfies at my RV Park. One of them even purchased a permanent winter home and keeps his Mustang convertible and Harley permanently moored in south Texas.
Alfred May
2005 Excursion V10 4.30 4x4
2002 Cedar Creek 30RBS TT by Forest River
Reese Dual Cam
Tekonsha Prodigy
You can go to www.weather.com and type in any city in the U.S. to get the averages for any month. This will allow you to compare the snowbird locations.
We have camping friends that stay at Cross Creek Country Club and RV Resort, Arcadia, FL and they paid $750 per month. Trailer Life rating is 9.5/9*/9.0 which is very high.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
We want warm weather and by reasonable rate I mean something in the middle range, not to cheap as to have no ammenities, but not top of the line either.
Great list of parks there fchammer1. Will start checking them out.
Would be most interested in Florida and Texas (warm winter parts).
Hey pawatt can you give me some names of parks in the Rio Grande Valley that you would recommend so I can check them out online. Also, what are the Canadian owned parks?
The problem is that just checking the parks online does not mean that the park will be suitable when we get there as we all know how advertizing works. I would like to hear from some rvers who have stayed in some of the parks as they would be able to rate the parks and recommend or let me know of any problems (noise, atmosphere, cleaniness, amenities, etc).
And alfredmay nothing warms you like a gallon of screech lol
Since this will be your first winter, I don't know if I would commit to one place for the entire stay. Unfortunately with fuel being what it is it's not as thrifty going from place to place and seeing just where your comfort level is, but it is a good idea.
Parks speak to each of us differently. We have always been happy in Florida, but Florida is a lot closer for us than Texas. We never had an urge to switch.
Others love Texas - again we are all different.
You could see some of both states in one winter if you're prepared to pay for a lot of fuel.
Maybe you could pick an area in Florida - central for example - and take your toad around to a variety of parks and spend a couple of hours in each one? Amenities are different, people are different, the atmosphere is different. You can tell.
Good luck in any event. I'm sure you will love it.
Pat
May the road rise with you, the wind be always at your back.
Go to Daytona rv park campground in Daytona Beach, get your skin tight bathing suits, beach chairs and towels. Go in October, Nov, Dec, Leave around Jan 15, (in other words, get out of town before race week and bike week) . Go to the RGV , and Ron and Shirley give great advice on their present home park. Spend the rest of Jan, Feb Mar and half of Apr there. Hit the beaches, again with your skin tight bathing suits etc.
I can assure you , you will be at home , amoung Canadians, welcome at both areas of the U.S. and you will then get a chance to make a decision for the next year.
While at both these parks, visit the immediate area parks, tasting their amenties, actions, reactions etc.
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