Tips for first time extended trip

[Music Lover]

For the first time in decades I'm taking a trip longer than a week or so and am looking for some tips from those who travel for longer periods of time. My girlfriend and I are driving from Canada to Florida next week. We're staying in a furnished condo for all of February and with a few stops on the way down and back we'll be gone close to 6 weeks. We're basically short term snow birding.

- I have a very reliable relative house sitting so I'm not worried about my house.
- Health insurance has been taken care of.
- I'll be putting the all-season tires back on my car so I'm not driving on winter tires in warm weather.
- We are bringing 2 different credit cards each.

Questions:
- We're taking our laptops and cell phones but up here the phone plans suck so we're looking for a temporary plan that will allow some international calls and international texting (only to Canada) at a reasonable price. The condo and hotels on the way there and back all have internet so that's covered.
- Is there anything that we're overlooking?

 

[Jerry1]

I don't have an answer to your post, but I'm jealous. I want to do the one month snowbird thing. I can't really justify/afford longer. I have a question for you? How did you find a place that would rent only the one month of February? I thought that was next to impossible? Where are you heading in Florida?

Let us (me ) know how it goes!

 

[Nick12]

For the first time in decades I'm taking a trip longer than a week or so and am looking for some tips from those who travel for longer periods of time. My girlfriend and I are driving from Canada to Florida next week. We're staying in a furnished condo for all of February and with a few stops on the way down and back we'll be gone close to 6 weeks. We're basically short term snow birding.

- I have a very reliable relative house sitting so I'm not worried about my house.
- Health insurance has been taken care of.
- I'll be putting the all-season tires back on my car so I'm not driving on winter tires in warm weather.
- We are bringing 2 different credit cards each.

Questions:
- We're taking our laptops and cell phones but up here the phone plans suck so we're looking for a temporary plan that will allow some international calls and international texting (only to Canada) at a reasonable price. The condo and hotels on the way there and back all have internet so that's covered.
- Is there anything that we're overlooking?

Have a safe trip and enjoy Florida. I have been living in Central Florida since 1993 and recently early retired late last year. There are many snowbirds here during the winter months enjoying the beautiful weather.

 

[CardsFan]

I don't have an answer to your post, but I'm jealous. I want to do the one month snowbird thing. I can't really justify/afford longer. I have a question for you? How did you find a place that would rent only the one month of February? I thought that was next to impossible? Where are you heading in Florida?

Let us (me ) know how it goes!

+1.
Coincidentally I just spent an hour looking for places for next year in February. So any insight as to how you searched would be helpful.

 

[Music Lover]

How did you find a place that would rent only the one month of February? I thought that was next to impossible? Where are you heading in Florida?

Ocean front in Panama City Beach. We found it on homeaway.com

 

[Al in Ohio]

I need to follow this thread as I have same question doing the same thing. I an staying the entire Month of Feb and to March 3rd (30 days) in Destin on the panhandle. I could do a 30, 60 , or 90 day condo rental. On the beach with pool deck etc.

 

[Nick12]

Ocean front in Panama City Beach. We found it on homeaway.com

You may experience the drunken college kids enjoying the Spring Break capital of the world Panama City Beach FL in late Feb. Thge kids take over the town for several weeks. Other than that it's a sleepy FL town with a lot of rednecks.

 

[marko]

I have a question for you? How did you find a place that would rent only the one month of February? I thought that was next to impossible?

If not impossible, it's pretty hard to do the further south you go.

We're in Fort Lauderdale and most condos require a 3 month minimum rental and usually only one rental per year; houses are a bit more flexible. Most folks renew for the next year upon their leave in April.

From what I can see, most new January renters start their search in May/June and hope for the best.

The value of the Canadian dollar vs USD seems to have opened up some opportunities though as some of our regular Canadians seem to be staying shorter periods or not coming at all.

 

[Music Lover]

You may experience the drunken college kids enjoying the Spring Break capital of the world Panama City Beach FL in late Feb. Thge kids take over the town for several weeks. Other than that it's a sleepy FL town with a lot of rednecks.

We're about 10 miles outside of the town so we'll probably be far enough away for most of that.

 

[Ronstar]

Bring your passports. Forward your mail? If you bring your checkbook, make sure that you have more than 1 check in it (speaking from experience)

Can’t help you on the cell/ internet plans.

 

[Nick12]

We're about 10 miles outside of the town so we'll probably be far enough away for most of that.

No guarantees you will escape the madness but just giving you a friendly warning. Enjoy.

 

[Scrapr]

The only thing I can think of is to notify your CC companies that you will be out of the country. Just so they don't shut off the cards after you have a celebration dinner at the most exclusive joint in town

 

[Music Lover]

Bring your passports. Forward your mail? If you bring your checkbook, make sure that you have more than 1 check in it (speaking from experience)

Can’t help you on the cell/ internet plans.

Well, we won't get across the border without passports. Not going to forward mail as we're only gone for 6 weeks...most of it is electronic anyway and the utilities are on auto-pay. Neither one of us uses cheques except when there's no other choice. We're bringing 2 credit cards each, plus my GF has a US bank account.

 

[OldShooter]

As you start packing, you will find all kinds of things that you "might need." If you pack all of those you will probably have to buy an additional suitcase. Here is the cure:

As you consider each item and the low probability that it might be needed, say to yourself: "They have stores there." and put the item back where it came from.

When we road travel we put a small cooler in the back seat for breakfast OJ, croissants, etc. plus soft drinks and snacks for on the road, beer and snacks for in the hotel room. Most hotels these days have small fridges and coffeemaking setups, which for us eliminates the hassle of restaurant breakfasts or those horrible "free breakfasts" in the budget hotels.

Telephone -- maybe Google Project Fi since you will have a US address? Nexus 5X phones are pretty cheap on CraigsList.

 

[susswein]

Bring half as many clothes and twice as much money as you think you'll need.

 

[Lewis Clark]

How will you pay your normal bills as they come due while you are away? One possibility is to pay them online. Another possibility is to pay them in advance.

What will happen to your mail? Will the post office hold it? Do you have a friend or neighbor who will take it in and hold it for you? You don't want it collecting in your mailbox at your home.

 

[Music Lover]

As you start packing, you will find all kinds of things that you "might need." If you pack all of those you will probably have to buy an additional suitcase.

We're both light travelers. Other than clothes and toiletries, the only extra things I'm taking are my laptop, acoustic guitar, and a Bluetooth speaker. The laptop and speaker will fit in my suitcase, so I'm taking 1 suitcase and 1 guitar case.

When we road travel we put a small cooler in the back seat for breakfast OJ, croissants, etc. plus soft drinks and snacks for on the road, beer and snacks for in the hotel room. Most hotels these days have small fridges and coffeemaking setups, which for us eliminates the hassle of restaurant breakfasts or those horrible "free breakfasts" in the budget hotels.

That's our plan. We've taken a few day trips and always pack lunch and drinks. The hotels we booked on the way down all have coffee makers and fridges as well.

 

[Music Lover]

How will you pay your normal bills as they come due while you are away? One possibility is to pay them online. Another possibility is to pay them in advance.

All the utilities are on auto-pay and the things not on auto-pay (like credit cards) I can pay electronically with my laptop.

What will happen to your mail? Will the post office hold it? Do you have a friend or neighbor who will take it in and hold it for you? You don't want it collecting in your mailbox at your home.

A trusted relative is house sitting...he'll take in the mail, shovel, etc.

 

[omni550]

Panhandle weather in Feb can be quite a bit cooler and more windy than South Florida..bring a light jacket, long pants, shoes, just in case.

omni

 

[Jerry1]

Panhandle weather in Feb can be quite a bit cooler and more windy than South Florida..bring a light jacket, long pants, shoes, just in case.

omni

They’re from Winnipeg. They’ll be out in their shorts even if it is only 50 degrees. . Okay, maybe not 50, but I remember going to Arizona and being the only one wearing shorts, most had a coat on, when it was high 60’s. It truly is all relative, but yes, if you want to see some high 70’s or more, you pretty much need to get south of Orlando.

 

[braumeister]

Spring Break capital of the world Panama City Beach FL in late Feb. Thge kids take over the town for several weeks. Other than that it's a sleepy FL town with a lot of rednecks.

But IMHO some of the best beaches in the country.

 

[Janet H]

For the first time in decades I'm taking a trip longer than a week or so and am looking for some tips from those who travel for longer periods of time. My girlfriend and I are driving from Canada to Florida next week. We're staying in a furnished condo for all of February and with a few stops on the way down and back we'll be gone close to 6 weeks. We're basically short term snow birding.

- I have a very reliable relative house sitting so I'm not worried about my house.
- Health insurance has been taken care of.
- I'll be putting the all-season tires back on my car so I'm not driving on winter tires in warm weather.
- We are bringing 2 different credit cards each.

Questions:
- We're taking our laptops and cell phones but up here the phone plans suck so we're looking for a temporary plan that will allow some international calls and international texting (only to Canada) at a reasonable price. The condo and hotels on the way there and back all have internet so that's covered.
- Is there anything that we're overlooking?

Guitar: If you have a nice guitar made in either Canada or the USA bring purchase proof along with you or declare it upon exit/entrance. This is a tax issue as there is some substantial import/export biz in nice instruments that goes untaxed. Border authorities are aware of this and are often interested.

Calling: Set up a google voice number (they are free) use it to make calls either by cell or your laptop. International = no charge (like skype).

Credit Cards - Check on International charge fees on your credit cards - some have none and reasonable exchange rates - others not so much. Find out what networks are available to you for atm withdrawals should you need cash.

Looking cool - if you are going to be in FL consider wearing sunscreen - even in winter.... You are a lot farther south than usual. Avoid wearing socks with sandals

 

[Luck_Club]

Set up a weekly reminder to make sure your bills are paid on time.
+1 on check books
+1 on 1/2 the clothes
+1 on passport
Plan 1 day trip per week before leaving. It is easy to get into a routine even when only 6 weeks.
Make several preaddressed envelopes, for any emergencies, and leave for house sitter.

 

[Music Lover]

Janet…that's one of the first things I thought of. I have a nice guitar and will be bringing proof of purchase and declaring it at the point of entry.

My credit card has no extra charges for US purchases and the exchange rate is fair.

We're aware of the general climate of where we are staying so will have suitable clothing. We're also bringing minimal clothes as the condo has a washer and dryer.

Luck club...I'm not sure what you mean by one day trip per week?

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

Questions:
- We're taking our laptops and cell phones but up here the phone plans suck so we're looking for a temporary plan that will allow some international calls and international texting (only to Canada) at a reasonable price. The condo and hotels on the way there and back all have internet so that's covered.

If you use Rogers or Telus, I don't think the max US roaming charges per billing cycle on their Roam Like Home and Easy Roam programs are too bad. They are about $105 and $100 respectively I think. Bell's Roam Better, I think is a maximum of $160 per billing cycle though. Otherwise, they're all like $7-$8 per day.
However, if your phone is unlocked, a pay as you go plan from a US carrier would likely be about half the price.