How to Find Your Place to Escape the Cold and Snow and Winter in Florida
Becoming a snowbird 101 FAQ
Q. What is a Florida Snowbird?
A. A snowbird is a person who lives or stays in Florida only during the winter, usually for at least a month but as long as 3-4 months.
Q. What are the most popular months for snowbirds in Florida?
A. January, February and March are the most popular months that snowbirds winter in Florida. They may live in either a home or condo they own, or in a seasonal rental.
Q. What is a Florida Seasonal Rental?
A. A seasonal rental is a fully furnished and equipped home or condo that’s primarily set up for snowbirds to rent during the winter. Many have a one month rental period minimum. Usually the only thing you need to bring is your toothbrush and bathing suit because it will have all of the conveniences of your home, including a kitchen and laundry facilities. Living in a seasonal rental can be far more enjoyable and less costly than staying in a hotel, on a monthly basis.
A Far Better Lifestyle than Living in Florida Full-time?
If you’ve read the Florida Move Guide or How to Retire Happier, you know all of the reasons why “living” in Florida during the winter is a great lifestyle, unless you’re a winter sports enthusiast.
You also know that there are ways it can be done, even if you didn’t buy a ton of Apple stock when it was cheap.
But where are the best places to stay in Florida for the warm weather when it’s cold and snowy back home?
While all of the towns on our best places to live in Florida lists would make great places to be during the winter, not all of them have a large amount of seasonal rentals available.
Since you’ll only be in Florida during the winter, you can choose a town differently than if you were buying to live in Florida full-time.
You can live right on the water if you wish because hurricanes are not a threat during the winter in Florida, for instance.
In fact, beach towns will usually have far more seasonal rentals available than nice neighborhoods elsewhere in Florida that are more suited for full-time Florida living.
Finding the Best Place for a Florida Winter Rental is Far Easier Than Choosing a Place to Permanently Relocate to.
Since you don’t have to worry about hurricanes and evacuations, even mobile homes or bringing down your RV can be a good option.
In winter, you can be less concerned about tornadoes, wildfires, bugs, alligators, snakes, etc.
So you can pretty much just focus on what you want to do while in Florida during the winter.
- Do you want to lay in the sand on the beach and let the sound of the waves melt away your stress?
- Do you want to bike, jog or take long relaxing walks under sunny blue skies daily?
- Do you want to visit as many theme parks as possible?
- Or do you just want an inexpensive place to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine instead of hiding from the bitter winter taking place back home?
Towns on all of My “Best Places to Live in Florida” Lists, Make Even the Better Places for Snowbird Rentals in the Winter!
- All of the places on our best places lists have crime rates lower than the national average for both property and violent crime.
- They have better than average school and job opportunities than most places in Florida, so crime rates are more likely to stay low in our opinion.
- Our best places have more shops, restaurants, pubs, parks and other recreation and entertainment than the average place in Florida.
So to find your best place in Florida, search our best places lists for towns that appeal most to you and then search “name of town” + “seasonal rentals” to find a place to stay in that town that will work for you.
Step by Step Instructions on How to Find and Book a Winter Rental in Florida
- Decide which specific town(s) in Florida you’d like to spend the winter in.
- Go to Google search, type in Seasonal Rentals + the name of the town, FL (example: seasonal rentals Venice FL) and hit search.
- Search each town separately, if you have more than one you’re interested in.
- Click on the results. Some sites will have pictures, descriptions, prices of available rentals.
- Call. If you find a large site with dozens or hundreds of rentals, you can save yourself time and effort by calling them and telling them what you are looking for.
Pet Friendly Florida Winter Rentals
Do you have a dog or other pet that is part of the family that you just can’t leave behind?
There are pet friendly snowbird rentals in Florida, but not nearly enough of them compared to the number of people looking to rent them.
Since supply and demand dictates prices, you will almost certainly have to pay more to find a place that allows pets and put down a larger deposit. Contacting large seasonal rental management companies in the town you are interested in renting, can save you a lot of time in locating owners that will gladly allow pet. Try to secure a place as far in advance as possible before your expected rental dates to increase your odds of finding the kind of place you desire.
Renting in Florida during the winter tips:
- It may be a hassle and take you hours to find the right place at the right price. But remember this: You may only have to do this once if you find the right place and reserve it again, for the next season, during your stay. The effort will seem like nothing when you’re enjoying some of the best weather on earth in the winter while laying on the beach soaking up the warm sun or enjoying a cool drink at a tiki bar watching the sun set over the water.
- BEFORE renting anything in Florida for a winter vacation, make sure that you read the “pros and cons of being a snowbird in Florida” article first. You don’t want end up in paying lots of money to stay in a place that you’ll end up regretting. There are places that may look like wars zones being reconstructed with excessive noise and dirt due to hurricanes and other places you can’t enjoy the beach.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy”
- Want to be certain if moving to Florida is right for you or your family? You’ll know after reading the Florida Move Guide.
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Oh but hey I’m all for keep these people outta here in the winter months traffic is a bitch cause of the snowbirds. So yeah about florida but keep em out so I can drive without the nuts from up north.
Hello Charles,
Every year more full-time Floridians complain about the increasing congestion during the winter. Over 20 million people live along Florida’s coasts and in the major cities. Another 116 million tourist visited in 2017, most during the winter. Full-time Floridians complain that they spend lots of time indoors most of the year sheltering from the heat, humidity and sun. Then when the beautiful winter weather arrives and it’s warm, sunny with little humidity the snowbirds arrive and make doing anything a hassle. Lines out the door at restaurants, traffic jams, no open parking spots, people crowded on top of each other at the beach. And golf…forget it. But the tourist and snowbirds don’t care about any of that, it doesn’t bother them. They just enjoy themselves. Something to be learned from them?
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Ron Stack
Florida & your lifestyle would not survive without the snowbirds & tourists.
1) I’m sorry, but you don’t know a thing about my lifestyle, you just assume…
2) This article was written to help snowbirds find a great place for a seasonal rental in Florida to escape cold winters elsewhere. I’m am not anti-snowbird…
3) This website provides articles to help both people moving to Florida to live full-time and also those looking for a place to stay just during the winter months.
4) 20 years ago when the number of tourist and snowbirds was lower, complaints from full-time Florida residents about the winter influx affecting their quality of life, was rare.
5) Over the last few years, the number of complaints from residents has grown tremendously, but now even snowbirds are grumbling about overcrowded beaches, stores and restaurants, roads, etc.
6) I have seen places become too overcrowded that they lost their attractiveness. How about (as a snowbird or resident) driving to the beach but not being able to find a place to park? Some days theme parks are so packed now they have to turn people away after reaching capacity. How much fun was it standing in those long lines in the park after paying a small fortune to get in… How much fun was it for those people who spent a small fortune to travel to Orlando, only to be turned away at the entrance of the theme park… And if they had kids?
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Ron Stack
Can i get a deal on this house because I am looking forward to get it by rent to own
looking for 6month rental in Bradenton fl prefer a mobile park one that accepts pets
What are some of your other picks for winter month getaways with warm weather, that is less crowded and less expensive first winter retirement
Hello Dennis,
Just a few decades ago, the average family could afford to buy a cheap 2nd home in Florida to spend the winter months. Today, almost every place in Florida gets overcrowded with snowbirds (as Floridians call them) and because of the huge demand that far outstrips supply, it’s next to impossible to find a place that’s less expensive to rent during the winter months. If I would mention a place that’s warm, affordable and not overrun with winter visitors, it would be none of those things after 1000’s of people start looking there. Trying to find a place in Florida this winter 2021-2022 will probably be the worst it’s ever been due to the shortage of homes to buy, causing even more people to consider renting. I will say that Florida isn’t the only state that offers warm winter weather, even beaches, etc, for those who want to escape the cold for a few months. There are some other countries that offer excellent snowbird options as well.
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Ron Stack “That Best Places Guy” of Zeus Press Inc