Question Empty Campgrounds?

[fishslayer]

SLow season...Best time to go..

 

[DennisT]

Wow! Barely opened FB this morning. It looks like Florida bookings must be down considerably. I just took a screen shot of the first three.

Yeah, where our annual site is in Florida, as we heard it, they are only full either January or February - rest of the “season” they have open sites.

 

[Holdmybeer]

Snowbirds ordinarily began arriving in Oct.-Nov. and departing in Mar. or so. As I recall, some years back Canada began requiring they must physically reside in country a certain number of months per year to keep their healthcare, not quite up on that however.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Snowbirds ordinarily began arriving in Oct.-Nov. and departing in Mar. or so. As I recall, some years back Canada began requiring they must physically reside in country a certain number of months per year to keep their healthcare, not quite up on that however.

October 15th is usually when the first flood crosses towards the warm. This gives us until April 15th ish before we have to return. Often, this keeps us out of the snow. Most provinces will allow residents to be out of country for 6 months. There are a few (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan for sure. There may be others.) that allow 7 months. Being in the US longer than 6 months requires paper work to be filled for both countries (tax issues) I believe. The next rush heads south shortly after Christmas.

By now, any one heading to popular locations would have made their reservations. We have been trying to get a short term spot in the Keys for a number of years. This year we have had no problems and numerous locations were available.

 

[Holdmybeer]

October 15th is usually when the first flood crosses towards the warm. This gives us until April 15th ish before we have to return. Often, this keeps us out of the snow. Most provinces will allow residents to be out of country for 6 months. There are a few (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan for sure. There may be others.) that allow 7 months. Being in the US longer than 6 months requires paper work to be filled for both countries (tax issues) I believe. The next rush heads south shortly after Christmas.

By now, any one heading to popular locations would have made their reservations. We have been trying to get a short term spot in the Keys for a number of years. This year we have had no problems and numerous locations were available.

Growing up in N. Florida, from Spring Break to Labor Day was huge and then we boarded up for the winter. Then in the 60's the Snowbirds started coming and proved a boon to the local economy. Hard to imagine the impact of all this. And how 'bout them Bluejays, Vladi's dad played for the Ranger's here so we're partial to Jr.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Something tells me the Canadian diaspora won't be the same this coming season.

We saw our first Canadian License plate today. We were heading south on I 75 just north of Gainsville. They were in a Discovery towing a Dodge PU with Manitoba License.

We are in Ocala for the night. Only one overnighter in here with us (the rest of the park are long terms). They are from Virginia.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Arrived in the Keys today. We are at Jolly Roger's RV Resort about twenty miles south of Key largo. The park is maybe one third occupied. Speaking to a fellow RVer from Virginia. He tells me that, years previous to this, the park has been packed full. Nice enough place. We are looking forward to exploring the Keys. Robbies for the Fish and Chips (plus feeding the Tarpon), looking for the best Key Lime Pie. Testing the Rum Punch. BBQ in the keys. I can feel twenty pounds heavier Already!

 

[Holdmybeer]

Arrived in the Keys today. We are at Jolly Roger's RV Resort about twenty miles south of Key largo. The park is maybe one third occupied. Speaking to a fellow RVer from Virginia. He tells me that, years previous to this, the park has been packed full. Nice enough place. We are looking forward to exploring the Keys. Robbies for the Fish and Chips (plus feeding the Tarpon), looking for the best Key Lime Pie. Testing the Rum Punch. BBQ in the keys. I can feel twenty pounds heavier Already!

That must be having a negative effect on the overall economy down there.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

That must be having a negative effect on the overall economy down there.

I spoke with a lady that, in the past, had a fairly good business as a Hair Dresser in Campgrounds they stayed in. She said her business is down 75%. I have not dared asking park owners about their sales. Prices to park are still pretty high here. We are paying $136.00 per night here. This park is no where near as nice as the one we stayed at in Fort Pierce but, as the old saying goes, Location. Location, Location. Here's hoping the price goes down. On the plus side, no reservations are needed much anymore. We booked this place last August. So far, in this season's travels, we have not seen a full park yet.

 

[Neemer]

I think it’s too early to see full parks on the regular. Us yanks tend to head south between Xmas and new years.

 

[fishslayer]

Very nice

 

[Holdmybeer]

I think it’s too early to see full parks on the regular. Us yanks tend to head south between Xmas and new years.

I think the regular visitor pretty clearly inferred this time of year the park is ordinarily full. I grew up in Florida, the snowbirds begin arriving late Oct. early Nov. and begin leaving just before spring break. Canadian tourism in Florida, attributable to various factors, ie., the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate, rising cost of living and political headwinds, has experienced a ~25% decline and a ~15% decline in tourism related spending in the Miami-Dade metro. 15% may not sound like lot, but for many businesses it's catastrophic.