Many Canadian snowbirds are still rethinking their usual U.S. travel plans this year, but some are still booking long-term Florida stays, even at a premium.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
Good morning. I know no one wants to think about summer ending, but today we’re discussing where Canadian snowbirds plan to spend the winter. Let’s get into it.
Flying south
Many Canadian snowbirds appeared to be rethinking their U.S. travel plans earlier this year, but the latest numbers suggest that fire may be dying down.
Canadians are now booking long-term Florida stays nearly a month earlier than in 2024 – and paying a 70-per-cent premium to do so, according to a report by the Logic citing information from Key Data, which tracks reservations on Airbnb, Vrbo and dozens of other property management platforms.
While snowbirds are gearing up to jump back in the Florida saddle, they may be the outliers. The rest of cross-border travel hasn’t bounced back, with car trips to the U.S. from Canada down 37 per cent in July compared with last year; air travel dropped 26 per cent.
When I spoke with snowbirds earlier in the year about staying home this winter season, many of them said the main reason was a weak Canadian dollar. Since then, the loonie has strengthened, but tensions between Canada and the U.S. may still be nudging some travellers to stay put.
I’m curious to see where people are actually heading this year. Are you flying south to Florida, Arizona or elsewhere in the U.S.? Or will you venture to somewhere else in the world, or stay in Canada and make the most of a “staycation” winter? Fill out this quick survey and let me know.
The Calculator
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Yes, but: Even as sales recover, challenges remain. Federal and provincial rebates are gone, charging infrastructure is limited and used EV prices continue to decline. Experts say Tesla may have found a “new equilibrium” rather than a full recovery, highlighting broader struggles in the EV market.
The Retirement Receipt
This 73-year-old turned late retirement into creative pursuits, investing and lifelong learning
The situation: Stephen Gauer retired at 71 after a career in writing, teaching and consulting. “I enjoyed my work. There was a lot of variety, but I found it less enjoyable once I hit my 70s,” he said, adding that he was less interested in keeping up with new technologies. His wife retired in 2003, and there was no pressure for him to stop at the same time.
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