Florida versus Hawaii versus Mexico versus South West USA for winter

[alwysonvac]

I live on the east coast as well. Bought timeshare in Maui to winter there. But went in Oct and the ocean was too cold. So have not even tried January or February. May winter in Thailand instead for warm ocean.

Weatherspark also has water temperature comparisons.

Compare the Climate and Weather Between Two+ Cities Worldwide - Weather Spark

weatherspark.com

 

[Glynda]

South Carolina or Georgia.

I was born and raised in Ft Myers, Florida, and have no desire to return to Florida beyond a few days visit. However, I have been visiting friends for several days visits in the Ocala/Gainesville area over the past few years and if I had to move to Florida, I would chose that area.

 

[Red elephant]

Weatherspark also has water temperature comparisons.

Compare the Climate and Weather Between Two+ Cities Worldwide - Weather Spark

weatherspark.com

View attachment 86218

I may try Aruba too for the winter based on this.

 

[ssaddlemire]

We've gone to Kauai every year for the past 20 years but stopped going in the winter only because in our experience (and statistically) there is a lot of rain in the winter season. The winter weather in MX is great.

 

[easyrider]

Trees? Green grass? Temperatures below 110 degrees? Enough humidity so your skin doesn't dry out? Ability to walk outside during the summer without melting?


Kurt

I think I could winter in this area but we like a beach. We know alot of people with winter homes in this area.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

We've gone to Kauai every year for the past 20 years but stopped going in the winter only because in our experience (and statistically) there is a lot of rain in the winter season. The winter weather in MX is great.

For me, it's the Kauai traffic that's a deal breaker.

Bill

 

[WinniWoman]

We stay right here at home in New Hampshire during the winter. I don't like leaving during winter months. Too many things can go wrong with the house and so forth.Same with air or car travel. I look at it as cocooning and I concentrate on getting organized, dealing with the practicals, taxes, hobbies like listening to music, reading, movies, writing, stuff like that, continue to exercise, even if it has to be indoors, and yes- embrace some outdoor activities - and then get ready for spring (cleaning) and summer, when we will have outdoor chores to do, be out and about more, a little traveling, etc.

Anyway, we live amongst a lot of snowbirds and they like Florida, Aruba, Arizona, South Carolina, St. Croix. It's also great for us because it's nice and quiet here when they all leave! A big change from the noise and craziness of the summer.

 

[bobby]

If you think Mexico is "iffy", I find it amazing that you are off to Jamaica, as it is currently the 10th most criminal country (hint: Mexico isn't in the top 10). In addition, Jamaica is #2 for murder rate!

Kurt

Staying at an inclusive club so won't be out in the general area. We went to a timeshare in another area of Jamaica about 5 years ago and only had a problem with animals taking up the roads.

 

[heitmullerj02]

That’s just what at we tell the tourists, remember it’s a dry heat!

 

[wrk2travelalot]

Bill, There is a lot of personal viewpoint in this poll. Dollars vs. weather vs. travel effort vs. political stability.

Mexico has always been off my chart. (Personal viewpoint, born and raised in South Texas. Too much crime and corruption, dating back to before I was born. Y no se habla espanol!)
Florida. Orlando is out - too cold for my taste. (I'm a lizard. Not real happy until it's 85 F.) Coastal Florida is too expensive for what I get in timeshares.
Hawaii. Expensive and a looong hoof for me. But ever so nice. It is starting to price itself out for me as a modest retiree. (Bay Club is calling. . . calling. . .)
Southwest US. Don't like California, might try low elevation desert in Arizona. (Know any good timeshares in that area?)

I would consider Panama. I live outside of Chicago and the crime in Panama City is less than Chicago. The temps year round are good and rentals are cheaper than Florida.

 

[wrk2travelalot]

I've recently considered a trip to Costa Rica or Ecuador -- mostly because I've lost track the number of visits I've made to Hawaii and Mexic

Last year, we went to Costa Rica which is lovely. This year, we went to Colombia in Jan/Feb, then Peru and Ecuador/Galapagos in Sep/Oct. We really enjoy Colombia. Beautiful country with a lot to do, still very cheap for Americans. A nice steak dinner in Medellin costs about $35 for two including drinks and dessert. Weather is also great. We plan to go back again.

I agree Colombia is an up and coming area. The Guanacaste region of Costa Rico now has better roads and is beautiful, love Panama City and Cabo. Cabo is my second home but it is getting pricy. Use your time share time in Cabo or do Arbnb. In Cabo Some of the 5 star resorts have day passes in a wide range of prices so you can experience many different resorts. Panama is starting to focus on tourists too.

 

[PassionForTravel]

Our house is outside Phoenix in a retirement community. We rent to Snowbirds every winter for 4-5 months and we go international for most of that time while the body still works. Last year New Zealand for 3 months, then a month road trip in the Southwest. This year, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and Bali, for 3 months. The long flights to SE Asia are a killer but once here it's so cheap. Then Hawaii (Maui, Big Island, and Waikiki) for a month to use our timeshares. Summer when its to hot in Phoenix we head to Europe for most of the summer.

 

[bobby]

A lot depends on whether you are in the west or east. For east, Hawaii is F A R. Southern Florida is an okay choice. Mexico safety iffy. Caribbean is my favorite but longer flights. Both FL and Caribbean fill up quickly in choice locations. Book a year ahead. This year I'm off to Jamaica.

A lot depends on whether you are in the west or east. For east, Hawaii is F A R. Southern Florida is an okay choice. Mexico safety iffy. Caribbean is my favorite but longer flights. Both FL and Caribbean fill up quickly in choice locations. Book a year ahead. This year I'm off to Jamaica.

https://www.layerculture.com/blog/is-jamaica-safer-than-mexico/ Highlights differences between Mexico and Jamaica. Basically each have "safe" vs. avoid areas. In my case this year, I'm going to an inclusive resort Couples Swept Away in Negril and that is listed as a safer spot. Van gets you at the airport, you are onsite the entire visit, and van back. I'm going for daily tennis and going to try out kickboxing (I'm almost 80)

 

[easyrider]

We decided on the Pompano Beach area and had reservations for a month in Jan. This was pretty much a done deal until I saw an exchange I liked better in Mexico. January trips are booked. I'm thinking we need to be gone for some of February and maybe it's Hawaii, no reservations yet. I also thought of just staying in Mexico for a few more weeks. After canceling the Pompano Beach trip I was able to get close to Disney CA in March in a couple of large units for spring break. These Disney reservations might change. They were the best I could do to keep my credits intact at the time.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

Our house is outside Phoenix in a retirement community. We rent to Snowbirds every winter for 4-5 months and we go international for most of that time while the body still works. Last year New Zealand for 3 months, then a month road trip in the Southwest. This year, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and Bali, for 3 months. The long flights to SE Asia are a killer but once here it's so cheap. Then Hawaii (Maui, Big Island, and Waikiki) for a month to use our timeshares. Summer when its to hot in Phoenix we head to Europe for most of the summer.

I really like your itineraries. How did you like SE Asia ? Where do you stay ? I was looking at the exchange companies and I do see inventory here and there but have no idea if it's in a decent place.

Bill

 

[WinniWoman]

I was wondering where Tuggers go in the winter. We have been breaking our winters into Hawaii and Mexico. We are thinking of changing this up. Where do you like to go and why ? Thanks

Deleted

 

[Sandy VDH]

I live in S. TX. I stay here in winter but want to go away for the hot summer weather. Never get used to TX in Summer as a Canadian, and I've been here for 28 years.

 

[easyrider]

I live in S. TX. I stay here in winter but want to go away for the hot summer weather. Never get used to TX in Summer as a Canadian, and I've been here for 28 years.

I have friends in Florida and Phoenix that live in the PNW only in the summer. They tell me once you get use to living in the warm weather it's hard to go back to the cold. I think they really like the PNW in the summer. Some of them still have a house or condo out here. Some occasionally stay with us for a couple of weeks.

So your not use to the heat after 28 years ? Are you a red head ?, lol

Bill

 

[WinniWoman]

I have friends in Florida and Phoenix that live in the PNW only in the summer. They tell me once you get use to living in the warm weather it's hard to go back to the cold. I think they really like the PNW in the summer. Some of them still have a house or condo out here. Some occasionally stay with us for a couple of weeks.

So your not use to the heat after 28 years ? Are you a red head ?, lol

Bill

We had friends come up to NH in November from Punta Gorda ( former New Yorkers) and they loved the crisp cool
air. In their late 70’s.

 

[Mongoose]

I think it all depends on your budget and the time you have. Hawaii is a great choice but the must expensive and maybe the longest to get to. SouthWest might be the cheapest outside of CA.

 

[easyrider]

I think it all depends on your budget and the time you have. Hawaii is a great choice but the must expensive and maybe the longest to get to. SouthWest might be the cheapest outside of CA.

Hawaii is a long flight and that is one of the reasons I like Mexico. It's a four hour flight time to Cabo or Puerto Vallarta for us. Hawaii and Florida are about six hour flights.

Bill

 

[PassionForTravel]

I really like your itineraries. How did you like SE Asia ? Where do you stay ? I was looking at the exchange companies and I do see inventory here and there but have no idea if it's in a decent place.

Bill

We stayed mostly in Airbnb's. They are so darn cheap in SE Asia it's not worth messing with exchanging timeshares.

For SE there are a lot of YouTube Travel Bloggers out there. One that covers a lot of places where retiree's go is Vagabond Awake.

To be honest this was a tough trip, But we saw a lot of new places so that was great. I think we moved around to much. Last time we were there in 2019 moving so often was no problem. Perhaps its being 5 years older, or maybe its that we've been doing this for 7 years now. Loved the food in Thailand, Bali, and Vietnam, also loved the coffee in Vietnam. Bali and Cambodia were so hot it was an effort to leave our apartment every time. Weather was great in Northern Vietnam and we had a wonderful cruise in Halong Bay, but right after we left it got cold. The one huge bright spot that we want to go back to for much longer is Boracay in the Philippines, it is probably one of the top beaches we have ever been to in the world and the weather was perfect not to hot with a great breeze. Blows away Hawaii, up there with Aruba and Grand Cayman. But a whole lot less expensive.

After SE Asia we went to Hawaii for a month, 2 weeks in Maui, 10 days on the Hawaii Island and then 5 in Waikiki. We couldn't believe how expensive Hawaii has become, our last visit was 2019. Driving past Lahaina was sad. Happy hours are a joke if they exist at all anymore and Waikiki was just so crowded. I don't think we will be going back any time soon.

 

[Bloseman]

Winter getaway options are always exciting to explore! I've had the pleasure of experiencing both Florida and Hawaii during the colder months. One winter, I decided to switch things up and head to Southern California.

 

[b2bailey]

I'm still in bed -- drinking coffee, reading TUG.
It's part of my morning routine -- no matter where I am.
Today I'm at Marriott's Frenchman's Cove.
Last time I was here was 10 years ago.

I've decided I might choose this place over my usual favorites in Hawaii and Mexico.
Flying here is more challenging than the above -- coming from CA.
Next time I'll stay longer than a week. Just learned there is a Ferry to St. Croix.

 

[melissy123]

@b2bailey I'd love to hear there is an actual ferry to St. Croix. Let us know if it's actually running.