Your true honesty is what makes Norm & Tina the best retirement channel available. You could just say everything’s great and wouldn’t change a thing but life is always an evolution. Thanks for always keeping it real!

You've given us some great insight in this video. I've heard it said by many retirement planners that we are not very good at predicting what will make us happiest in the future. Some think the permanent vacation is what they want, only to miss the comforts and predictability of home, along with their social connections with friends and family. That doesn't mean we shouldn't plan, just plan to adapt as needed. This was a good reminder. Thank you.

I believe it is Miss Dorothy who once said , "There's no place like home". 🐕🐕

Thank you for your valuable insight Tina and Norm. I am finding the more I travel, the more grateful I feel to live in Canada. We have our problems as a nation but I am so happy to call Canada home. Enjoy the rest of your trip. Safe travels. 😎🇨🇦

Travel interests do change. Snowbirds have lots of options. Would recommend for these next few years while still healthy don’t let insurance restrict you too much because it will happen quickly that you can’t do the many months trips anyway and will naturally be leaning on 30 day trips. Window is short for longer trips. Enjoy while you can. Health is everything go go years go quickly and slow go years creep in.

My parents used to snowbird in Florida. They left Ontario late November, and returned mid March. Their Xmas gift to any family was to pay for our accommodation if we visited them. One unexpected benefit (?) was that the family was already used to them not being home for Christmas (made it easier after they passed).

We’ve never been comfortable with being away from home for extended periods. We’ve stayed in some pretty nice hotels/cabins and no matter how nice, the furniture, couch, bed isn’t as comfortable as home. When I go on vacation the last thing I want to do is cook. Do plenty of that at home. The hanks for your honesty. Really enjoyed this video. 🇨🇦🇺🇸☕️

Watched this video on my home theatre in 4K, Norm and Tina. The background views were absolutely amazing -- in fact stunning! Cheers from Nova Scotia!

Thanks for reinforcing my experience as a snowbird. It's harder than people realize to leave your friends, family and home for two-plus months. I'm shortening my stay next year for the same reasons. If you get to Florida next year, the Sarasota/Brandenton/Venice are terrific!

So appreciate you sharing your experiences!

Many thanks for your learning experience and sharing with us! Have a wonderful time!😊

Ah! Ha! You are coming around to what we learned a few years ago. We believe in variety, so we have seen nearly 70 countries at this point. We do the 30 - to 35-day stints (with many repeats, too)and focus on enjoying the different cultures, cuisines, and people around the world, often times five times annually. We just spent two weeks in Thailand and Cambodia and are currently on a 14-day cruise out of Singapore. Your advice to most others is sound, but everyone has different interests. As an unbelievable example, we stayed in a beautiful guest house with a delightful owner in Chiang Mai at Can$28 per day, including a wonderful breakfast of 10 choices. It was super clean as shoes were not even allowed to be worn inside. We had a huge room with private bathroom. Plus, we met great people from around the world. They received a 10 rating from us. Cheers. Roger

First - great picture quality on the video! Thank you for being so open and honest regarding your experience and the need to be flexible in retirement - at a time in life when many become less flexible/open to change.

Love this … you’ve been travelling and sharing your experiences - this honest account of your personal winter break is really welcomed. Plans change and that’s ok. Thank you for doing what you do and sharing your experiences. We travel to different places on the Algarve regularly. It is an easy option winter/spring/summer and autumn from the Uk. Thanks for another great video . Enjoy the rest of your time in the Algarve.

Great advice and thank you for your honesty guys, it is so refreshing 👍🏻🇨🇦

You guys have the whole world to explore!!! Enjoy!!!

So pleased to see you in Olhos de Agua. That is where we are going for the first time for a month this winter. Delighted to hear you took the bus from Albufeira as that is what we want to do to get to the Old Town, etc. Previously we have stayed in Albufeira. This will be our fourth winter , always for only a month, and have done most of our own cooking. When I mentioned to my husband your suggestion we eat out more he was very enthusiastic. No lack of options in the Albufeira area that is for sure.

You two are a delight. I'm so drawn to Portugal

We were in Praia da Luz for 28 days and loved it. We stayed at an apartment we found on Vrbo for 900 euros.

Appreciate your honesty and non cement attitude. Things change. And that's okay.

Love you guys. Thanks for the video. Go for what works at the time and always keep learning.

Good points. I vaguely had an idea of the slow travel around the world, but then as I thought about it more I realized I probably wouldn’t enjoy it. Something about your own bed and routine that I miss! I think I would much rather do more short trips than a long extended one. Nice to get away, but also nice to get home 👍

We would miss our grandkids if we were away that long. We wouldn’t want to be gone that long either. Beautiful view guys!

I agree with you about pantry items. I have addressed that by packing some things like small resealable bags of spices in my suitcase. I also look for small bottles of things like olive oil in stores, which cuts down on how much you have to toss at the end of the trip.

One of the problems when you get to a place with good weather is that it is easy to forget the cold winter left behind, even if you see the weather reports. Your kids and family have 10 months of the year to see you at home, and you are still healthy enough to travel, so I hope that you indeed do take a second or third 30 day break next year if you only do a month in Portugal. My Aunt from Winnipeg would spend four months every winter in St Petersburg, Florida and that worked out well for over twenty years.

We are following you and also trying to find what fits our pocket book, our environment and our health (we don’t love the cold and snowy Newfoundland winters anymore). As for family, one grandson here on the Island and two toddlers is in western Canada. Two years ago we lost my parents, mother in law and two elderly aunts so we thought it would be nice to go to Florida for a few days and then over Christmas take a 10 day cruise, it was okay but we won’t do it again…..so as it got closer to summer we decided to drive across Canada to visit the kiddies. After watching your videos we have been considering going to Portugal…..because of declining health we want to do it all now …..but I realize that there is no place like home. Thank you Tina and Norm for putting it out there. Sorry for the long message.

Thank you both, Norm & Tina, for the relatable and insightful videos! In this video, you mentioned family and grandchildren. We too miss our grandchildren, yet enjoy traveling. Unfortunately, our son-in-law is a major obstacle for us visiting our grandchildren as we wish. So we moved away, twice, only to find ourselves wishing we were there. I believe this dilemma of an unpleasant in-law is a common situation for grandparents. So, we volunteered in Ukraine and then traveled. Thanks again! Dean & Cindy

Thanks for your video and definitely food for thought for us next year when we start taking longer trips.

I think 31 days is plenty for one place, especially with grands waiting for you at home. BTW thank you for being our “pioneers” going out ahead to scout out the territory for those of us looking forward to retirement.

We don’t know what suits us until we try different options. Learning how we want to travel is part of the fun. You have a good plan going forward!

I agree Being single and self employed I have been able to travel to the same area for over 20 years I love Olhos and I can remember the days when the Holiday family even let their own villa. Your advice is priceless and I intend to follow a similar plan.

Thank you for your insight!! You have given us some things to think about. We are planning an extended trip this summer to escape the desert heat!! We decided to break it up a bit and return home for a short while in between destinations. Our first trip will be to northern Washington and we can travel by train or ferry to Victoria or Vancouver. Cheers!

Thank you very much for your honesty. 🎉

Wonderful video -- so interesting to hear your perspective and experience….thanks for sharing!

My husband and I agree, we go to either Maui or Marco Island for the month of February plus three travel days. To be away from family and friends, and our pup Finn, even though they may come to visit two months or more is just too long to be away from home. We love our home( uptown urban condo)and the very nice routine that we enjoy. It's really about balance. Enjoy your channel!! Greetings from Southern Ontario, just back from Marco Island FL 😊

Very interesting ! Useful advice as usual. Thanks for the thoughts. We stayed in Othos de Agua last year and loved that beach and bar and used local bus service to get around. Enjoy your time in Portugal. X

Hi Tina and Norm, like your suggestion, less time but more family fun too. X:)

Year 15 of Snowbird lifestyle in Arizona. November till end of March. Purchased a couple of year in...still best for us. The trip down gets a bit tougher each year but adding cruise and get a ways to each winter keep it interesting. Families are pretty busy so we "move" holidays to when we're around and everyone can get away with their familiy and friends..

Thank you for sharing all your experiences so that we can learn from it. I will be considering all of what you share on your channel as I soon head into retirement ❤

Thanks for another interesting video. I like the change of scenery throughout the video.

This may be your best, most practical video yet, guys (and I love all you vids). Your experiences really resonate with people, so thanks for sharing them with us. I understand the need to return home for a while and then go off again. Perfectly reasonable. Take care, and thanks again. 😊

Hello, I have been doing snowbirding for the last 6 years for 2 months a time. There is no place I've gone where eating out is less expensive than cooking in. The spices and oils are just not that big of a factor. Of course you can mix it up, I usually eat out once a day or once every two days. Towards the end of a trip I let the food run out and eat at restaurants more often to minimize waste. I love your videos, keep up the great work!

I totally agree with your thoughts. Seventy-plus days is a long time to be away from kids and grandkids. That's a brilliant idea chopping up your snowbirding into manageable chunks.

Thanks for sharing what you are learning. We just returned from 2 weeks in the UK back to Va. in February! It was fun, Man City match, visited family and friends in Edinburgh and Yorkshire. Ended up with 3 days at an Air BnB in the South Lake District where we used to live. I found the time at the AirBnB so relaxing. I did some laundry, cooked breakfast, we had pub lunches in the lakes and dinner back in some of our favorite restaurants. I realized that if 2 weeks was good that our summer trip there might just be fine for only 30 days. I miss my family and friends and just think one 30 day summer trip and another 2 weeks before Christmas is enough. We never know unless we try. Thanks again.

This totally makes sense to me. I find trips longer than 4 weeks aren’t exciting. If you stay in a place for a long period its just your life, where’s a more limited period is exciting.

I enjoyed this video! We have split our snow birding up and enjoy that. We were in Hawaii for the first 2 weeks of December at a very well stocked condo. Then home for a week or so, Christmas with our family in KC Mo for 5 days, then drove to Arizona for the month of January. We sit a 3 bedroom VRBO with my sister and bro in law . Very well stocked - best we’ve ever had!! Lots of cooking utensils, even crockpot and waffle iron!! All the spices, etc we needed except for a few things I brought from home. It was 2 levels, 3 bedrooms and right on a reasonable golf course- our guys love golf! Then we stayed 5 days with our other daughter, on to Sedona for 4 days and stopped in to see the kids in KC on the way home!! I like it broken up some. We also had lots of friends and family in Phoenix. We were able to eat at home half the time and out some. We don’t eat breakfast so it really just amounted to making suppers. Portugal looks beautiful!!!

I appreciate your view on longer trips. I agree that being away from family would be hard. Long the views!

Congratulations on the success of your channel. Seems that it is allowing you to spend more lavishly. By the way, double edit at 8:52.

hi guys i totally agree......its too long away to just GO......my sister and i stayed for two weeks and it was fantastic we met you twice....xx then the summer season started...anyway we look forward to january next year godwilling...........but there is no place like homexx

Well done for being so open minded and honest guys - thoroughly enjoying your journey through retirement. Totally agree with you on long hotel/motel/B&B stays. Having a little break during a long Canadian Winter is great, but a week or two is enough for us - we're not beach bunnies or sun worshipers. A bit of sunshine just can't make up for lost time with family in our books. We take a couple of month long RV trips a year, while the grandkids are in school. The beauty of the RV is that all your stuff comes with you - including cheese graters!! I like being able to make our own food - we tend to eat healthier that way and enjoy the odd meal out as a treat.

Excellent and honest advice. Time and health you can’t control and races into your lens rapidly. Seize the day. “ Snowbirding ever 30 days” 👍 Thank you! 🙏🏼

We love cruising in winter but find 22 days is our limit. Miss our family. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for exposing the reality of extended travel. Highly appreciate sharing your experience. Always learning something new. Have a great weekend❤ 🇨🇦 🇵🇹 🍻

We loved meeting you both in Albufeira twice 😊 Love all your comments here. We stayed for 3 weeks and felt limited with the kitchen facility and basic spices. Hope to see you again next year in Portugal. Stay healthy and happy❤

Thank you for sharing

I agree that Airbnb or hotels can be frustrating for cooking items, having to throw out food at the end of a trip. In my case, I bought a condo in Costa Rica and use it as my home base for the winter, renting for a month or two and using the rent money to travel. This year, I’ve been here (my first year of retirement) for 6 months and even now, I am looking at getting rid of food that will not keep until next year. By renting my place and increasing the rent to follow the market, I’m able to pay for my travel accommodation elsewhere even when the prices increase. Love your channel.

Thanks for this video, it’s very informative. 21 degrees how nice here in Montreal it’s only minus 11, Albufeira looks like the place to be. …………🤗🇨🇦

Hi Tina & Norm good to see you again and I think it’s very good you are testing and adapting best way 😊🥂 Regards. Christopher Barker

Great video guys! Your experience, so well explained, can certainly help others evaluate their alternatives.

I think the plan to change it up a little, while still including a trip to the place you love, is a great combination! Enjoy the rest of your Portugal trip, and safe travels back home!

Good insight. I wonder if you have been to the algarve so much you could be wanting new places and adventure. So far 21 days is the longest we have been gone (too many family responsibilities). For now I think we are just enjoying long vacations just staying in hotels and eating out. Your videos offer so much great advice!

My grandparents, who lived in Indiana their whole lives, spent the winter months in Florida. They had a camper, and at first, it was just a couple of weeks, but as time went on, they got bigger and bigger campers and stayed longer and longer. They would stay in the same camp ground every year and made friends there. We missed them but they really enjoyed it.

I am happy to hear this! The next time you come to the Algarve, you won't have to schlep around supermarkets and do your own cooking...you'll be eating in the fabulous Portuguese restaurants, eating food cooked the Algarvian way and enjoying every mouthful. You'll fall in love with the Algarve all over again for sure! I really look forward to next year's videos, where we will see you both with smiles on your faces and twinkles in your eyes. Rock on, Tina and Norm. Can't wait to see what's next for you in your next videos!

Hi Tina and Norm, My hubby and I have been watching your videos for many months. Much good advice. We retired early in our very late 50's. Now currently navigating Panama as snowbirds. Many options here in terms of rentals in many different regions and many climates here. Enjoying and we continue to investigate Panama while we're here. Panama certainly beats Canadian cost of living! If interested we will be happy to help.

Appreciate this video. I was wondering if you had grandchildren and if you missed them. This video really is good about addressing those questions. If we were going to snowbird my wife and I were wondering about if missing our children and grandkids will be an issue. I think you came up with a good solution with breaking up your trips in increments of 30 days. Thank you for bringing up some other great points along with solutions. Once again great video. I love you guys.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and your opinions. You might enjoy an Airbnb more... they likely will be more equipped and feel more homey. We all have our own reasons for what we do and how we choose to live and there is no wrong way. I don't have anything that truly draws me back home like you do (with Amber living so far away and in the US)... and I think if people miss me they can come visit (when I move)... but that is definitely not for everybody! You two are treasures!

Great video, Tina and Norm. I like the way you adapt to get the most out of the time you spend there. Shame about the meals issue regarding cooking for yourself, but I'm sure eating out when you can is a great experience.

Looks fantastic. Love the beach.

Just joined your channel. Finally someone in my tribe - you know facing same issues in this chapter of life.

I think some RVers are finding that the lure of constant travel wears thin as they miss having continuity in their social circle. I think your plan for next year is great. Multiple shorter vacations are a good way to enjoy travel but still have enough time for family and friends.

Thank you for sharing your traveling experiences with us. It always looks so beautiful there, the sky is so pretty. We are having somewhat of a roller coaster weather, today it's 65f in Indiana. Thanks, John.

Good on you to be able to evolve and adapt.

Love watching you guys! Pro tip; h in a word in Portuguese is pronounced like a y in English. DeepL is a European Portuguese language translation app. ( Google translate is Brazilian). Happy travels!

Thanks for the informative insights.

Hi! I agree with you on shorter trips. I found that same going to Fl in the winter. Too much to catch up with on my return. Life is not,simple these days as seniors. Enjoy! It looks beautiful! Kathy

I was so curious about this topic, and your video was really interesting! We are strange "snowbirds " who spend winters in Texas and summers in England. I have learned a lot about myself in the past 4 years after this dual continent living and watching all my KZfaq friends who are full time global travelers. In our older years, Ian and I REALLY need a comfortable bed to sleep in, healthy food to eat, and a chance to maintain our workout schedule. By setting up a second home base in Gloucestershire, we have access to all those things. From there we take shorter trips around Britain or Europe but have a home to come back to ❤🏡. Thanks for another great video! XX Dara

Great plan!

Thank you both so much for your honest opinions! This was something that concerned me...would we be able to stay away a few months. I'm already thinking I'd feel the same way as you two!!

I've noticed the increasing prices for Aparthotels in Algarve and Costa del Sol since the pandemic. And you are right, they have gone up faster than short-term apartments. I have been cross-shopping the big sites Airbnb, Booking, VRBO, etc, and it's amazing some of them will be $300 cheaper per month for a unit in the same building. But finding a local realtor is often cheaper than all 3 options, although one has to be more wary of scams. You may consider a month in Algarve, then take the easy journey over to southern Spain and do another month to avoid boredom.

Norm & Tina , it was a pleasure to meet you in person today, as we are followers from way back, we are leaving for Toronto on Tuesday, but had a great time here & Tavira, I think Spain might be next, CHEERS

It looks beautiful there have fun

You two have read my mind! Hubby and I just returned to beautiful Ontario 🇨🇦 from 5 weeks in the Algarve. It was our second year in Portugal ( being 57 & 60 years old). Next year we will extend a week.. BUT have no interest in two months there. As gorgeous as it is.. ( and it is, eh?) Cheers, to another great video 😊

Ya, I would miss family and my pets. I’m thinking 12 days is all I can do right now. My husband and I have been away before and find at about 10 days we start to want to be home.

Hi Norm and Tin…we love watching your videos. We did just what you are thinking this year and it’s worked out nicely. We travelled to Costa Rica in November for 30 days, came home before Christmas. Left for Florida mid Jan for 30 days came back. Next year we plan to include Portugal for 30 days. We like to see our family who don’t live near us and are awaiting our first Grandchild so we don’t mind spending a bit of time during winter here in Kelowna. It’s a good mix for us . Thanks for your honest opinions on things. Rob and Lynn

very good insight

Great video! I have always wanted to travel, travel, travel. I realized during COVID when we couldn’t travel that spending time with friends and family at home made me much happier. I honestly don’t know how snowbirds can go away for 6 months at a time. I’m a homebody I guess and am happy being one. I’ll take small vacations instead

Very insightful video. Your experience is similar to ours. Our travel card gives us 21 days os insurance, so we did 3 twenty one day trips this winter. Two trips to mexico where flights are very inexpensive for us, and one to Portugal ( lisbon, Porto and Faro ). One of the full time vloggers made an excellent point that they have to stay on top of the travel deals year round, and that your best travel value may change from year to year. In Portugal we find that we eat lunch out, and have a small breakfast and dinner in our hotel. The lunch values are amazing!

The scenery looks a whole lot better than what I'm seeing out my window at present in Nova Scotia! lol Lovely advice and many things to consider, but everyone is different and needs sure do change over time! I'd actually like to take a long-term cruise, or back-to-back cruises. Keep up the awesome travels!

I agree. We stayed over 3 months in Spain/France/Portugal and decided that that was too long away. Our next trip will be a 32 day cruise followed by next year cruising to the UK and back from FL just over a month away. Great minds think alike;)

I always eat out when on holidays. The best way is a cruise 🛳 ship for 2 weeks. Heaven . 😊 Go to Rome or Milan. My favorite places.

We have been doing the snowbird thing in the algarve for about 5 years also. We have found that places like Continente offer smaller size condiments which are just perfect for our 6 week aparthotel stays without the waste. If we do have leftovers they are well received by aparthotel staff. Your point regarding the travel insurance top up is well taken. In our case it’s not as expensive as yours so we feel it’s maybe just be a matter of shopping around. The aparthotel that we use also provides free storage for our small appliances etc to returning patrons. With a little imagination we’ve discovered lots of workarounds. Changing it up is also a good option. Instead of returning this year we opted for a tour in Asia. The 20 day tour cost about the same as we can stay in the algarve for 6 weeks including airfare. A different adventure and we will be back to the algarve next year.

Hello Tina & Norm, we are in Lagos right now, our Airbnb is very well located, only minutes from the marina, train station and buses also 15 minutes from the grocery store, the beach and the boardwalks. It is $3950 CAD for 64 days. At a small business, just outside the tourists area, a coffee, apple juice, two large brioche croissants €5.80. There are still good deal out there. Cheers!

I started snow birding in 2018 and figured I would stop once I got bored of it or simply couldn't. Well, the latter has occurred so this is my last trip. Back to shoveling snow. Ironically, this was the first time my brother and SIL joined me (that was cool). Yuma, Arizona is always my destination but have been all around California and New Mexico too (weather permitting). Edit: 25C this past week and sunny here. No rattlesnakes ... yet.

Looking like our whole snowbirding experience may be a nice outside firepit to enjoy Winters evenings around a fire with home cooking and maybe some wine. Plenty of firewood from our block and our yard is as nice as a lot of resorts anyway so staying home isn't really a struggle in any way.

Howdy Tina, Norm, Great practical Tips & Insight. • I did not know about the extra Medical coverage & how that is costly. • we've found there is a difference when you visit folks in an area. You tend to enjoy your time. Because your involved. Where as just visiting a new place with out knowing anyone. The luster wears off quickly of the location. 10 days is when you start to get bored. You've seen everything. • the difference I've found is how your involved. I like your new plan. ~ Ben Y, Vancouver ISLAND 🏝

Thanks!

I'm leaning the other direction - making Europe home. Home would then become the vacation spot, and giving family and friends a landing spot to travel to Europe. I'm not looking so much at a permanent vacation, but having the easy connectivity to do more traveling without the expense and exhaustion of flying to and from the US west coast. Will it be for a few years? For life? We'll see what the reality is vs. the imagination. I don't have children or parents and my husband passed away over 10 years ago. Big difference.

Hi N&T. Honestly, your video made us think we were all sitting down together having this same conversation. I am more for driving to holiday place if we fly do not want more than a month. Being able to drive makes it possible for family to also visit. Finding the right place now that is going to require more research. Always appreciate your videos. Cheers F&D❤❤

I agree that the holiday is too long. I did think that a long break would be great but unless you are actually living as a resident you do get homesick and you just can’t cook and live as you would at home. Glad you plan to get back to the Algarve though. It is a special part of the world 🇵🇹🇵🇹

We are Canadian snowbirds in Mexico for 4-5 months of the year but your complaints about the apart-hotel (and rentals in general I find) is why we ended up buying our townhouse in Mexico after 4 years of renting various AIrbnb places. That said sometimes you are trading one set of problems for another. Of course a big plus is that in our winter place we have extra space and our own "stuff" that we can leave behind waiting for us when we get back. Another upside in Mexico is that carrying costs are low and no AC or heat is needed in the central highlands where we are. The top up for our "snowbird" travel medical does add some cost but then so does flying off to various places for 31 days each as you are planning, either way it's not a deal breaker for us. We also have neighbours in Mexico that we've come to know and have made good friends with that we are happy to see every season (they watch our house while we are away too). The downside is, like an owning a cottage, you own a second property and you know houses, there's always something that needs to be looked after. We have children and grandchildren back home too but between their work, school, after school activities, plus our daughter is a teacher, we don't see them that much during the school year. Overall we've made the right decision for us but as I said owning is not problem free either. I'd say owning versus renting is a win some lose some proposition. Retirement is just like life, no one is exactly the same and people have to find the right balance for them. Spending every day on the beach with a drink in your hand may look inviting when you are slugging it out at work but in reality, much of living down south or in Portugal for the winter, is just living. Of course we go off to see interesting sights from time to time (as we also do when we are in Canada) but most of it is just regular day to day living. Sometimes people ask us what we do when we are away for the winter and I answer: "Pretty much what we do at home except with better weather". Given that I'm not sure we'd like living for 2-1/2 months in an apart-hotel, I think it would start to feel a bit cramped after a while. Your plan of traveling more for shorter periods sounds like a wonderful way to visit lots of warm winter destinations and I am sure you will have fun exploring them. Who knows, maybe one will even tempt you to stay a bit longer. Retirement is what you make it. Enjoy!