Meanwhile, temperatures in snowbird-friendly Arizona have been well below normal.
And many snowbirds also winter in Texas, but it is also getting hit with abnormally cold weather. And even people who venture into northern Mexico haven't had a good start to the winter, with people in Puerto Penasco and the Baja complaining about cold temperatures.
Which is one of the reasons we head below the Tropic of Cancer...
Once you get below the Tropic of Cancer, the odds of you getting "tropical" weather greatly improve!
I see that even the Arizona "hot spot" of Yuma is only calling for a high of 61F (16C) today, and the long term forecast doesn't look any better. Well, at least the sun is shining there.
I think we got lucky with our visit to Arizona last January, but I wouldn't want to push my luck two years in a row. There is simply too much risk of not having a good winter in much of the southern U.S. for our liking.
I think if we were "stuck" in less than pleasant weather we would have to take a week or two vacation. Like maybe some kind of cheap all inclusive holidays 2016 to the Caribbean!
The last time we did an all inclusive was back in March of 2014 when we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary!
Us, living the high life in Cancun!
There are a lot of places to spend the winter where you can have decent weather. Doing it in a RV is definitely more limiting, but Mexico is the only place where people from Canada and the U.S. can still do it easily and be guaranteed good winter weather! In our opinion, it's okay to put up with cool weather for a week or two, but any more than that and we're looking for something better!
Totally agree with you re cold weather. It terrifies me to think that one day, due to age, I'll have to remain in Canada for the winter. Ugh! Have a happy new year and keep sharing your likes and dislikes about Mexico. It's tempting us to give Mexico another visit in the future!
ReplyDeleteNot sure why you feel that you would have to live in Canada for the winter when you get old. Many people move to other countries that are warmer and less expensive and still have good healthcare. I don't think we will live in Canada, we would rather be living in Mexico but that is far off and things could change by then. I think you should be giving Mexico another visit. :-)
DeleteHappy New Year to you and John.
I'm taking a week (or two!) vacation, spending it entirely INSIDE my comfy RV here in sunny (but currently frosty!) Yuma. I'm just not truly convinced that Mexico is really any better, especially for confirmed boondockers like myself.
ReplyDeleteIn your situation, that's true Doug. There are not many similar places that you could comfortably boondock for long periods of time in Mexico.
DeleteStill loving southern Arizona , the sunshine makes it feel very warm and we do enjoy it here. Even with the exchange rate this year is so far is our lowest expenses in our 10th year heading south. Our highest year for expenses was the 3 months we spent in Mexico 2009-10.
ReplyDeleteSure is much nicer than up north that's for sure.
Still loving southern Arizona , the sunshine makes it feel very warm and we do enjoy it here.
DeleteGeorge, no offense, but you would say that you love Southern Arizona even if a snowstorm blew through!
Even with the exchange rate this year is so far is our lowest expenses in our 10th year heading south.
So what is it that you're doing different to mitigate the high exchange rate this year compared to previous years?
Our highest year for expenses was the 3 months we spent in Mexico 2009-10.
Of course the winter you spent in Mexico would be the most expensive...you stayed at one of the most expensive RV parks in Mexico for the majority of your time in the country!
Sure is much nicer than up north that's for sure.
That, we can agree on!
I knew this would get a response from you , lol
DeleteThe fuel is so cheap this year for one, we are drinking less alcohol, eating less food, (a healthier lifestyle) and staying mostly on BLM land or membership parks that are free or $4.00 a night. Less shopping unless we need something, and less eating out.
Our Biggest expense in Mexico was our Vehicle insurance, $1,300.00, the toll roads $320.00 and Tres Amigos was expensive $13.00 a day in the back row, plus the extra 2,000 miles we drove.
Even if a snow storm (unlikley) blew through the sun will shine the next day most likely.
At least we can agree to disagree and this works great for us.
Yes Mexico is wonderful And we loved it there while we were there.
As long as you are happy George, that's all that matters. :-)
DeleteHaving a cold snap done here in Mazatlan, only a high of 80F today.
ReplyDeleteI think some of those in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas would like that kind of cold snap!
DeleteAs I read the comments, I'm thinking that Dianne could consider renting a bungalow and flying down to Mexico (or any warmer climate) for the winter. While we're "full time" RVers that doesn't mean we have to live in the rig 12 months of every year... to us, it means that we don't have a house we have to maintain... so we're free to go wherever we want in any month.. even if that means parking our rig somewhere and flying off to paradise ;-)
ReplyDeleteYep, for the short time we are here in Mazatlan, we may have been better off just flying down from Monterrey and renting a place for the ten days. We are talking about that for future trips. Having an rv doesn't mean it's a religion, it's nice to have and use when convenient.
DeleteI think perhaps that Dianne is thinking about the cost of health insurance by that time or perhaps when you are too feeble to travel. At that pint I think I would just move here and live as an expat. Healthcare costs here are very reasonable and it is very good healthcare.
DeleteChris, you are right traveling in an RV is not always the best choice in some instances. You definitely have to look at both sides of the coin and figure out which one is more advantageous to you cost wise and comfort wise.
I have a small home in Phoenix and I spend about as much as RVers on the road and sometimes less. In summer I travel to get away from the heat....soon I will have a Hogan built in northern AZ at elevation above 6,500 so it's nice and cool most of the summer...usually August is warm in the 90's. I can't complain...I love my life style.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has different priorities and and needs so whatever works for you is what is important. It sounds like you have it figured out for yourself and for the temperatures in that area, so glad that works well for you.
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI have been glued to your blog since I found it (Nov 1st). Still 49 now and I am planning on retirering at 55. I have a small 21 foot class C that I will upgrad to travel to Mexico (As well as going to Arizona like George).
I am quit interested at learning on ways to travel with an RV in Mexico.
So far I have not seen much people travelling Yucatan an camping in Tulum area. Is there a reason for this.
Michel P. From Montreal
P.s. Sending this from a Ski rental house surrounded with snowmobles. They in the sreets and every where.
Glad you are thinking of traveling to Mexico, you won't regret it.
DeleteMany people travel to the Yucatan Peninsula and spend a lot of time in around the Cancun or Playa del Carmen area. There are formal and informal camping areas there, the formal ones being quite expensive. Having said that many RVers don't travel that far partly because of the price of fuel to get there, especially when there are so many campgrounds down the Pacific Coast and many of the RVers there are from British Columbia and Alberta so it is a shorter distance for them. Also we notice that many times people travel down to there first or second location and love it so much they just stay rather than exploring other options further down the coast that could be even better.
Sounds cold where you are, hope you are having fun there though.
Well about -10C right now. It is a good escape with the family in an activity every one enjoy. Renting a house by the hill is too expensive though. $1600 for 4 days split in two families. I am not going to do it again.
DeleteYikes, that is pretty pricey but I am sure it was nice having the family together and as long as you all enjoyed it, then it is worth it.
DeleteIt has been chilly in Yuma, but is still nicer than the 25 degree high they had back in Salt Lake City, not to mention all the snow. All we've had is some wind and a little rain.
ReplyDeleteYes, you have that right, anything beats the freezing cold and the snow. We don't mind things being cool/cold at night as long as the day time temperature is reasonable. We would certainly rather have it cooler than too hot.
DeleteYou seemed to have not mentioned sunny and normally always warm southern Florida... It has been in the upper 80's to mid 80's here for quite some time. A big cold front is coming in this weekend and it will drop to the low 70's... my kind of winter (although I do find the upper 80's a bit warm)
ReplyDeleteYou are right heyduke50, Kevin didn't mention Florida. I think the point that he was getting across though is that you can't rely on it to be constant. There are many years where Florida has been colder than normal in the winter. It seems if Florida is having good weather the West isn't and another year it will be the other way around. Glad you are enjoying your nice weather. :-)
DeleteThis year we decided to do Florida and basically have had to run the air for the last couple of weeks. As heyduke stated been in the 80's with overnights in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that Florida is having great weather this year. At least somewhere in the States is hot. :-)
DeleteNo cold weather here in Tampa, but we're hoping for a break from the mid 80's and humidity. Of course, when it turns cold, I won't like that either :) We can't go to the Keys this year which is in my opinion the only place in the continental US that you can count on warm weather. We've watched the weather out west and have yet to find any place that is warm enough for me. Many people consider 50 and 60 degree days warm. We do not.
ReplyDeleteFlorida is definitely having good weather this year but as you said it can get cold too. You never really know what each year will bring. We don't mind being somewhere cool even if you have to wear a light jacket, it makes hiking that much more comfortable. We don't like the really hot weather ourselves, especially if humidity is involved. Where we are right now is perfect for us.
DeleteSorry that you aren't able to make it out to your spot in the Keys this winter, we know how much you like it there.
It is 12pm and it is 89f in Winter Haven Fl. Its just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds pretty hot, we would have trouble sleeping with that kind of temperature. Hope there isn't too much humidity!
Delete