40% Of Snowbirds Staying Home This Winter

Over 40% of Canadian snowbirds say they won’t be travelling this winter, according to a survey conducted recently by Snowbird Advisor.

However, a little more than 30% indicated that they will “definitely” be going away for all or part of the winter.

Another 25% remain undecided.

Conducted between Nov. 2 and Nov. 7, the survey includes responses from more than 3,000 snowbirds from across Canada, revealing details about the travel intentions of snowbirds this year.

Snowbird Advisor’s president, Stephen Fine observed that: “There has been a lot of speculation about whether or not Canadian snowbirds will travel this winter, but no actual data to support it.  This survey helps to provide a more accurate picture of snowbird travel plans backed up by real data.”

As for why, they’re not planning to travel this winter, snowbirds said that the number one reason they decided to stay home was the risk of getting COVID-19 while away, followed by I can’t drive to the US while the land border is closed and not wanting to fly during COVID-19.

Rounding out the top 5 reasons were not being able to access medical treatment if COVID-19 cases increase in my destination and not having adequate travel medical insurance.

Among snowbirds who said they are going away this winter, 16% said they have already left, 42% said they plan on leaving before the end of the year and the balance plan to leave in January or February.

More than 60% said they plan on being away for between 3 to 6 months.

Of those snowbirds planning to go away this winter, approximately 50% are going to Florida, 20% to Arizona, 8% to California, 6% to Mexico and the balance heading to various other destinations.

One interesting note is that 5% plan to travel to BC this year, up from less than 1% in other years.

For more, go to https://www.snowbirdadvisor.ca/news/survey-results-canadian-snowbird-travel-plans-during-covid-19-2020-11-18 .

Snowbird Advisor is Canada’s one-stop resource for Snowbirds — providing tips, tools and services for Canadians who want to spend their winters abroad.