Quebecers traveling to the “Sunshine State” for the holiday season tend to be “disheartened” by the weather conditions when they arrive, but little by little the sunny weather is returning.
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Celebrating Christmas in Florida is a given for many snowbirds, but this year the weather is cooperating.
However, in an interview on LCN, Marie Poupart reports that in recent days certain events have been canceled, much to the dismay of Quebecers.
“The famous boat parade that takes place every year in Fort Lauderdale has been canceled and I have never seen that in the ten years I have lived here,” emphasized the TVA Nouvelles employee in Florida, specifying that the weather be a spoilsport.
According to AccuWeather, the forecast maximum temperatures in Fort Lauderdale through January 8, 2024 will be between 18 and 26 degrees Celsius.
Habits that change
The COVID-19 pandemic and the inflation context have affected the stay of Quebec residents in Florida.
Marie Poupart, manager of the Facebook page “La Florida de Marie,” notes that “snowbirds” are tightening their belts as prices rise.
Quebec entrepreneurs based in the state have noticed that tourists have changed their habits, she said in an interview on LCN.
Marie Poupart gives the example of Shell Motel owner Guy Piché, who is faced with a drop in traffic.
“He had noticed a decline in customers of around 15 to 20% in the last few weeks. It’s still not significant,” she explains.
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According to Guy Piché, French is heard less and less in Hollywood stores and there are almost no lines at Canadian banks.
“He sees fewer Quebec license plates,” adds Marie Poupart, who also spoke to entrepreneurs François Grenier and Martel Tremblay about the situation of their companies.
The “Snowbirds” portfolio is particularly damaged by the meteoric rise in real estate prices in Quebec's favorite state.
Many of them even shorten their stay by half to save several thousand dollars.
“In West Palm Beach you really can’t find anything under $3,500 a month for accommodation,” she says, noting that this price affects two-bedroom accommodations.
Hallandale Beach mobile homes in the Park Lake complex require a minimum budget of $2,500 per month, Ms. Poupart points out.
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These “pharaonic” expenses are in addition to insurance costs, which in some cases have tripled.
*Watch the interview in the video above*