As the weather starts to get chilly, snowbirds begin to ruffle their feathers in preparation to fly down south for worst of the winter months. 

From Florida to Mexico and the southern United States, TripAtlas.com has put together 10 essential tips for snowbirds.  From planning to getting your home ready, travel documentation, medication, and more - here's what you need to know.  

10 Essential tips for snowbirds heading south this winter

1) Planning your winter away.  It's worth doing your research if you're planning on taking a snowbird holiday.  First, decide how long you want to go for, although November to March are the most popular months for snowbirds to get away.  Second, decide where you'd like to go and whether you want to stay in one place or visit several places.  Third, figure out whether flying or driving would be best for you.  Some snowbirds take RV's, which act as both their mode of transport and accommodation - a great way to save money.  Finally, look for accommodations that fit your budget and timeline.  For the best bang for your buck, go for vacation rental properties or timeshares. 

2) Go to the doctor's for a checkup.  Be sure to go for a checkup at the doctor's to ensure you're in good health or aware of any precautions you should take in the following months.  Get tips on how you can stay healthy while you're away and exercises that you should be sure to continue on the road. 

3) Medication & prescriptions.  Pack your medication and drug prescriptions in a safe place and bring more than you will need for the time period.  Don't forget to make copies, just in case.  When travelling, it's a good idea to keep your medication with you at all times so that you don't run into any problems with lost luggage and missing medication. 

4) Get immunized.  Make sure you get any required immunizations, especially if you're travelling outside Canada and the U.S.  This could also mean getting a flu shot - it's better to be safe than sorry - especially this year with h1n1 floating around.

5) Finances & assets.  Before you leave, be sure to put everything in order with your finances, investments, and living will in the unfortunate case that anything should occur while you're away.  Make sure that a stay-at-home family member or friend know where to find these documents in case of emergencies. 

6) Travel finances.  While you're sorting out your finances for the next few months, make sure you've got enough set aside for your time away.  Aside from meals, accommodations, and other daily spending, make sure that you've got some money set aside for any last-minute emergencies, i.e. needing to fly home, and etc. 

7) Travel documents and paperwork.  Make sure your passport is up-to-date and has enough pages for the number of places you are planning on visiting.  Be sure to get any travel visas, if required.  Some destinations only allow visitors to stay a certain number of days - find out whether you need a long-term travel visa.  If you own property in your vacation destination, be sure to bring along proof and any other tax information you may need to show authorities.  Last but not least, be sure to pick up travel insurance in the case of any emergency situation you may encounter - paying for hospital bills in a foreign country is never cheap!

8) Home security & maintenance.   Before you leave, be sure to prepare your home.  This means arranging someone to pick up your mail, check-in on the house every week or so, shovel snow, ensure that all your alarm systems are active, setting your answering machine, adding extra security like timers for lights, putting away all valuables, and etc.  In an effort to be green, make sure you unplug all electrical appliances, clear the kitchen and fridge of any perishable foods, and keep your heating to a minimum temperature so that pipes don't freeze. 

9) Emergency contact information.   Keep all emergency contact information handy for your use on the road, including a family member back at home, family doctor, lawyer, financial planner, travel agent, and etc.  Make sure your home-based family member also has the information, along with your itinerary and on-the-road contact information. 

10) Packing for snowbirds is much, much easier once you know that you can do laundry while you're on the road. Pack light clothing for the day, long layers for evenings, and a few dressier items for going out at night.  Snowbirds can also save space on things like groceries, shampoo, and cleaning products by purchasing them at the destination.

Looking to book your snowbird winter getaway? Check out the TripAtlas.com Trip Builder where you can request a quote from over 104,000 travel agents who are ready to offer you the best prices on your trip.

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