Snowbirds: 5 Great Ideas for Reinventing Your Travel Habits

Have you ever noticed how a winter in the sun can transform your life? For many Canadian snowbirds, just one season abroad is enough to adopt new habits such as eating differently, slowing down their pace, or finding new ways to stay active. These habits stick, even after returning home.

Here are a few of these routines, picked up in every corner of the world, that may inspire you for your next winter in the sun.

1. Rediscover the Pleasure of Eating Well

Rediscovering the pleasure of eating well is one of the joys of travelling. Local markets, outdoor kitchens, and even fresh, exotic fruits will make you want to adopt a simpler, fresher, and often healthier diet than what you are used to at home.

That’s the case for Gilles and Louise, who often cook their meals under their palapa, an outdoor kitchen set up directly on their land in Melaque, Mexico. Between trips to the grocery store, where they find familiar products, and visits to the local market, they are spoiled for choice. They also can’t resist the fruit and vegetable vendors who come by three or four times a week in their pickup trucks, offering unbeatable prices. 

For Alain B., travelling has also been an opportunity to rethink his eating habits, especially in Japan. The freshness of the fish there is incomparable. Tuna, in particular, “literally melts in your mouth” and turns every meal into an experience.

In Greece, Mary G. discovered another kind of culinary paradise. In Thessaloniki, weekly markets allow you to leave with your arms full of fruit, vegetables, and even meat for just a few euros. Surprisingly, Mary finds that even fast food seems healthier than in Canada.

2. Slow Down and Enjoy the Moment

A change of scenery also means a change of pace! Away from routine, travel slows everything down. You can get lost on purpose, take your time, and just be. 

That’s how Tony P. spends his days in Italy. Here, everything feels like a celebration: the music, the dancing, the contagious good humour of the Italians. There's no need to stick to a tight schedule or rigid plans. Tony prefers to go with the flow, even if it means getting lost in charming little villages. For him, it's the opposite of the crazy rat race in Canada, and he doesn’t miss it at all.

As for Lucie G., she prefers slow travel, a way of travelling where you take the time to immerse yourself in a place rather than checking boxes on an itinerary. This style of travel led her to New Zealand, where she explored the country in a van. She enjoyed the experience so much, that when she returned to Canada, she bought a campervan to travel the roads of North America at her own pace. 

3. Simplify Your Daily Life

Travelling often reminds us that we can live with less. Less luggage, fewer possessions, but above all, more freedom. By eliminating the unnecessary from your life, you will gain comfort and lightness, both in your suitcase and in your mind.

Linda G. understands this well. She used to pack a lot more clothes with her, but she eventually realized that she always ended up wearing the same pieces. Now she travels light, knowing that with a washing machine at her rental apartment in Fuengirola, she can easily rotate her wardrobe.

4. Keep Track of Everything

For some people, travelling is also the art of being well prepared and leaving nothing to chance. 

Michel M. never leaves home without his little notebook. 

In it, he writes down everything: metro station changes in Paris, must-visit addresses in Montpellier and useful details for getting around the French Riviera. It's his way of travelling with peace of mind and keeping a precise record of the places he has explored.

5. Move Every Day

Travelling often provides the ideal setting to add new active habits. Whether it’s going for a sunrise walk, trying out a new sport, or simply moving a little every day, these routines make all the difference to your health and mood.

Réal M. likes to keep moving, even on the road. He’s up at 6 a.m. for a long walk with his dog and then heads to the pickleball court. Staying fit this way makes travelling that much more enjoyable.

For Lucie, it’s about balance. On Koh Lanta in Thailand, she discovered a yoga studio by the beach, and it quickly became part of her routine. Every morning, she practiced yoga and meditation to the sound of the waves. 

Back in Canada, she made sure to keep up this ritual by going to her favourite yoga studio in the Laurentians every day. 

How a Winter in the Sun Can Transform Your Lifestyle

Every destination has that little something that can change the way you live. A new recipe you want to try at home, a slower pace that does you good, or an activity that becomes a daily ritual. These habits, shaped under the sun, can stay with you long after you return to Canada.

The next time you pack your bags for winter, don't forget to bring the essentials for peace of mind while travelling: good travel insurance. Get a quick quote with soNomad and travel with confidence.