We rented for 2 and 3 months the first 3 years. By diligent searching , the first two places were absolutely lovely homes at under $1500 a month, one within two blocks of the gulf, the other, within 3 miles.
These places do exist but just like shopping at a thrift store, you gotta thumb through the whole rack and 'go' more than once to find them
Then we found a place for 3 months for the 3rd year, same price range, in a 55+ MHP community, 10 miles to the gulf....next 2 years, same community but for 6 months.
After 3 years , we knew we'd like to be here so bought but continued to snowbird and this year I have become full time.