The Cheap Spring Break Guide
With the current economic situation on everyone's mind, many college students are finding themselves with fewer funds for spring break than they anticipated. Imprint Magazine takes a look at options for students travelling on a budget.
When many think of spring break, the first thing that comes to mind is traveling to exotic locations and spending days on the beach and nights in the club. For a trip like this, the best deals are from packages sold by companies like Student City. These often include round-trip flights, hotel accommodations, and meals and drinks. However, even though these packages may provide substantial savings over booking everything yourself, the most expensive packages can total around $1,000. Here's a list of the more affordable options.
Mazatlan, Mexico
Mazatlan is located on Mexico's Gold Coast, and is the closest Mexican resort to the United States. This city boasts over 15 miles of beaches and has earned the nickname "the pearl of the Pacific." Its close proximity to the border makes it a popular destination for spring breakers on a budget, and Student City sells a package including roundtrip bus transportation, 5 nights in a hotel, and meals and drinks that starts at $299.
http://www.studentcity.com/destinations/mazatlan_bus_trip.php
Bahamas Cruise
If you're interested in going to an island without spending a thousand dollars, taking a boat may be a better option. Student City sells a package with a cruise departing from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and docking in Freeport, Bahamas, 5 hours later. The package, which includes roundtrip cruise, 4 nights in a hotel, and meals and drinks, starts at $399.
http://www.studentcity.com/spring-break-bahamas-party-cruise.html
Of course, not everyone is interested in these trips, and even the least expensive options still cost several hundred dollars. For those looking beyond the beach, there are plenty of options available.
Alternative Spring Break
In an alternative spring break program, students volunteer for the week in places in need of assistance all around the country. Most colleges have arranged these programs for their students who are looking for a more rewarding spring break experience.
One of these students is Aly Dixon, a sophomore at Ithaca College from Wakefield, MA. While many of her classmates will spend the break lying on the beach or relaxing at home, Dixon has chosen to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. "I'm doing it because I haven't done anything like that before and I wanted to do something meaningful with my break than just sit around watching TV," said Dixon. "Also, I've heard it's a great way to meet friends and have a good time."
The prices vary, but students should expect to pay between $100 and $300. Though this may seem expensive for volunteering, the cost generally covers transportation, housing, and food. Though each school arranges these trips separately, here is a non-comprehensive list of schools with ASB programs.
http://alternativebreaks.org/chapterprogram.asp
Camping
Camping is an inexpensive way to spend spring break in visually stunning places, such as one of the US National Parks. Though many are familiar with Yellowstone and Yosemite, these parks are located all over the country and each has something different to offer. The best part: Campsites are usually less than $20 a night. Jonathon Bridgeman, a freshman at the University of Mary Washington from Vienna, VA, says that he enjoys camping "because I can spend time with my friends, relax, and have fun, and it's cheaper than going to a movie." Search on the National Parks Service website for more information and to find a park near you.
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