Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas

Inexpensive Alternative Trip Ideas for Cheap College Student Travel

Dec 30, 2006

Looking for some cheaper Spring Break trip alternatives than drinking $10 cocktails on a beach in Mexico? Here are some fun and creative alternatives.

Spring Break... that sounds nice, doesn't it? So where are you planning to go? You may want to experience the quintessential (if not stereotypical) Spring Break on a white sandy beach with bikinis and beach balls and parties galore, especially if you're suffering from a serious case of senioritis. However, this may not be your thing, and even if it is, white sandy beaches and overpriced tourist destinations might not be in your meager student budget.

But really, what is Spring Break all about? The beach party may be lots of fun, but ultimately what you're going to remember about Spring Break is memorable time spent with your friends (as opposed to strangers on the beach and memories too hazy to remember due to alcohol). So be creative and think of some fun and memorable Spring Break ideas that don't cost a fortune! Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking.

The Road Trip. Also a quintessential Spring Break trip idea, but a whole lot less expensive than the beach. Of course, with the rising price of gas, road trips are not the bargain they used to be, but pile a bunch of people in to share the price of gas (and the driving). For cheap overnight stays, research youth hostels before you leave, or pile your whole crew into an inexpensive hotel room or two. Plus you can always stay with friends and relatives along the way. Take back roads and plan ahead to see memorable roadside attractions.

Volunteering for Spring Break. A quickly growing Spring Break trend is to ditch the vacation altogether and spend Spring Break building houses or helping those in need. Interested? Here's an article on Alternative Spring Break volunteer efforts to get you started.

The Big City Spring Break. There's so much to do in a big city, so why not spend a week with your friends in one? You may want to choose one close by to eliminate airfare expenses. Do some research ahead of time to find out what kinds of student discounts are available, and you can save a lot of money. For lodging, find a youth hostel, or crowd in together into a hotel room.

Camping. If you're the outdoor type, what better way to spend some time with your friends for cheap? Or spend a bit more money and rent a cabin with a bunch of your friends. If you like to jet ski and fish, find yourself a place near on a lake. Cabin rentals often are more expensive in the summer than the spring, so you might be able to find some great deals.

Cruises. Okay, this isn't exactly cheap student travel. But if you shop around, cruises can be much less expensive than you think. Why? Cruises try to pack as many people in as they can with decent fares, and then tempt them with many optional expenses like alcohol and excursions. Cabins on cruises often sleep up to four people, and the price for the third and fourth person may be very low so they can attract the extra people. So take advantage of this, and split the cost of a small cabin with three other people. Yes, your room will be cramped, but so what? You have a whole ship to explore. Just resist the urge to spend a fortune on alcohol and other extras.

The copyright of the article Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas in Campus Life is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish Cheap Spring Break Travel Ideas must be granted by the author in writing.