Spring Break Money Saving Tips
How College Students Can Travel on a Budget
A fabulous Spring Break is something college students look forward to all year. Unfortunately, travel to hot Spring Break destinations such as Cancun, Florida, Europe, and the ski resorts can stretch a student's meager budget to the limit. Here are some tips on how to save money on Spring Break travel and still have a great time.
Book Early
Plan your trip as early as Christmas, and maybe even earlier! Spring Break is a peak travel season, and therefore bargain hotel and airfare prices go very quickly. If you wait until the last minute, there will be limited availability and astronomical prices.
Consider All-Inclusive Packages
All-inclusive packages include airfare, hotel, food, and sometimes additional activities and tips. These packages can cost more when you book them, but less overall, and there will be no (or fewer) surprise expenses to absorb.
Crowded Hotel Rooms
A classic way to save money is to pack your hotel room as full as possible. This may not be the most comfortable way to go, but how much sleeping are you going to do anyway? Just be careful, as hotels often have policies against excess people sleeping on the floor. if you're going to stuff a hotel room full, go out of your way to be quiet and courteous guests.
Carpool
You can save quite a bit of money by spending your Spring Break somewhere where you can drive rather than fly. Yes, gas prices are up, but if you pile a bunch of people into a vehicle, you can still get to where you're going cheaply.
Bring Your Own Food
Students don't always consider the added expense of food when you travel, but that can be a huge expense if you're not careful. Bring snacks along with you. Look for a hotel that has refrigerators in the room, and then buy some groceries when you get into town. In addition, look for a hotel that comes with a continental breakfast.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
There are all kinds of good reasons not to binge drink during Spring Break, but here's one people don't think of so much: the expense! If you're going to drink, limit the amount of drinks you buy in clubs or on the beach, as these drinks will be particularly expensive.
Consider Alternative Travel Ideas
Do you really need to go to the hottest--and most expensive--student travel spots? Consider spending a fun Spring Break with your friends on one of these less expensive alternative Spring Break ideas. Or consider participating in the growing Spring Break volunteer experience movement.
Watch Out for Travel Package Scams
Cheap deals on travel may look like a great way to save money, but often they're too good to be true. Here's how to avoid Spring Break travel scams.
