You've
worked hard all semester - now it's time to get away from the
stress of presentations and exams for a week of rest,
relaxation, and maybe even some partying. Don't let a tight
budget stand in the way of taking the Spring Break you
deserve. We've got all the tips you need for planning the
vacation of your dreams - without having to sell all your
textbooks or participate in research studies just to foot the
bill.
CaribbeanLime
Travel Services USA is your one-stop resource for the best travel
deals around. You'll find loads of discounts on airfare, hotel
rooms, car rentals, and even vacation packages to some of
Spring Break's hottest destinations.
Take
advantage of promotions from Spring Break providers
Before booking any trip with a travel company that
specializes in Spring Break packages, be sure to ask if
they're running any promotions. You'll almost always be able
to find special deals of some kind, from discounted trips to
free meal plans to (best of all!) free drinks. Always check
out their Web site for big savings on Internet-only offers,
and shop around for the best prices before committing to a
provider.
Continue to
comparison shop even after you've made your reservations -
some travel providers offer 150% money back guarantees if you
find a lower price for the same package. A little
investigating could mean getting paid to go on Spring Break!
For more information, see our guide to Spring
Break Travel Providers.
Book early
The best deals usually come to those who book as far in
advance as possible, so round up your group of friends and get
a Spring Break game plan in effect. Most tour companies will
offer early booking incentives like meal plans and VIP party
packages, so be sure to ask for these perks when making your
reservations! In general, the longer you wait to book your
trip, the more you can expect to pay. This is peak Spring
Break planning time, so make your reservations while the best
deals are still around!
Book late
On the other hand, if, like most college students, you and
your friends are incurable procrastinators, it might pay off
to wait till the last minute to make your travel plans. While
it isn't the route we'd necessarily recommend, if you and your
friends are flexible with your destination, you could snag
some incredible last-minute deals. Airlines, hotel rooms,
rental cars, and vacation packages are often deeply discounted
if space is still remaining with little time to spare. You
could save hundreds on travel arrangements, but space is not
guaranteed and it might be tricky to get all of your friends
hooked up with the same deal. This route is best for small
groups or solo travelers who just want to get away from campus
- without having their heart set on any particular
destination.
Travel in
large groups
Spring Break is more fun when you get all your friends
involved - and you'll find the more friends you bring along,
the cheaper your trip becomes. Travel providers almost always
offer discounted rates for groups of six or more; you can
easily save hundreds over the cost of a trip for only two or
three people. If you get enough friends together, look into
being a representative for a Spring Break travel provider.
Most companies will give you a free Spring Break trip just for
signing up all your friends. Additionally, if you don't book a
vacation package, you can often get discounts for reserving
blocks of hotel rooms. And don't forget - the more people to
split the cost of a room, the more drinks you'll get to enjoy
on the beach!
Use an
Online Booking Engine
As a college student, you're well-aware that some of the best
deals around are only available online. Travel arrangements
are no exception! Be sure to check out OneTravel,
Vacation
Outlet, Hotwire,
Priceline, Expedia,
Orbitz,
Cheap
Tickets, and Travelocity
before making reservations with any Spring Break provider or
travel agency. While it might be difficult to find
all-inclusive deals, you could probably save money by putting
together your own vacation. These Web sites specialize in
deeply discounting airfares and hotel rooms, so take advantage
of some of the best prices around.
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