College 101: Planning Spring Break
Feb 15 '05
The Bottom Line A college student's guide to planning Spring Break.
Going on Spring Break can be a lot of fun... if it is planned correctly. There are so many different aspects that go into Spring Break planning, that it can be outrageously stressful. That's where I come in. Read this little guide on planning your Spring Break, and you are sure to have a fun time planning it as well as going on the vacation itself!
Planning Spring Break is always very rewarding. A lot of work goes into making sure you and your friends are going to have a good time on a trip, and, when you do, you know that your hard work has paid off. However, there can also be a power struggle when it comes to planning Spring Break.
How To Avoid a Spring Break Power Struggle
First and foremost, a Spring Break Leader needs to be appointed. Sure, this can be a self-appointed role. Just realize that you are going to take on a lot of responsibility, and you will receive ALL of the blame if the Spring Break trip is a stinker. However, you will receive a lot of praise if it's AWESOME-- and you'll probably be asked to plan the subsequent Spring Breaks while you're at college.
You can appoint yourself Spring Break leader without being obnoxious at all. Say something to your friends like, "I was thinking about all of us going on Spring Break together. Would you want to?" Once they agree, tell them that you would be happy to plan the trip. Usually, no one else wants to take on the responsibility, so you will be a shoe in.
HOWEVER, this does not mean that you have total say over where you go and what you do. You need to give your friends options. Don't go over their budgets, or you will be vacationing alone.
Deciding Where To Go
Okay, now that you've gotten the leadership role sorted out, it's time to decide where you want to go. Determine if your group wants to go somewhere warm or cold, domestic or international, all-inclusive or a la carte, beach or mountains... You get the idea.
So now you know the climate and activities where everyone would like to go. Terrific. But, there is one major factor that comes into play here: The budget. Find out how much each person wants to spend on Spring Break as a TOTAL. This includes airfare, hotel and all incidentals. People don't realize how much money gets spent on alcohol and activities during Spring Break. You really need to keep this in mind.
If your group decides on $400 and less per person, chances are that you will be staying in the USA at a Comfort Inn somewhere. If it's between $400 - $800, you can probably get a good deal in England or somewhere else in the UK. If you're at over $1000 each, basically anywhere is fair game.
Think Outside The Box
Do not automatically think that you have to go to some party place, like Panama City, just to have a good time. What do you want to do on your Spring Break? Do you want to go to a common Spring Break place? What types of activities are you interested in? Where is a place that you have always wanted to go, but never had the chance?
You would be surprised at how many different options there are for you out there. For example, many people rent out their timeshares at a rate that is a lot less than what a hotel would go for. You can also become an Associate Travel Agent and go on a familiarization trip for a fraction of what the regular cost of the trip is. You can always stay at a hostel. What you do really depends on the likes and dislikes as well as the budget of the people that you are traveling with.
Ask For Help
If you aren't experienced with planning travel, it's a good idea to ask someone for help. You would be surprised at how much you can find out on websites like Travelocity and Orbitz. Get suggestions from people that travel. You can even go to a travel agency! I'm sure that there is a Student Travel within your university. (Of course, you can always email yours truly!)
Believe it or not, your parents really might have some good suggestions of where you should go-- That is, if you're not looking for a place to get blitzed and party every night. Hey... A little culture never hurt anyone.
In Conclusion...
Spring Break is a time to have fun and relax. It's a break from all of your hard work at college. It should be fun to plan, too. Start planning as early as possible. This gives people more time to save up for the trip-- and more time to look forward to it. Waiting until the last minute will most likely make for a lousy Spring Break. Do the planning and be rewarded!
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