Tips for Saving on a Spring Break Trip

For university students, spring break is a reprieve. It’s a time to relax and get away from the stress of a long winter and endless classes, assignments, and exams. Most students take this time to jet set away to a fun destination. Yet, travelling can be expensive – especially for university students trying to stretch their money as far as possible. Fortunately, it is possible to travel even when you’re on a budget — here’s how.

Book Your Trip Early

Booking early can help you avoid stress, last-minute decisions, and high rates and fees. It can also help you secure the best deals for the hottest locations. Rates on flights and accommodations only escalate as the spring break season nears. Since many students travel and book accommodations during this time, it can be near-impossible to find a deal. So, the earlier you book, the less you’re likely to pay. If possible, try to book your trip at least six weeks in advance.

On the other hand, some spring break destinations are so popular that you might need to book months in advance, especially for international trips. You should also plan your itinerary and book tickets for events or venues early. Many resorts and entertainment venues offer discounted tickets for purchase online well before the spring break season.

Choose a Budget-Friendly Location

Although they’re fun, spring break hot spots are notoriously expensive. Locations like Cancun, Mexico, Panama City Beach, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas aren’t the most budget-friendly. Thus, you should choose a more affordable option if you’re limited with spending. Fortunately, there are still plenty of affordable hot spots for the budget-conscious student. Some of the most affordable spots include:

• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Sanibel Island, Florida
• The Dominican Republic

These locations offer cheaper flights, accommodations, food and drink, transportation, and entertainment. They also offer strong cultural environments, warm weather, and beautiful beaches.

To save even more money, travel with friends. During spring break, groups receive special rates and discounts. Friends can also share the financial responsibility of the trip by sharing rooms and splitting the costs of food.

Look for Deals on Accommodations

Spring break deals on accommodations aren’t hard to find, but to find the best options, you must be strategic with your search. Booking sites are a wise starting point, as they often have deals for early bookers throughout the year. They also offer ‘secret sales,’ which basically require the booker to shop and buy blind. These sales offer super low rates on 3 to 4-star hotels for immediate bookings. However, you won’t see the amenities or specific details until the reservation is confirmed.

Alternatively, renting a house or condo with your friends is guaranteed to save you money. But for the best deal, you must search several sites and book in advance. The process is similar to one you’d take when searching for the best student apartments Ottawa has to offer: you’ll want to act quickly to take advantage of the most desirable opportunities.

For deals on events, restaurants, bars, entertainment, and shopping, search popular coupon sites, like Groupon. You could also search for all-inclusive packages with living accommodations, food, drinks, and entertainment covered in the final price.

Monitor Air Fares

If you want the best deal on a flight, monitor air fares from multiple airlines. Booking sites are great for comparing prices, but they don’t offer the lowest prices. The lowest prices on air fare are offered directly through the airlines themselves. To monitor these rates and ensure you book the cheapest flight, use an online fare monitoring tool. This will allow you to monitor and view flights from multiple airlines at one time.