Spring break always seems to be right around the corner. This is either because you have to plan way in advance or because your friends are always talking about it – even if spring break is nine months away!
However, for many college students, spring break – a true “spring break experience” – can be unaffordable. Some of the most popular destinations book up months in advance if you are lucky, and hotel rooms could go for astronomical rates. Not to mention, you also need miscellaneous costs for food, incidentals and more. This is why it can help to brainstorm some other options if you want to take advantage of your time off without breaking the bank. Here are five cheap vacation options for college students on spring break.
- Make it a Staycation
Instead of going anywhere during spring break, you may just want to stick around your college town. The benefit of this is that your town will be empty. With all the college students gone, you’ll be able to stretch out and get some R&R – sometimes it can be nice to have some solo decompression time.
- Pool Your Resources
Another option for an affordable spring break is to pool your resources with friends. There is a good chance that you are going to celebrate the time off of school with friends, so why not see how much each of you can put in. Whatever the total amount is, you can create a joint budget that you all have to spend on spring break. If it’s not enough to cover plane travel, then you may have to take a car. If you don’t have enough for a hotel, you may have to share a motel room.
- Forget the Beach
During spring break, the beach is typically the most expensive place to be. Its simple supply and demand. If everyone is going to the beach, from Villanova University to George Fox, then there will be fewer resources, like hotel rooms, so everything will be much more expensive. However, if you head to a low key destination, you may be able to save a lot of money. For instance, river and lake destinations are popular, but not as overrun as some of the better-known beach destinations.
- Use Online Lodging Apps
There is also the option of using an online lodging app. One of the most popular apps is Airbnb. With Airbnb, you can search for hundreds of listings in numerous towns where you want to party during spring break. These apps are updated with personal listings for properties that range in price, from very affordable to very expensive. If you are looking to save money, you probably want to go with the former.
- Take a Road Trip
On top of everything, you may just want to head out in your car with a few friends. Road trips are fun and affordable. Plus, you can stay in various roadside motels or with friends along the way. In the end, this is a great way to get out of your college town and have a little adventure, which is important when you are trying to get your mind off college.
