Come mid-March, students will squirm in their seats in anticipation of a week filled with fun, sun and no classes.
Why? Because Spring Break, which is March 19-27, usually preoccupies students.
Other students will be squirming at the thought of spending a week at home with nothing to do, as slushy March weather overtakes the potential of doing anything fun.
There's no need for monotony this upcoming Spring Break as there are many travel options that cost less money than most students imagine.
Student Travel Agency Advisor Kelly Peterson urges students to consider packages.
\A mistake college students tend to make is that they are scared of packages. They will see an all-inclusive package for about $900 and they will think that's so much money,"" she said. ""Then, they buy their airfare, hotel, car and food all separately and it ends up costing them more money. Packages are a much better deal than most people think.""
Student Travel Center Advisor, junior Steve Delonge, also emphasized the positives for packages because all-inclusive trips and party packages save money for students planning to go out a lot, as cover charges can really add up, he said.
Peterson also said two of the most popular destinations, Cancun and Jamaica, have very reasonable packages.
Another way to save money is to stay away from the gift shops, and bring most necessities from home.
""Kids spend too much money once they get to their destination,"" Peterson said. ""The more pre-planning and time people spend before going on their trip, the better.""
Considering various exchange rates around the globe can also help save a few extra dollars.
Countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic have weaker currencies than the United States. This makes daily expenses significantly less than choosing to travel in countries that use the euro or the United Kingdom pound, where the U.S. dollar is not worth as much.
Peterson also noted buying and making reservations in advance will protect against paying too much because of a weak conversion rate.
""It's better to buy here-like if you go to Europe, it is best to book your hostel or hotel in the U.S. because right now the exchange rate in Europe is not very good,"" she said. ""It would cost 30 percent more to do it over there.""
