How to Plan Spring Break

Plan ahead for fun

One week in March or April is a highlight of many a hard-working college student's year: the annual rite of spring break. Start planning now--leave it to the last minute and you might miss the good deals.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get on the horn to your friends. Figure out who's going and how many people you can cram into a single hotel room.

2. Decide where to go and how much you have to spend to get there. Most warm weather destinations -- Mexico, Rio, the Bahamas, Ibiza -- require flight reservations (not to mention a passport). Why not take a road trip to Florida and Texas? Or head to the mountains for a late-season ski trip.

3. Research packages, but watch out for scams and hidden costs, such as booking and resort fees and peak week charges.

4. Budget about $350, in addition to hotel and airfare, for food and activities for the week.

Tips & Warnings

• Travel to Mexico, Jamaica or Bahamas requires a valid passport or a certified birth certificate copy and a valid government-issued photo ID.

• Save on expensive hotel food with a pre-purchased meal plan, or opt for an all-inclusive resort.

• For an alternative spring break, work on a local or international project.