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.

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.