How to Avoid Spring Break Crowds (for Adult Travelers)

You're planning a trip to South Padre Island or Cancun and the last thing you want is sharing your grown-up vacation with drunken spring breakers. Here's how to time your spring vacation to miss the rowdy college crowds.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 
    

   Do an internet search. Use the keywords "spring break" and "2009" or whatever year it is. Alternate search terms are "spring break schedule" or "spring break calendar." I found a great list on the Panama City, FL site that listed week-by-week what colleges had spring break scheduled. It even included the enrollment for those colleges so you could calculate when the biggest crowds would be.

2. 
    

   Call ahead or email the hotel at your preferred location. Ask them what dates they expect the biggest spring break crowds. Let them know you are looking for a quieter time.

3. 
    

   After browsing the schedule of college spring break dates and consulting with your destination, select a time for your vacation. If you've chosen wisely, your vacation will be blissfully free of boisterous students.

4. 
    

   If you slip up and find yourself sharing the beach with mobs of scantily clad students, you can still salvage a quiet vacation. Early morning on the beach is probably quieter. Treat yourself to a nice lunch, then have an evening picnic in your hotel room (avoiding the evening crowds). Ask the tourist bureau for tips and locations for getting away from the spring breakers.

Tips & Warnings

• For vacations near Mexico (South Padre Island, for instance) avoid also the week before Easter when lots of families travel during the Semana Santa (Holy Week) school break.

[smojica]

on 2/21/2009 Good tips! Avoiding spring breakers can be the difference between a drama and a vacation. 5*

[bethjess39564]

on 2/19/2009 I can appreciate these tips! Well written article.

[BellaCasa]

on 2/19/2009 Great tips, the last thing you want is a huge, loud crowd when you want a romantic getaway! 5*

[painthorse42]

on 2/19/2009 Helpful article! I don't like being around the party-type travelers! Thanks! 5*

[wordstock]

on 2/19/2009 Great tips! I too want to avoid the spring break crowds.