7 SPRING BREAK TRAVEL TIPS EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW
By Jason Jourdan
After a long, dreary winter, everyone is ready for a break. If you’re heading somewhere fun for spring break,there are a few things you need to know. Whether you’re a college student hitting the beach for a week-long party, a family looking for a low-key and relaxing getaway, or a solo traveler ready for the ultimate adventure, these spring break travel tips are just what you need to make your trip the best it can be!
1. Book early
It’s important to book as many things as you can in advance, especially if you’re heading to a popular destination like Cancun, Las Vegas, Miami, South Padre Island, or Puerto Vallarta. Hotels, Airbnbs, resorts, and activities will fill up fast, so you’ll want to book early to guarantee your spot. If you don’t book early, you may end up in a location or hotel you don’t really want to be in, and it could be a lot more expensive than you planned. Sometimes, booking activities early means you could get a discount or skip the line!
2. Do your research
Choose your destination wisely. Some places will be college-student-party central, while others will be geared towards families, so it’s important to do your research so you can get exactly what you’re looking for. If you want a week-long party on the beach, try a beachfront hotel in Miami. For a more family-friendly, relaxing trip, try an Airbnb in the Florida Keys, where it’s much less crowded and there are more family activities.
3. Take safety precautions
You should always take extra safety precautions whenever you travel to a place you are unfamiliar with, but especially during popular travel times like spring break, and in destinations with high tourist crime rates. Before you leave for your trip, make sure a friend or family member knows where you’ll be and has a copy of your itinerary. Be sure to leave any valuables, like expensive jewelry or electronic devices, at home.
Once you arrive, use your hotel’s safe to store your extra money, passport, plane tickets, and other things you’ll need for the trip. Be cautious when using an ATM- always go during daylight and with a group.
4. Pack what you need
It’s tempting to want to pack your whole closet- but do you really need a different swimsuit for every day of the week? Probably not. Packing light will leave you extra room for sunscreen, flip-flops, sunglasses, and beach towels. These items can easily cost twice as much once you get to your destination, so save your wallet and bring them from home.
While you don’t want to over-pack, make sure to be prepared for the weather at your destination. Check what the weather will be like at your destination a few days before you leave to make sure you’ll be ready, rain or shine.
5. Drink carefully
Look, we all know spring break is a time to kick back and take a break from the daily grind. (And we also know that means there will probably be alcohol consumption. A lot of it.) Just make sure to be careful how much and where you’re drinking alcoholic beverages, and stay hydrated with plenty of water, especially if you are out in the sun. You will get dehydrated much faster than you think when you’re drinking out in the heat. Be careful about drinking in hot tubs- the heat heightens the effects of alcohol and can be extremely dangerous. When in doubt, just don’t do it at all.
Don’t leave your drink unattended- if you do, throw it out and get another one. You never know who is around you that might slip something into your drink, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you start to notice symptoms of a predatory drug in yourself or a friend, leave immediately and get back to your hotel or a hospital if necessary. A great way stay safe at a bar or club is to stay with a friend or a group of friends so you can watch out for each other.
6. Explore off the beaten path
Even if you purposely chose a crowded, touristy destination so you could be in the middle of all the action, it’s still fun to take a break for a few hours and go exploring somewhere off the beaten path. It’ll be a great way to relax, unwind, and experience something new before you head back to the crowded beach.
7. Travel insurance
You didn’t think we’d leave travel insurance off this list, did you? Staying protected on your trip could mean the difference between a great spring break and terrible one. If you’re traveling internationally for spring break, purchasing a travel insurance plan will give you the peace of mind you need to have a relaxing, fun trip!
