Tips for Spring Break on a Budget

By Vivian El-Salawy on February 22, 2018

Spring break is on the forefront of almost everybody’s mind as they’re sitting in their 8AM class, staring at their overpriced caffeinated beverage. Whether you’ve already lined up your spring break plans or not, here are some tips for spring break on a budget:

  • Take a road trip

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Gas can be pricey, but guess what – flying can be just as pricey. Consider driving to your destination. Invite your friends and roommates. When road tripping, the more the merrier because then you are able to divide up the cost of gas between the group. Better yet, you can make more stops along the way. The trip can be much more flexible when you take a care, and you don’t have to worry about paying for Uber, Lyft, or other forms of transportation that can be costly.

  • Save on your stay

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Book a hotel room in advance, and consider doing so directly, rather than using websites where you have to pay a middleman fee. A cheaper alternative could be crashing with family friends. Hit up your out of state friends and see if any of them would be willing for you to crash at their place for a few days, especially if you will be out and about for most of the day. If you do stick to hotels, find some cheap deals – perhaps rooms with complimentary breakfasts and other perks.

  • Pack groceries with you

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It might be a good idea to grab dinner somewhere local a couple times throughout your trip, but for the rest of your meals – buy groceries ahead of time! Seriously, pack some snacks, breakfast bars and fruits, maybe sandwich making materials and drinks too. You can save loads of money by not having to pay for three meals a day. If you’re staying in a hotel, try and find a room with a fridge and a microwave, so that you can spend some time in the kitchen making meals between you and your friends.

  • Always ask for a discount

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You’ll have to have your ID on you regardless, so wherever you go, never forget to ask about any applicable discounts (especially student discounts). You would be surprised by how many restaurants and other establishments provide student discounts, particularly over spring break.

  • Consult locals

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It is never a bad idea to approach locals about potential activities, foods, and other advice on local amenities. Sometimes some of the best spots are the ones that others don’t know about (having said that, the less tourist-based spots can also be much cheaper as well). Ask the front desk of your hotel about any deals that they might share with places nearby, rather than paying full price.

  • Travel on off days/times

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Not only is it easier on you to not hit traffic, but it’s easier on your wallet as well. Rather than struggling through stop/go traffic for hours on the way to your next destination, find wonky times of day to drive and save yourself tons of money on gas, as well as precious time that can be spent relaxing at your place-to-be.

These are just a few things that you can do to enjoy a spring break trip on a budget. There are many steps that you can take in preparation for your trip to help save up, but it’s crucial to not blow all of your money on silly expenses along the way and to make the most out of your time and money.

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