Come March 3, hundreds of Penn students will be enjoying picturesque beaches, sparkling oceans and wild parties -- all parts of a memorable spring break.
But before students can put up their feet and work on their tans, trips must be planned, flights must be booked, and hotel rooms must be reserved.
In other words, a lot of work needs to be done.
Students can get on the road to relaxation by picking from one of the many sunny spots that past college vacationers have frequented.
While choices abound -- from south Florida to Acapulco -- Hawaii and Cancun remain the most popular spring break choices, Travel Adventures travel agent Katherine Malson said.
But while Hawaii may offer the more luxurious vacation, that extra comfort comes at a price.
According to Expedia.com, the cheapest price for a flight from Philadelphia to Cancun is $270 less per person than a similar jaunt to Honolulu.
Cancun "has a lot of all-inclusive resorts that are a fantastic deal," Malson said. "For one price, you get your room, all your meals, all your drinks, a lot of activities, nightclubs and more. ... [In Hawaii, vacationers] will pay the same price for the equivalent of a Motel 6 as they would for an all-inclusive resort in Cancun."
Once the destination has been picked, matters can become even more complicated in an attempt to sift through possible flight and hotel packages.
While most college students will use online services such as Expedia, Orbitz.com or Travelocity.com to plan their trips, Malson said travel agents can provide a faster service and still produce comparable prices.
Those travel Web sites can often impose restrictions on the times and dates of certain flights, as well as advertising flights that have already been sold out, making trip planning "an exercise in frustration," Malson said.
According to Eltyna McCree, owner of San Francisco's A Travel Moment travel agency, many professional travel agents can also provide passports or visas for students who have never gone abroad before.
When making plans, students should make sure not to be fooled by possible false advertising.
"You have to be careful because pictures don't always look the same as the actual place," said College sophomore Brittany Jones, who vacationed in South Beach, Fla., over spring break last year.
Students should also be discreet about giving away personal information online Web sites when booking flights and hotel rooms, Jones said.
