It may still seem
like weve just started 2024, but were well on our way to March and the time
has already come to start planning your spring
break escapes. Sure, summer is still a long way off, but that doesnt mean
a warm-weather getaway cant be in the cards for you in the coming weeks. Spring
break can fall anywhere from March to April, depending on your specific school or
university schedule, and it pays to be thinking ahead.
According to Hoppers
Spring Break Travel Outlook, 77 percent of travelers say they have not
booked their trips yet, despite the rapid approach of this school holiday
period, so the time to start booking is now! To get the best prices on either
domestic or international travel, you need to book those flights between one
and two months in advance to check-in, the price comparison engine said. For
domestic trips, you can get away with booking your hotel stay 10-14 days prior
to check-in, but hotel stays abroad should be booked a month in advance.
How Spring
Break Is Shaping Up
Hoppers report
revealed that, although three-quarters of Americans who plan on traveling for
spring break intend to spend the same or more than they did during the same
period last year, affordability is still top-of-mind and vacationers are looking
to stretch their budgets as far as possible. HotelPlanner CEO Tim Hentschel confirmed as much in speaking
with USA
Today.?
Hentschel also told
the outlet that spring break travel looks different today than it used to. The
typical spring break has changed now youre seeing record demand for parks
and destinations for giving back (with volunteer work), he said. Other trends
include following in the footsteps of social media influencers and set-jettingvisiting
the filming locations of ones favorite films or TV series.?
Friends having fun on spring break. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Mirko Vitale)
Pricing Has
Plateaued
On at least one of
these fronts, travelers have some good news to celebrate. Air travel prices
have plateauedeven droppedsince last year, according to Hopper. Both domestic
and international round-trip airfares have fallen, with flights to Europe down
by seven percent, and those to Mexico and Central America having dropped 11
percent. Although spring break travel demand is stronger, theres plenty of
supply to go around, according to Hentschel. Theyre not paying more than what
they paid last year, he said.
Unfortunately, Spring
Breakers wont enjoy the same cost reduction when it comes to accommodations,
particularly during peak weekend days. Average nightly hotel rates will range
from $242 in the U.S. and $339 in Mexico to $440 in London, U.K. and nearly
$500 in destinations like Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. One helpful hint to
mitigate your overall expenditure is to begin your vacation midweek, rather
than on the weekend, Hopper advised.?
The Most Popular
Destinations
According to
Hopper, the top domestic spring break destinations include Orlando,
Las
Vegas and Miami,
with average airfares ranging from $186 to $295. Internationally, Cancun,
London
and Punta
Cana top the list, with average airfares ranging from $403 to $1,368.
Here is the full rundown
of Hoppers most sought-after spring break destinations:
Domestic
- Orlando:
$205 average airfare, $175 average hotel rate
- Las Vegas: $295
average airfare, $178 average hotel rate
- Miami: $251
average airfare, $339 average hotel rate
- Fort Lauderdale: $216 average airfare, $288 average hotel rate
- Nashville: $186 average airfare, $257 average hotel rate
International
- Cancun: $403
average airfare, $339 average hotel rate
- London: $643
average airfare, $440 average hotel rate
- Punta Cana: $466
average airfare, $477 average hotel rate
- Los Cabos, Mexico:
$431 average airfare, $431 average hotel rate
- Tokyo: $1,368
average airfare, $351 average hotel rate
Group of young people going on a road trip. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Alessandro Biascioli)
Finding More Affordable Destinations
For travelers
seeking affordable alternatives to popular destinations, consider opting for
more budget-friendly options, heading for Cancun instead of Jamaica or Puerto
Rico rather than the Dominican Republic. Stateside, you might swap a stint in
Miami for Tampa or Fort Lauderdale to save on vacation costs. By opting for
less mainstream locales, you can enjoy a longer or more indulgent vacation while
spending less.?
I know everyone
wants to go to Italy nowadays, but you can easily fit in multiple trips to
these budget-friendly destinations for about the same cost that you can go to
Europe, James Clark from Squaremouth told USA Today. I think people need to
think about if they want to go on one big trip or multiple little trips.
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