By Susan Breslow Sardone
Honeymoons & Romantic Travel Expert, about.com
Spring break: If the words evoke a shudder -- or a flashback -- you're probably too old to enjoy its madness. And it can get pretty crazy, engulfing normally lovely vacation spots for a while.
In prime spring
break destinations, the sudden influx of college-age students is huge,
overtaxing local resources and spilling onto beaches, byways, cheap
hotels, fast-food joints, and popular sightseeing spots. According to
the US Department of State,
- "Over 100,000 American teenagers and young adults travel to Cancun over their Spring Break each year."
And if you've seen The Real Cancun,
you've witnessed how spring break boozing and cruising can get out of
hand in places that draw monster-sized crowds of college-age students
eager to cut loose.
That means there are certain places you would be
wise to avoid during spring break if you want a quiet, relaxing,
sophisticated honeymoon or holiday. (The rest of the year, they're fine
places to visit.)
While spring break dates vary from school to
school, most spring breaks are scheduled between early March and the
beginning of April.
SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS[post_ads_2]
Where do the giant
spring break crowds flock? To warm places where cheap lodging is
plentiful. If your vacation happens to fall during spring break and
you're traveling to one of these destinations, you're advised to stay at
a better hotel where the management doesn't look kindly on
accommodating four or more to a room.
The following destinations perennially draw large numbers of college students during spring break:
Spring Break In the USA
- Panama City, Florida
- South Beach, Miami, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Lake Havasu City, Arizona
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- South Padre Island, Texas
Spring Break in Mexico and the Caribbean[post_ads_2]
- Cancun, Mexico
- Mazatlan, Mexico
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Acapulco, Mexico
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Paradise Island, Bahamas
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Negril, Jamaica
In
addition, there are numerous cruises that depart during spring break.
If you're thinking of sailing during that period, check with a travel
agent or the cruise line before you book to determine if a certain cruise will be filled with spring breakers... and consider choosing another one.
WHERE CAN YOU ESCAPE FROM SPRING BREAK?[post_ads_2]
Don't
let the spring break hordes discourage you from traveling during this
period, though. There are wonderful places to visit where the only wet
T-shirt contest you will witness is in your own room, if that's your
pleasure. All of the following are safe to visit during this month of
madness in the US:
- Canada
- Europe
- Other Caribbean Islands
- Cities in the USA
DOES EVERY COLLEGE STUDENT GO WILD DURING SPRING BREAK?
Absolutely
not. Plenty spend their break working, visiting family, studying,
and/or donating their time to charity. But those won't be the ones in
the next room, keeping you awake at 5 a.m. as they drop water balloons
(and worse) from the balcony....
