Spring Break on a budget

By: Traveler Staff

Posted: 3/14/05

Some UA students will hit the beaches and others will hit their homestead for Spring Break. Either way, they're counting their money wisely.

"For Spring Break me and a group of friends are going to Cancun ... it's the ultimate destination," freshman Jordan Thaeler said. "Every year 300,000 young Americans exploit the city. It's great; Cancun is like a little America in Mexico. The legal age is 18. Everyone needs to experience Cancun once."

But when it comes to trips involving planes, big groups, and passports sometimes it's best to leave it to a professional.

"For our trip we used an online travel agent called 'Springbreaksolutions.com.' The sight set up everything and it ended up costing us $1,200. The package was all-inclusive, seven days at a five star hotel, airfare, transportation from the airport, V.I.P. club access, everything," Thaeler said. "You can't have a budget when it comes to these things. You pretty much can't leave the country for under $1,000."

While some students plan trips in the United States and Mexico, others are happy to spend the week back home.

"For Spring Break I'm going home to Plano, Texas," freshman Kayla Whaling said. "I'm so excited. All I'm going to do is just hang out with my sister, visit friends, and tan by my pool. Why would I want to spend that kind of money on a trip that last one week, when I could spend on cute clothes that last all season?"

While some students try for the ultimate in relaxation, others use Spring Break as a time to give back. The UA's Wesley Foundation will be going on a mission trip to inner city Denver to help build low-income housing.

There is also campus-wide program called Alternative Spring Break. ASB raises money throughout the school year for their trips to keep costs at a minimum. This year they will travel to Boston for community service.

"I'm really pumped -- I've never been to Boston before. I have a lot of friends going and I think it's going to turn out to be a great trip," sophomore Lance Sharp, said.

Whether students are planning on going to the beach, the city or just relaxing at home, there is a perfect Spring break for everyone.