Editor’s note: We’d like to introduce our new deals columnist Veronica Ripson, who you may recognize from last week’s Guest List. She’ll dish on deals, coupons and other money-saving measures daily, starting next week.
If you’re anything like me – and I assume you are if you read College Money Mag – you probably dread Spring Break. The time off is nice, yes, but unless you plan a year or two in advance or have very financially supportive parents, Spring Break is a tough time to travel. Hotels and airlines jack up prices throughout March to accommodate students with unlimited pocket change. (Why do you think students drink so much on Spring Break? They have to forget how much they just spent to get there.)
So whether you’re a completely destitute college kid or a travel-fiend looking for bargains, here are a couple sites to start your search for the Most Affordable Youthful Break Ever (… MAYBE, for short).
LivingSocial Escapes
Good for: The mature traveler
LivingSocial is a Groupon-like site, featuring one deal a day in different locations. But LivingSocial has expanded its offerings beyond nail salons and house cleaning and ventured into vacation territory. These deals are posted weekly, and while the site doesn’t say when they update, I’ve noticed new deals on Tuesday and Wednesday.
LivingSocial Escapes has destinations all over the U.S. and some international ones as well. Most of these are meant for the more relaxed traveler, rather than the drink-’till-you-puke Spring Breaker. LivingSocial Escapes’ current offerings include a spa getaway in California, a foodie hotel in Tennessee, and even a bed-and-breakfast an hour away from Syracuse. Prices range from $80.00 for one-nighters to over $1000 for week-long, all-inclusive vacations.
Airfarewatchdog Top 50 Fares
Good for: The “pick up and go” traveler
There are two huge differences that make Airfarewatchdog better than most other travel sites. First, when you subscribe to e-mails, you can pick where you want to go if you know a certain place, or you can just pick “send me deals from my area.” (Surprisingly, there are even good deals from tiny airports like my hometown of Binghamton.) Second, Airfarewatchdog is not affiliated with any other company. Rumors often circulate that the big sites (I won’t name names) are paid by hotels and airlines to promote certain deals. However, I’ve never heard anything like that about Airfarewatchdog, so I trust its fares more than others.
The Top 50 fares are the cheapest available right at that moment. Be sure to check it regularly – many deals sell out right away, and some fares are as low as two dollars. Some of my favorite deals available right now and valid through Spring Break are:
- LaTrobe, Pa. to Ft. Lauderdale, $18
- New York City to Ft Lauderdale, $86
- New York City to Kingston, Jamaica, $283
- Seattle to London, $421
STA Travel
Good for: The discount-oriented student traveler, the confused traveler
STA Travel is the largest student-oriented travel agency in the world. If you’re really not sure where you want to go, check out STA’s “Inspire Me” links. They have tons of destination guides, travel blogs written by fellow college travelers, and even online communities open only to college students who want to go on a voyage or two.
STA has both hotel and travel deals. After picking United States from their “hotels” option, I was welcomed with guides to hostels in popular cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. STA features hostels from $30 and has real student reviews, including gems like “The guy behind reception was willing to ring out for a delivery of beer.” Okay, so there are lots of helpful reviews too, but I figured I’d warn you in advance: Some are in German and some are downright useless.
I’m more impressed with STA’s student-only airfare deals. Current offerings start at $95 roundtrip (Cincinnati to Chicago) and go up to $269 (still a magnificent deal from Chicago to Calgary). All of STA Travel’s current offers must be booked by the end of March, and since I started writing this article, two deals sold out. STA also has a “last-minute deals” section, which would be great if you’re leaving from a large city and want to head out anywhere you can find. This could definitely be a fun site for someone looking for something cheap, fun and quick.
If you’re looking for a more traditional spring break, STA still has packages available, including the Red Bull Soundclash in Las Vegas, featuring Cee-Lo and the Ting Tings. STA is actually a real travel agency, so they can help you plan your break, from airfare and hotel to events and deals.
But there are thousands of Spring Break options, so by all means, don’t let me pressure you. Just because I found a flight to New York City for 20 bucks doesn’t mean Law and Order in your parents’ basement isn’t a riveting Spring Break plan.
… Riiiiiiight.
Veronica Ripson studies advertising, women’s studies, and how to be awesome at Syracuse University. Yes, her Spring Break will probably cost less than yours. Reach her by e-mail at vripson@collegemoneymag.comor follow her on Twitter @veronicaripson. Photo by Dan Shouse on Flickr (cc)
