Spring Break Travel - What You Don’t Know Can Cost You!

Spring Break has become an annual ritual for more than a million college students each year. It is a time for students to take a break from the rigorous demands of their academic programs in order to relax before tackling a brand new quarter. 

Thousands of students buy all-inclusive travel packages that provide all arrangements for their entire vacation. These packages can be a tempting option for students – they often appear to offer very reasonable prices on airfare and accommodations while removing the burden of organizing the trip from the student.

Unfortunately, travel companies have created half a dozen different small hidden fees, in the form of departure taxes, processing fees, peak week surcharges, late booking fees, departure city surcharges, cancellation charges, and travel insurance. Alone, none of these fees amount to a significant sum of money. However, the cumulative effect of these fees is to increase the trip’s cost dramatically.

An independent study¹ examining Spring Break packages found that the resulting price for a spring break trip was on average 62%  higher than the prices advertised.

 The trip you thought was going to be $399, could end up costing you $650!

 

Tips on How to Stay Safe and Legal During Spring Break Vacation

We’ve all heard the horror stories about students getting hurt, attacked or going missing while away on spring break vacations, especially in foreign countries and heavily populated tourist areas. Stay safe and use your common sense.

Don’t go anywhere alone. Don’t even use public transportation alone.

Don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t know well.

If you choose to drink, stay with your friends at all times. Do not leave the bar or party with a stranger or a “new friend”.

If you are intoxicated, make sure there is a sober partier in your group to make sure no one gets hurt. Being drunk near the water or in a place where you can fall from a height can have devastating consequences.

Hold on to your drink. Never set your drink down and leave yourself vulnerable to being drugged.

Know the local laws where you are vacationing and follow them.

 

The Center for Student Legal Services can help you review and understand Spring Break Travel packages.  It’s not too late…if you need our help call and make an appointment!

^1. SPRING BROKE:  How to Avoid a Spring Break Ripoff, James Dubick, Christina Skellenger, Kellen Smith Public Interest Research Group, Los Angeles, CA, March 2004.