Saving Money and Staying Safe During Spring Break

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Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day have come and gone, but don't despair. That just means it's time to consider the next round of trip-worthy holidays. In March and April, the big ones are St. Patrick's Day, Easter, and, for high school and college students, Spring Break.

In the case of the latter, I've already offered a few commonsensical travel tips, courtesy of DealAngel – such as avoiding the mass migration and staying in less popular destinations. Recently, though, I discovered even more advice pertaining to Spring Break travel, this time thanks to Bob Diener, co-founder of Hotels.com and Getaroom.com, with whom I last spoke about how the travel industry has changed since 9/11. So, if you're planning to go somewhere for Spring Break and haven't yet made a decision, consider Bob's suggested destinations:

ᴥ New Orleans is full of festivals all spring, such as the Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 26-May 5), and there are free concerts in Lafayette Square every Wednesday in April, May, and June, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

ᴥ Favorite places for women to travel to are San Francisco, South Beach, and San Diego.

ᴥ Top destinations for college students for Spring Break on Getaroom.com are: Cancun, New York City, London, Panama City Beach, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Paris.

ᴥ Top family destinations for Spring Break on Getaroom.com are Orlando, Miami, Washington DC, Las Vegas, New York City, San Diego, London, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and Anaheim.

ᴥ For travel to Europe, fares are much lower for departures thru March 31.

ᴥ There are great deals in New York City in March – book the Americana Inn from $135 per night.

ᴥ March 20-April 14 is the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC – book in advance to get the best rates.

ᴥ There's nothing like springtime skiing – the weather is warmer and the rates are much lower. Book a room at The Lodge & Spa at Breckenridge from $149 per night.

Of course, beyond suggesting some specific deals and destination ideas, Bob also offered several safety tips for Spring Break travelers:

ᴥ Don't put your handbag around chairs when dining – this is a common attraction for thieves.

ᴥ Stay only in hotels that are accessible via electronic key at night, through a hallway.

ᴥ Don't wear jewelry.

ᴥ Travel with a group. Don't go out alone at night – and in some places, such as Mexico, women should not go out alone to clubs.

ᴥ Be careful with taxis, especially abroad. Make sure they're official taxis.

ᴥ If drinking, never leave your drink alone, as someone can add something to your drink.

All of the above warnings apply especially to solo female travelers, who might also appreciate the advice in my long-ago (but still relevant) post, “Tips for Women Traveling Alone.”

So, do you have any additional advice for saving money, making plans, and staying safe during the Spring Break travel season?

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below, contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com, or connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: While I occasionally accept free or discounted travel assistance when it coincides with my editorial goals, my opinion is never for sale, which means that everything written in my American Nomad blog and Moon travel guides is my unbiased reflection of the things that I see, do, and experience while traveling across the United States.

Photo of South Padre Island / Text © 2013 Laura Martone

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Laura Martone is Moon’s American Nomad and the author of Moon New Orleans, Moon Michigan, Moon Florida Keys, and Moon Baja RV Camping.