I didn't take a Spring Break trip until my senior year of college, and the trip didn’t exactly have the most typical of planning when one of my friends randomly brought up Panama City Beach jokingly in a group chat about a week before spring break.  The idea snow-balled into a reality as me and three of my closest friends packed up one of our parent's vans for the road trip.  I had my doubts on whether or not it was a good decision, but the memories that I came back with were unforgettable and I wouldn't trade them for the world.  The trip is still a common topic of conversation and is always referred to with endearment.  As we get older--as you prepare to leave college--you will look back at what you have and have not accomplished, both academic and social.  Since I want everyone to walk away from college with great experiences, I'm here to help give you some tips and tricks to make your spring break planning much smoother.

Destination

This might be the hardest or easiest part of Spring Break planning—choosing your destination.  Think about what you would like to do and who you will be going with.  If you are going with your family chances are that the destination has already been picked.  If you’re going with friends you do have some freedom to choose where you would like to go.  Take into consideration what you and your friends actually want to do.  Do you want to lie on a beach and bathe in the sunlight or do you want to go snowboarding in Colorado?  Or maybe you all want to go to a theme park?  Here are a few suggestions to help get you started:

Destin, FL

• This was where my friends and I went for spring break.  We chose Destin because it wasn’t going to be as hectic as Panama City and it was within reasonable driving distance if we did decide to go there.  Turned out to be a great location and even if we didn’t go to the beach there was shopping nearby as well as a movie theater.

Phoenix, AZ

• I have made many trips out to Arizona and honestly, if you love the outdoors and want to have some great opportunities to go hiking and see some beautiful scenery then this area is for you.  Even if you didn’t stick around Phoenix you have places like Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, Sedona, Tempe, and even the Grand Canyon to checkout.  The nightlife is fun and there is no greater feeling than hiking all the way to the top of Camelback Mountain and no greater sight than the Grand Canyon.

Denver, CO

• For those of you looking for some good snowboarding or skiing resorts I would head out west to Colorado.  There are quite a few good resorts, but one of the most recommended is Vail Ski Resort and Steamboat.  Both are known for being good quality.

Orlando, FL

• Disney World.  Do you need any other reason?  In all seriousness, this is a great place to visit, especially if you are going with a group of people.  You have multiple parks you can choose from, and most of the time you can find decent group deals if you group together a reservation with their resort.  Regardless of how old you are you will find something to enjoy here.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard from someone that they didn’t enjoy Disney.

Keep in mind that if you are traveling in a group of friends, you probably will have moments where some people don't want to do the same things.  So, make sure that you have options for things to do.  For example, find out if there is a theme park, shopping center, pool, or museums nearby so you can make sure everyone has options to do things other than just going to the beach or lay around the hotel room.

Transporation

After you decide where you are going to go figure out your method of transportation.  Be realistic.  If you want to go to Los Angeles but can’t afford the flight, maybe you should rethink where you want to go and go somewhere within driving distance so you don’t waste 2 days of your vacation in a car, unless a road trip was a part of your plans.  Driving takes up time, although it could be cheaper at times.  If you know you would fly regardless of where you are going, you can check out these websites to find cheap airfare (as well as other options such as hotel or rental car pricing): Travelocity, Hotwire, Southwest, Expedia, Orbitz, CheapAir, Kayak, Priceline, Trivago, and CheapOAir.

Booking Your Flight:

1. Generally flights start selling tickets 335 days out.  Book as early as you can; flights to popular destinations get more expensive as they fill up.  You may have heard that you should buy your tickets 54 days out, but there is no hard evidence that shows that is the best time.  Considering you are in that window right now (spring break for UIUC is March 18^th-26^th if you didn’t already know), you should still be able to find tickets if you do choose to fly.
2. If you can, schedule your trip to fly on weekdays instead of weekends.  Typically the best days to buy a ticket are Tuesdays and Wednesdays while Friday and Sunday are the most expensive.  Also, keep in mind that March is typically known as the month for spring breaks for almost every university out there, so be prepared for prices to be higher as it is a seasonal time where airfare will be more expensive.
3. When you find good airfare don’t wait; flights will fill up and prices can change.
4. Check alternate airports, airlines, and websites for booking.  Consider mixing and matching your flights and picking times that are either very early or late.  Sometimes, you'll find big savings that way.
5. Pay baggage and other airline-imposed fees in advance to avoid hassle at the airport and added cost.  Also, if you can print out your boarding pass ahead of time do so, it’ll save you any stress if you’re running behind.
6. When you choose a hotel, don't just consider price, also think about the type of trip you desire and the location you want to be in.  Most of the websites mentioned before offer deals for booking flights and hotel rooms together.

If you do fly don’t forget that you will need some way to get to your hotel let alone the beach or theme park you plan on spending so much time at.  Car rentals that are for a week or less are better to be booked with major companies such as: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National or Thrifty.  On most travel booking sites you should be able to get a car rental with your flight.  Or if you aren’t finding a good deal try going directly to the site that you want to book with.  They might have deals going on, especially if it’s around a holiday time.  Most companies will rent a car to you are long as you are 18-years-old, however there are age penalties for being under 25 that you will have to pay as well as a bunch of other hidden fees and surcharges.  Talk amongst your group and make sure that everyone is willing to split the cost so one person doesn’t get stuck with an $800 bill for the week.  If you want to know more about hidden fees check out Independent Traveler’s post here to save yourself from any unpleasant surprises.

Packing

As exciting as it is to think about getting away, don’t neglect packing.  Make sure that you have a list ready.  The things that I found  myself always forgetting were my sunglasses and toothpaste, which thankfully I could always buy at a drugstore or at the airport.  Here’s a list both guys and gals should consider as your putting your things together:

Beach Bag/Draw String Bag/Backpack:  You’ll want to keep these items easily accessible whether you're traveling by car, train, bus, or plane.

• Ticket(s).  This includes plane or bus tickets as well as any tickets for events that you may be attending.
• Cell phone & Charger.  There is nothing sadder then that moment when your phone is about to die that you realize you forgot your charger.
• ID.  If you’re staying within the U.S. make sure you have your driver’s license or state ID.  If you are traveling abroad make sure you have your passport.
• Wallet.  You’ll want to have some kind of wallet on you to keep your ID’s and other cards in.  You will also want to keep cash handy in case you run into any issues with your cards.
• Sunglasses.  Even if it looks like it’ll be cloudy during your whole trip you will want something to keep the sand out of your eyes on the beach.
• Headphones.  Because you will be very sad if you forget them and trust me, the duration of your travel time to your destination will seem a lot longer than what it is without them.
• Snacks.  Whether you’re in the car, in the hotel, or on the beach you’ll want to keep these nearby.
• Gum.  For those late nights you forget to brush your teeth and it’s a known fact that gum can help temporarily curb your hunger in case you don’t have any snacks.

Toiletries:  If you're traveling by plane, remember TSA’s 3-1-1 rule.

• Skincare.  Face wash, moisturizer (for face and body; yes those require two different kinds of moisturizers), and soap (usually your hotel will have soap provided, but if you have sensitive skin you may want to just bring your own to avoid any issues).
• Contact Lens Supplies.  For all of my contact lens wearers.  That means, case, extra contacts, and solution.  And if you have glasses, no matter how much you hate wearing them, bring them just in case.
• Deodorant and/or Antiperspirant.  Warm weather usually means sweating.  Keep one of these on hand to help control the sweat and odor.
• Dental Care.  Toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, and mouth wash.
• Sunscreen.  My personal favorite is Sun Bum.  They have a lot of good products that can generally be found at your local drugstore or even places like Ulta or Walmart.  They have products for your face and body to help prevent sunburn as well as help heal sunburns if you happen to get one.  It is necessary to protect your skin against the sun, especially if you are going to be hanging out on a beach all day or even at an outdoor shopping center.
• Makeup.  You shouldn’t really need to worry about bringing any makeup with you unless you are planning to go somewhere nice.  But, if you are insistent on taking makeup try to make sure that it is waterproof.
• Shaving Tools.  Razor, shaving cream, shaving brush—whatever you use to shave, make sure you have it.
• Hair Styling Tools & Product.  This can include a hair brush, hair dryer, straightener, hair ties, bobby pins, curler, as well as hair spray, gel, shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, and anything else you like to use to take care of your hair.
• First Aid Kit.  You don’t need anything elaborate, just some Band-Aids and maybe some gauze just in case any injuries happen.  You can stuff your medications into this kit as well for any headaches or insect bites.
• Feminine hygiene products.  Just in case…
• Tweezer.  These are actually a tool that can come in handy often, it’s good to keep them on hand, but if you’re traveling by plane make sure it’s in a checked bag because if it is in your carryon they may confiscate it.
• Q-tips.  With all the time you’ll be spending at the beach and/or pool you’ll want to keep a pack of these around.  If you forget them you can always stop by the local drugstore to get some!
• Cologne & Perfume.  For when you might have a night out with your friends.

Clothes:  Bring separates that you can mix and match and stick to a basic color scheme!

• Swimsuit(s)/Swim Shorts.  Obviously this will be necessary unless you don’t plan on swimming at all.
• Tanks and Tees.  From tanks to dress shirts, make sure you have attire for the events that you plan on attending or any dinners you plan on going to.
• Sweatshirt or Sweater.  In case the weather gets chilly in the evenings.
• Shorts & Jeans.  It’s quite possible that where you are going will be cool in the evenings or might have a cool day or two during your vacation.  Make sure your prepared to change depending on the weather.
• Shoes.  This can be anywhere from tennis shoes, to flips flops and sandals.  Whatever it is you want to bring make sure you have the appropriate shoes.  Also, don’t forget to bring socks!
• Cover-up.  Doesn’t matter if this is a dress, t-shirt, or blanket.  Just have something to put on over your swimsuit at the beach or pool, especially if you’ve gotten too much sun.
• Plenty of underwear.  And ladies, don’t forget bras!
• Sweats.  For some necessary down time.
• Jewelry/watch/other accessories.  I recommend not taking a lot of jewelry with you other than a few versatile items, but if you do have a watch bring it.  It helps to keep track of time if your phone dies or you don’t want to take your phone down to the beach or pool.

Miscellaneous:  You can also always get these things when you reach your destination or talk with your friends to bring them.

• Disposable camera.  Your smartphone may work just fine, but make sure you have a waterproof case on it.  If you take a disposable camera at least this way you don’t have to worry about something expensive getting damaged.
• Charger(s).  Because it’s better to have a backup in case you lose your current one or one of your friends forgets/loses theirs.
• A book or magazine.  The book I highly recommend is Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh.  It’s hilarious and I promise you won’t be able to put it down.
• Beach hat.  A beach hat or a baseball hat works.  It helps keep the sun out of your eyes and off your face.  It can also serve as a nice way to give yourself some shade if you are trying to take a nap.
• Koozies.  Not a necessity, but these are nice for keeping your beverage cold if you’re at the beach or hanging out at a pool.
• Mini emergency kit.  Pinch Provisions has you covered!
• Zip-lock bag.  Or waterproof pouch for your wet swimsuit.
• Football.  A regular football or a nerf football works depending on what your method of travel is.  Just relaxing on a beach can get boring sometimes so bringing this or even a Frisbee or volleyball with can make things more fun.
• Deck of cards.  Because when you’re sitting at a table with a group of your friends a card game can make things much more interesting.
• Beach towel.  You can always just use towels from the hotel if you don’t bring one (or are you not supposed to do that?)

You may be thinking that this list is long, but if you’re going with a group consider assigning certain items to each individual to bring, because while there may not be enough room in your bag to pack everything, it’s likely that your hotel room won’t be able to support all of your electronics and hair care either.  Not only that, but most hotels come with things such as hair dryers, soap, conditioner, shampoo, and towels.  If it helps, print off this list and check off the circles as you go just to make sure nothing gets missed!  Furthermore, if you’re flying take a look at the TSA’s blog here to read over their tips on traveling efficiently while following requirements.

While You're Away

While you're packing don't forget to think about your apartment.  While Spring Break is a common reason for campus being empty, it is also a time period where there might be an increase in break-ins because people will assume the majority of students have left their apartment.  Because you might be gone for an extended period of time consider these precautions when you are leaving your apartment:

1.  Don’t tell anyone you’re leaving.  This may sound a little silly, but be careful who you tell that you are leaving town.  My parents always told me that even a friend of yours can be the cause of your apartment being broken into.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
2. Make sure your pet (if you have one) and belongings are in good hands.  If you have a pet then make sure that a friend or family member you trust is going to be taken care of while you are gone.  If you don’t have a pet, but have plants or just want someone to check up on your apartment make sure you have someone in mind for this as well.  You never know when you might need someone to run to your apartment to check on your thermostat or that stove that you thought you turned off.
3. Packages and other mail.  Plan to have someone pick up your packages or let the delivery service
4. Pay attention to the weather.  Living in Champaign means you are subjected to all of the wonderful, bipolar, Midwestern weather as we transition from winter to spring.  While you may be looking at the forecast thinking you will be fine to set your apartment to a certain temperature thinking it won’t drop to freezing temperatures, but Illinois is full of surprises.  It can be 60 degrees one day and 30 the next.  So make sure you keep someone on speed dial in case you need them to go check up on your apartment to make sure your thermostat is set at the appropriate temperature or to open those windows if it’s nice outside.

If you want to take any further steps to protect your apartment while you are away check out Porch's video to help keep your apartment secure!