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A group of college women enjoy spring break drinks outside in the sun.

Best Spring Break Destinations for College Students on a Budget

5 min read
Last Updated: October 9, 2024
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Key Takeaways

  1. You could save money on your spring break trip by booking in advance, carpooling, and looking for all-inclusive deals.

  2. Student rewards credit cards can earn extra rewards on trip-related expenses like gas.

  3. Florida beaches, New Orleans, and the Carolinas could all be affordable spring break destinations.

Spring break trips give college students a much-needed reprieve from classes, tests, and papers. Students on a budget should start planning their trip earlier in the school year to find the best deals and vacation rentals, build a trip fund, and get the most out of their credit card rewards. Plus, the best spring break destinations may cost less than you think.

Use a cash back credit card to earn rewards

With a student credit card from Discover, you can earn rewards while you shop. You can redeem your rewards for cash in any amount, any time.1

With the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card, you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

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How to find cheap spring break destinations

Book in advance

If you wait until March to book your hotel for spring break, you might face high rates. But if you start making plans a few months in advance, you could find a broad range of cheaper rates to choose from. That’s true for transportation costs, too—train and bus tickets tend to increase over time, and airfare fluctuates. The earlier you begin planning, the more opportunities you’ll have to find affordable transportation and lodging.

Consider all-inclusive vacation packages

Many popular destinations offer special all-inclusive packages for spring break trips that include vacation essentials in the booking fee, like accommodations, food and drinks, and excursions. However, not every all-inclusive vacation deal will have the same features. Some packages may cover airfare, while others don’t. Researching comparable packages and general costs in the area could help you identify the best deals for a spring breaker on a budget.

Try national parks instead of beach locations

When you hear “spring break,” you may think of partying on a beautiful beach. But what about hiking at sunrise, rock climbing, or stargazing under a clear, vast sky?

 

If those options appeal to you, you might consider spending spring break in a national park. Some national parks are free, while others charge between $10 and $50 entry fees per person. Instead of splurging on a resort, you could take advantage of temperate spring weather and camp under the stars.

Carpool with friends instead of flying

You could carpool with friends to your spring break destination, which could equal a fraction of the cost of plane tickets. Splitting the prices of gas, food, and any stops along the way across a large group could help everyone save a substantial amount of money. Plus, a road trip with good music and snacks is a great way to build lasting memories with your friends. You could also earn credit card rewards to use on future trips.

Did you know?

You can earn cash back rewards and build your credit history2 with the Discover it® Student Chrome Card. You can earn 2% Cashback Bonus® at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.3

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Best spring break trips on a budget

Whether you want to visit an iconic spot or an underrated gem, you have plenty of options for a cheap spring break trip. 

Florida beaches

From Panama City Beach to Key West, Florida is a popular choice for sun, sand, and waves on the East Coast. But popularity doesn’t have to mean a high price. To save money at a popular spring break destination like Miami Beach, you might look for hotels further north instead of pricier resorts in areas like South Beach.

You could also avoid crowds and high costs by checking out one of Florida’s lesser-known beaches. Disney World visitors usually look to nearby Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach for weekend getaways from the park. But they may overlook better deals at other beaches along the Space Coast (the region around Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station). Similarly, Pompano Beach offers miles of coastline and exciting diving excursions that you can often get for a lower price than neighboring Fort Lauderdale.

New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana, is home to a rich history and vibrant culture. You could spend your spring break enjoying Creole food and bars in the famous French Quarter. You could also experience live music and entertainment for free at one of the city’s many festivals or street fairs. While prices tend to go up for the famous Mardi Gras festivities, you may be able to score a great deal if your break falls in the weeks after the celebration.

Cabo San Lucas

Tens of thousands of spring breakers travel each year to Cabo San Lucas, a resort city in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Because it’s such a prominent vacation city, Cabo offers a range of accommodations, from lavish resorts to budget-friendly hotels. You could book at affordable midscale chains to save money. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a lot to enjoy the gorgeous beaches that make Cabo such an iconic destination. Note: As a U.S. citizen, you’ll need a valid passport to enter Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The Carolinas

North and South Carolina have many gorgeous beaches, like the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach. These beaches often come in at a lower price point than more tropical locales. While both states receive their fair share of spring break travelers each year, they’re usually less crowded than visiting during summer. You could snag a deal on a hotel during the off-season in March or April. The weather may be a little cool for swimming, but you could still enjoy spending time by the water and in nightlife or shopping districts, like South Carolina’s Broadway at the Beach.

Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu, Arizona, is an affordable alternative to coastal spring break destinations. Lake Havasu City features beautiful beaches along the lake, complete with palm trees and Arizona sun. The heart of the city has over 140 restaurants, nightclubs, and bars for entertainment. For a quieter spring break, you could visit Lake Havasu State Park to camp on the beach and spend your days swimming, fishing, or hiking.

 

In 1967, Lake Havasu City bought the famed London Bridge. The relocated bridge connects the city to an island with shops, restaurants, hotels, and resorts.

New York City

New York City offers plenty of excitement for spring breakers who prefer the action of a bustling city. Students get discounted admission to many museums and theaters across the city. Spring breakers on a budget could take the subway to Brooklyn or Queens for bars and restaurants to avoid Manhattan’s typically pricier establishments. You can still enjoy a beach day at South Beach, Staten Island, New York. Plus, hotels may have lower rates since spring break falls between the city’s busiest tourism seasons.

If you plan carefully, make strategic choices, and leverage your student credit card rewards, you could enjoy the spring break trip of your dreams without spending a fortune.

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  1. Rewards Redemption: Rewards never expire. We reserve the right to determine the method to disburse your rewards balance. We will credit your Account or send you a check with your rewards balance if your Account is closed. You may be unable to redeem rewards in some limited situations such as when you choose to use an electronic funds transfer to redeem rewards to a new (unverified) deposit account. Any gift card must have a minimum value of at least $5.00 to be redeemed.

  2. Build credit with responsible use (Student): Discover reports your credit history to the three major credit bureaus so it can help build your credit if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact your ability to build credit.

  3. You earn a full 2% Cashback Bonus® on your first $1000 in combined purchases at Gas Stations (stand-alone) and Restaurants each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters begin January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Purchases at Gas Stations and Restaurants over the quarterly cap, and all other purchases, earn 1% cash back. Gas Station purchases include those made at merchants classified as places that sell automotive gasoline that can be bought at the pump or inside the station. EV Charging Station purchases made at public electric vehicle charging stations are also included. Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations affiliated with supermarkets, supercenters, and wholesale clubs may not be eligible. Certain parking garages where public electric vehicle charging is offered or included may not be eligible. Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, caterers, and restaurant delivery services. Restaurants located inside of or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retail stores and establishments classified as a bakery, may not qualify. Purchases must be made with merchants in the U.S. To qualify for 2%, the purchase transaction date must be before or on the last day of the offer or promotion. For online purchases, the transaction date from the merchant may be the date when the item ships. Rewards are added to your account within two billing periods. Even if a purchase appears to fit in a 2% category, the merchant may not have a merchant category code (MCC) in that category. Merchants and payment processors are assigned an MCC based on their typical products and services. Discover Card does not assign MCCs to merchants. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallet transactions may not earn 2% if the technology does not provide sufficient transaction details or a qualifying MCC. Learn more at Discover.com/digitalwallets. See Cashback Bonus Program Terms and Conditions for more information.

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