Spring semester seems to fly by twice as fast as fall semester.We seem to blink our eyes once, only to open them to the burning question of what to do over spring break. For many, this week off from school is filled with nothing but sleep and the residual desire to detox post-unofficial. However, spring break is most notorious for traveling to exotic and warm locations. Unfortunately, for us poor college students, exotic locations aren’t exactly budget friendly. These days there are plenty of travel options available for college students that offer a good time and unforgettable memories at an affordable price.
The first place to begin your search for an affordable travel destination should be in your house. More often than not, there is someone in your house who is coordinating spring break trips. If not, do what Zeke Beltran of Phi Kappa Psi did after he learned that one of his managers was in charge of a group of student representatives for Student City, a travel agency that coordinates trips for students.
“I asked around the house via our Facebook page if there would be any interest in going somewhere together for spring break and, obviously, there were quite a few interested in going somewhere,” he said. When asked if coordinating the trip was difficult, Beltran couldn’t have disagreed more. “Student City, the company that organizes the trip, was very easy to talk to and all I had to do was find a large enough group of people who wanted to go on a trip and email them with the names and email addresses. Student City send out details, payment information and instructions with how to register them with the hotel.”
After deciding on Panama City Beach, a five-night stay and a couple events included with the hotel, Beltran and thirty-eight other UIUC students are ready to head to warmer weather. Want to learn more information about this trip? Message Zeke Beltran on Facebook before March 15 for more information.
While asking around your house for those with experience planning spring break trips, you can learn about planning a spring break trip that gives back to the community. Kristen Worthington and Karli Robinson of Pi Beta Phi are co-leaders for their house’s trip to LaPorte, Tex. this year, to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Every year, Pi Beta Phi registers a group of 20 girls through the Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge. They travel to a different location every year and begin building a house.
If you are interested in planning a similar trip, more planning is involved. In addition to picking a destination gas, hotels on the road, food and volunteer fees must also be accounted for. “One of the harder things we had to do was figuring out the final cost because we are still receiving fundraising donations so the cost will be changing within the next week or so.” Worthington said. Despite the difficulties that can arise, Worthington highly recommends this trip, “although it’s a service trip, it doesn’t feel like it because you’re having fun and making memories with your sisters the whole time.” If presented with the opportunity, take it. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss out on.
If the idea of a service trip appeals to you, Illinois Alternative Spring Break (ASB) offers a variety of affordable opportunities to students at the University of Illinois. ASB provides students at UIUC with an opportunity to work with and learn about various social justice issues. They provide service to communities in the United States, abroad and in the Champaign-Urbana area. ASB has partnered with over fifty organizations across the country ranging from the Carolina Tiger Rescue to the Navajo community. This spring, they are sending students to work with United Cerebral Palsy, Sioux YMCA and Grow Memphis in addition to other cool organizations. Unfortunately, for those who are interested in attending one of those trips this spring, the deadline to apply has come and gone, however, ASB offers trips in the summer, fall winter and summer. To learn more about ASB and future trips, visit their website http://www.illinoisasb.org.
All of these trips are within the budget of most college students. Just remember, the more people the cheaper, I mean the merrier; good communication with the travel agency is key and stay organized and on top of deadlines.
