The Gulf of Mexico near Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Northwest Florida Daily News, Devon Ravine)
Spring break is a time to trade in books and exams for beaches and sunshine. But how can you celebrate your week off from college without going broke?
Two-thirds of college students said they planned to spend $500 or more on spring break in 2015, according to a study by Study Breaks College Media and FlipKey. And 44% of college students plan to take a spring break trip this year, according to estimates from CheapTickets.com.
If you’re one of those who will be leaving your campus behind for a week, use these four tips to save money on your spring getaway.
Do something different
You don’t have to jet to the Bahamas to enjoy your time off. If you’re tight on funds, try something a little more original (and affordable).
Keep your costs to a minimum by forgoing the plane rides and hotel stays. Consider taking a road trip, going camping, spending time at a free festival, or making a day trip to a local attraction. Or you can visit a national park. Through March, a seven-day entrance pass for California’s Yosemite National Park starts at only $25.
Look for travel deals
Sometimes flying is unavoidable. If that’s the case, plan accordingly.
According to mobile airfare analysis application Hopper, weekdays are the best days to fly. “We found that generally, Tuesday is the cheapest day to depart this spring,” the company said in a recent report. It adds that Monday to Wednesday departures are as much as 25% cheaper than Thursday to Saturday departures.
To lower costs, book your flight as early as possible. And use online travel sites such as Travelocity and Expedia to monitor prices before booking.
As for hotels, check Groupon. The site’s Spring Break headquarters promises to help travelers “make a break for it” with discounts on stays at beachfront resorts, mountain lodges and other destinations.
Cut daily costs
From that morning cup of Starbucks to dinner at a fancy restaurant and all of the souvenir shopping in between, spring break trips can rack up quite the bill.
You can’t avoid most of these purchases completely, but you can save money on them. Here’s how:
Sign up for a free website that lets you earn cash back — which you can later redeem via a check or PayPal credit — on spending at restaurants, department stores and other retailers. Ebates.com is one such website.
Use the free GasBuddy app to find the cheapest prices on gas wherever you may be.
Download the free RetailMeNot app to receive the latest coupons and discounts.
Keep your student ID handy. Many businesses — including restaurants and movie theaters — offer student discounts for college kids.
Go in groups
Planning a spring break excursion with your friends isn’t just more fun, it’s also more affordable.
Banding together lets you split gas costs or the expense of renting an Airbnb. Spend nights cooking or barbecuing together to avoid paying for meals out.
You might also be able to find group discounts on some activities, such as mini-golf or skiing. Businesses often offer a free ticket if you’re purchasing multiples or an overall discount for group packages. Inquire about group rates before you book.
More from NerdWallet:
BlackBerry Priv vs. iPhone 6S
7 Must-Have Apps for the Apple Watch
Kindle Voyage vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Reading Between the Lines of E-Readers
The Best Lightweight Vacuums
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 vs. iPad Pro: Tablet Takedown
Courtney Jespersen writes for NerdWallet, a website that helps consumers make smarter financial decisions. NerdWallet is a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
This article comes from The USA TODAY College partner network. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of USA TODAY. You understand that we have no obligation to monitor any discussion forums, blogs, photo- or video-sharing pages, or other areas of the Site through which users can supply information or material. However, we reserve the right at all times, in our sole discretion, to screen content submitted by users and to edit, move, delete, and/or refuse to accept any content that in our judgment violates these Terms of Service or is otherwise unacceptable or inappropriate, whether for legal or other reasons.
Filed under: CAMPUS BEAT, CAMPUS LIFE, LIFESTYLE Tagged: NerdWallet, shopping, spring break, student discounts, travel deals