Written by Jessica Polley. Media by Andrea Freeman.
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Spring Break 2014 is just around the corner, though it doesn’t feel like it with the crazy winter we are still having. Never fear, for here at the Papyrus we have been compiling a list of travel tips for you. Whether you are going on a road trip, flying, or just going back home to be with family, these tips will help you to have the best Spring Break possible.
Road Trip Tips:
1) Pack lots of snacks!
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You don’t want to waste all of your spending money on the way to where ever you’re going by buying things to snack on. Get it before you go! It allows you to make fewer stops, getting you to your destination a few hours earlier.
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2) Take turns driving.
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No one wants to drive 12+ hours on their own. Everyone needs a break every now and then, whether it is because they need sleep or are just sick of staring at the road.
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3) The person riding shotgun should keep the driver company.
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This tip was courtesy of safespringbreak.org. It’s true though. You don’t want a driver falling asleep at the wheel, because they just get bored and tired of staring at the road for hours on end. (See Road Trip Tip #2)
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4) Make a good music playlist.
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You don’t want to be searching for a good radio station your entire trip. Just make a playlist with everyone’s favorite songs, that way everyone has something to jam-out to.
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5) Gas up before you go!
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I mean, if you want to be left on the side of the road, or walk a few miles or push your car to the nearest gas station, then by all means disregard this tip.
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6) Make sure your car is actually working.
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Again…see Road Trip Tip #5
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7) Go with responsible people so you don’t have to pay for everything.
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No one wants to foot the bill alone. If you are spring breaking with a group of people, make sure they are people who will pay for their share.
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Flying Tips:
1) Buy tickets in advance (sorry we didn’t publish this article sooner…), but also do your research.
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The Huffington Post has a great article with tips for spring breaking. Make sure you book everything in advance. You don’t want to get to your location and find out you don’t have a place to stay, eat, or whatever because no one booked it. The Post also says to do research because “certain cities and hotels will be overrun with college students.” It all depends on if you want a nice relaxing break, or a fun, meet-people-from-all-over-the-place break.
On the Safe Tips site, they also remind us that “if you’re leaving the country … do your homework beforehand about your destination, keeping in mind you are subject to the laws of the country you visit.”
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2) Don’t forget your passport if you are leaving the country.
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Just…don’t.
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3) Check packing regulations for your airline.
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Make sure you know what size of liquid containers you can bring, and what you can and can’t bring back with you. The Travel Guard, Spring Break Travel Tips article reminds us about traveling with liquids, and buying some of them at tourist spots. (Don’t, just don’t. It’s more expensive).
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4) Bring extra headphones, just in case, and a book or something else to help pass the time.
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You don’t want to get on the plane and find out the headphones provided don’t work, and you don’t have anything else to do but sleep.
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5) Make friends with people sitting next to you.
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If you are not sitting by your friends on the flight, get to know those around you. It’s fun meeting new people from all different walks of life.
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General Tips:
1) Pack light!
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Pack things you can rewear, and don’t forget the essentials (toothbrush/paste, shampoo/conditioner, contact solution, etc.).
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2) Don’t bring expensive jewelry.
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Hey, if you lose it or it gets stolen, don’t say I didn’t warn you!
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3) Take care with your sunscreen.
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Why would this be a tip? Well, a friend of mine had some on her hand and …well, long story short, she lost her cornea. Don’t pull your cornea off of your eyeball! Don’t worry, it grew back, and she is completely fine now.
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4) If staying in a hotel with a safe in your room, use it!
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Otherwise, bring a something to keep your valuables in. The Travel Guard article also speaks to this, as well as studentuniverse.com and pretty much most other travel sites.
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5) If you are a worrier, get travel insurance.
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It is a good idea, as the Travel Guide points out. Most people want to relax on their break, and travel insurance allows people to do that. They can “re-book flights and hotels, find lost luggage, and more.”
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So there you have it! A list of tips to make your Spring Break a successful one. A special thanks to Betsy Wagoner for helping brainstorm some of these, as well as her personal story. For other tips read the articles on the following websites:
http://www.studentuniverse.com/travel-guides/spring-break/Spring-Break-Travel-Tips
http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/02/spring-break-travel-10-ti_n_2790760.html
http://www.travelguard.com/travel-tips/springbreak_traveltips13/
