With three feet of snow still on the ground and a massive bruise on your hip from the black ice, it’s understandable if Spring Break has slipped your mind. However, despite the winter weather, “spring” vacation is less than two weeks away. While some have had plans for Cancun vacations or Dominican Republic service trips since September, it’s not too late for the rest of us. There are still plenty of last-minute options to help you avoid a weeklong “Sex and the City” marathon in your pjs. Although, if worst comes to worst, that doesn’t sound too bad.
Local service
It’s time to face reality. With spring break only two weeks away, you’re probably not getting off the waiting list for Appalachia. Move on to plan B and help out closer to home. No matter where you live, there’s bound to be a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or school that could use your help. Habitat for Humanity even has day projects that you could get involved with. If you need help finding organizations, try contacting the community service representatives at your nearest high school or college. Even if you’re not a student there, they’ll still be happy to refer you to places where you can volunteer. Just because you’re not traveling far, doesn’t mean you’re not making a difference.
Visit other colleges
A popular new website, collegecreep.com, is super helpful to figure out what schools share our Spring Break. But here, I’m suggesting using it for the opposite purpose: see which of your friends from home don’t have our same vacation. It’s the perfect chance to experience another campus and catch up with high school friends without missing a weekend at BC. You can even do two different weekend trips at the start and end of break, and still have five whole days for quality family bonding.
Visit friends from school
Did you have a friend from Florida or California come home with you over Thanksgiving break? Now’s the time to cash in the favor they owe you. Visit your BC friends wherever they’re from (preferably somewhere warm). Unlike a standard vacation, you don’t have to worry about a hotel or itinerary – this trip comes complete with room, board, and a personal tour guide.
Road-trip it
What’s more college than getting in the car and seeing where you end up? Grab a few friends, crank up the radio, and go. Whenever I make the drive to BC, I pass a sign for “Dinosaur National Park” and wonder what it could possibly be. When you see signs like that, stop, explore, and go on an adventure. You’re bound to have a good time.
Book a cruise
When you go on vacation, you need to account for costs of hotel, travel, food… and everything else. That “everything else” category always manages to skyrocket, turning what seemed like an affordable trip into your Christmas and birthday presents for the next four years. If you’re set on getting out of the cold and into the sun, a cruise is probably your most affordable option. They are all-inclusive so you know exactly how well it fits your budget. Keep an eye out for last-minute discounts for even more savings.
Some work and some play
If you book in advance, many tropical locations are surprisingly affordable. If you book less than 20 days ahead of time… not so much. Instead of going away for the whole week, dedicate half of break to a trip and half of break to paying for it. Spend your first three or four days babysitting, waiting tables, or anything else to bring in some cash. Then blow those earnings on a few days in a typical spring break locale, spending your hard-earned money on colorful drinks and an incredible tan.
So just because you procrastinated planning your spring break even more than writing that English paper doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Whether you go with service, sun, or a little of both, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy your week off. Check sites like airfarewatchdog.com for cheap flights and priceline.com and hotels.com for places to stay. And remember, good company makes all the difference. So whether you’re bonding with the fam, catching up with friends from home, or staying with fellow Eagles, the right attitude and the right people can make anything fun!