Hot Spring Break Beach Destinations

It’s not too early to start making plans for spring break. You may be the queen of last-minute plans, but, trust us, you’ll want to do some serious planning so that spring break doesn’t break the bank. Besides, don’t you want to know the hottest spring break scenes, where you’ll see the sexiest bodies, and have the best chance of being seen? We’ve scoped it out for you. Read on…

Ibiza

Why Ibiza? For one thing, its nightclubs have world-famous reputations. Enough said. Not to mention you’ll get to party with people from all over Europe. You can find packages with party guides (note that we said party guides, not tour guides), bar crawls, nightclub admission and more. Oh, and if you’re wondering where the heck Ibiza is, it’s an island in the Mediterranean off the east coast of Spain. Spring break in Ibiza? Think of it as a fiesta on steroids.

The Bahamas

From beaches to blackjack, Nassau is a great spring break destination. You can find lots of package deals to the Bahamas, some even with open bars. The Atlantis resort is a favorite and, if water parks are your thing, be sure to check out Aquaventure. Nassau has it all, from rowdy nightlife to romantic waterfalls.

Cancún

Flights to Cancún are relatively inexpensive. If you love to snorkel or scuba dive, you’re in luck. Cancún and nearby Cozumel have unbelievable reefs. Cancún even has resorts built just for spring break day parties. Need we say more?

Puerto Rico

You don’t have to go all Habitat for Humanity in order to make a difference this spring break. One way to help is to spend your tourist dollars in a destination that can seriously use them, like Puerto Rico (no passport required). Ravaged by Hurricane Maria in September, the Caribbean island is slowly but surely making a comeback. Hotels are filling up, so the earlier you make your reservation, the better — especially in San Juan. You can find some great deals, like a rental car for $25 a day. Worried about cell service? Most tourist areas have reception. (You didn’t want Mom and Dad checking up on you anyway, did you?)

Panama City

We’ve got just three words for you: “MTV Floribama Shore.” OK, we lied. Two more: Redneck Riviera. Panama City is anything but PC! You could say Panama City has its own special brand of “Southern comfort.” Hotel prices aren’t dirt cheap, but they are less expensive than South Florida. While Panama City may be one of the hottest party cities around — and, along with nearby Destin, has some of the most beautiful white-sand beaches around — it’s not as hot when we’re talking about temperature. If you’re from the north, you won’t mind the fact that average temperatures in March range from 55°F to 73°F. If you like the Southern vibe, you also might want to consider Gulf Shores, Alabama. But if you want to chill out without getting the chills, you might want to pick another spot to spend spring break.

Daytona Beach

Looking to save a few bucks? Daytona Beach, known as “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” is less expensive than other Florida hot spots such as Fort Lauderdale and Panama City (more on those in a minute). While it may cost more to fly into the Daytona Beach airport, you can always fly into Orlando and rent a car from there. It’s only an hour drive.

Speaking of driving, you can drive on the beach in Daytona! OK, so that may not be the best idea given the no-drinking-and-driving thing. If you do decide to take a spin on the sand, it’ll set you back $20 per day per vehicle.

Most college spring breaks this year are in mid- to late March. If yours falls March 9-18, you should know that it’s same time as the infamous Bike Week in Daytona. Bikers and biker babes not your scene? Then keep reading…

South Florida

From Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood to South Beach, you’ve got plenty of options. In Fort Lauderdale, the most popular area is known as the “Strip” of A1A that runs alongside the beach, between Las Olas Boulevard north to Sunrise Boulevard. As with any beach town, hotels closest to the beach will be more expensive. Be forewarned: City leaders are considering a crackdown on coolers, floats, loud music, tents and big crowds at the beach. Violators could be arrested and face a $500 fine. Alcohol is already prohibited on the beach. Fort Lauderdale also is popular among the LGBT crowd (no, that doesn’t stand for Let’s Get Blitzed Tonight). Want to go chic? Travel south to South Beach, also known as “America’s Riviera.” And don’t forget Key West, where the sunset celebrations are epic.

Take a cruise

There’s cruising down the Strip in Fort Lauderdale, and then there’s cruising. News alert: You don’t have to be a senior citizen to take a cruise. Actually, you can find cruises just for college students on spring break. Because your cabin and food are included in the price, a cruise could be one of the best deals out there. We love this all-inclusive option from Norwegian. You get to spend 4 days sailing to the Bahamas. The cruise includes everything and even offers discounts on bars and events once you arrive at the Bahamas.