We hear a lot here at our office, what is the Best Spring Break Destinations for 2018? Many times, this might be coupled with what is the best US Spring Break Destination or what is the Best Mexico Spring Break Destination. We will cover it all in this post.
The Top 10 Spring Break Destinations are:
- Cancun, Mexico
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- The Bahamas
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Lake Havasu, AZ
- Colorado Spring Break Ski
- Negril, Jamaica
- Las Vegas, NV
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The Best Spring Break Destinations in the US in terms of size South Padre Island, Texas; Panama City Beach, Florida; Lake Havasu, Arizona. Literally this list coincides with the cheapest Spring Break destinations as these destinations being located here in America eliminate the need for airfare and expensive flights. Florida and Texas allow minors under 21 but over 18 to still enter the bars or clubs, they just cannot drink inside. Students that travel in groups may have some minors, so this means they don’t have to leave house members or friends behind.
The reasons that Spring Break is so popular for the US destinations would be:
- You can drive there – no expensive flights nor airfare.
- Safety – there are US laws to protect students and no travel advisories from the US State Department like Mexico has.
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html
- Shorter trips more available – not everyone wants to go a full week or 5 nights. The US hotspots are road trips you drive to these destinations so you can custom pick arrival and departure days without consideration of flight planning nor costs
- Spring Break has been happening on South Padre Island since the 1980’s. That’s a lot of momentum to kill with such good to great word of mouth on how fun it is
- Large condos and houses to rent. Most international Spring Break destinations lack access to large condos and house that groups love. The Texas and Florida Spring Break locations in particular have large places. Groups want to all stay together under one roof to hang out, and hotel rooms generally make that less than perfect.
Check out these massive 3 bedroom presidential condos Inertia Tours has
At Peninsula Island Beach Resort:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoXxG1tig0E
- We mentioned lower cost, right? This ties in the point above – having a condo with a kitchen fully stocked allows for food/meal prep vs. eating out on vacation. That clearly is great for college students on a budget
- The parent sale. At the end of the day parents are often asked to foot part of the bill for their students Spring Break vacation cost. This means, students have to do a sales pitch, and pitching a $400 trip for a US based trip is much easier than asking for $1500 to go to Cancun to parents.
The Top 10 Spring Break Destinations broken down 1 by 1:
Cancun Spring Break:
PROS
:
- Guaranteed beautiful weather in 80’s
- Cheapest flights of any International Destination on the list
- Largest Spring Break destination internationally
- Very well know. Historically known for a great time
- World class parties at world class clubs
- All inclusive hotels with food and drink all included make student budgeting easier
- Their infamous booze cruises
- Crystal clear water to 100 feet deep
- Most to do than just a party – shopping, snorkeling, fishing, zip lines, mayan ruins, all at your fingertips
- Minors can drink, if you are under 21 it is legal. (drinking age is 18)
- No matter what week your Spring Break is, there is guaranteed to be other students there. No other destination can really claim that
- Superb value. While doing a “non all inclusive” US Spring Break trip is initially less money, it won’t include all the food and drink you care to have period in on price like Cancun does with it’s all inclusive hotels. The value proposition is outstanding despite it having a cost well over $1000
CONS:
- Requires a flight which has a cost as well as a US Passport.
- Overall all inclusive package costs with air and hotel usually hover around $1300 to $1700 per student which is out of my college budgets
- Mainly hotels no condos not as good for groups that want to hang out
- Can be a lot of minors. If you are a Senior girl in college, having 19 year old boys hitting on you may not appeal
- Mexico travel warnings and drug cartel violence have stymied growth – makes the sale to parental units harder
- Has a trashy edge to it “hot body contest” and “all you can drink parties.”
- Some of the top Spring Break hotels, if you were grading them based on TripAdvisor – well they sort of flunk out. Here is Oasis Cancun, ranked #163 out of #177 hotels in Cancun. There is two ways to look at this – at least there are 14 worse hotels in Cancun, OR there are 162 better ones:
Oasis Cancun Lite
#163 of 177 Hotels in Cancun
If you read the reviews, it is a definite cringe situation:
South Padre Island Spring Break (in Texas)
PROS:
- Cheap package deals and easy drive from Midwest. You don’t need a flight.
Inertia Tours has packages for $299 per student with a 4 night beachfront hotel stay, 2 dine out restaurant meals per day per person, the Red Carpet VIP Party Package with all the night parties plus the booze cruise, and even a $30 gas fill up card per room valid at HEB. That price is unbeatable for a vacation. Full week condo packages with meals and the Spring Break wristband party package is $499 per person.
- South Padre Island has the warmest weather of any popular US Spring Break Destination.
- Cool factor – it isn’t some gulf coast town, this is an Island located more than 2 miles of the mainland coast of Texas connected by a bridge called a causeway.
- 18 to rent condos and hotel rooms though Inertia Tours. Unlike many Florida Spring Break destinations, for South Padre you only have to be 18 years old if you travel through Inertia to be allowed to check into your hotel or condo
- 18 to enter bars and nightclubs. Unlike places like Las Vegas or Colorado Spring Break ski destinations where you have to be 21 to enter – South Padre Island is 18+ to enter
- Your health insurance AND cell phone work as this is US in Texas.
- People that choose South Padre are usually Midwest, easier going people
- Clayton’s Spring Break Beach Stage is wicked packed. Upwards of 30,00 students per day. Guess what too? With Inertia you get $1 draft beers all day every day despite the fact that the beach itself is BYOB so you can bring coolers just no glass nor kegs.
Check out the picture below….the beach stage at Clayton’s literally closes down all the other lame knock offs trying to copy it
- South Padre Island is well known for its large condos that have full sized kitchens and living rooms. This means everyone can come with, and you have a place to pre-game before the bars
- The Red Carpet VIP Party Package program. This is what all the students call the Spring Break Wristbands. You get this nylon festival style wristband that has scannable chip technology on it to grant you entrance to a different club each night with the largest parties. You also get a booze cruise included, as well as the Party Yacht Cruise ( Spring Break Booze Cruise ) . No other US Spring Break hotspot has such a convenient package
- The beach itself. Ranked amongst the best in the US:
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_757dd8bd-c38c-5893-80a5-7200ac877feb.html
and…South Padre Island the only remaining US destination where drinking on the beach is still legal and open container friendly. Panama City Beach FL outlawed it along with Destin Florida and Gulf Shores, Alabama.
- The concerts. South Padre Island is the only popular US Spring Break location with guaranteed concerts. An example is UME https://umesouthpadre.com/ a music fest 10,000 people strong Texas Week of Spring Break in March. With Inertia you can do the festival as an optional add on at a special discount.
- Welcoming to students on spring break. Unlike other places like Florida, Texas welcomes students with open arms. In fact, the South Padre Island City Council provides marketing funds for Inertia Tours to market South Padre Island to college students. Inertia is the only Spring Break tour operator that has been sponsored by a US City to promote Spring Break for 8 consecutive years.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
PROS:
- Warm, sunny weather
- Best looking people on location of any Spring Break destination
- 18+ drinking age
- Beach bar DJ set ups nice mix up between massive South Padre and high end beach vibe with a European feel. Here is a decent shot of the famous Mango Deck:
- Both dine around meal plan options and true all inclusive hotel options
- Flight is required, but that makes for a great trip
- Low cost from West of the Mississippi River departure cities
- Very good mix of students from all over the US
- Upscale, does not have that “wet t shirt contest” edge like Cancun can
CONS:
- It is tied with the Bahamas Spring Break program for the most expensive place to go
- Cabo San Lucas and Los Cabos are pretty spread out. You have to watch what hotel you book
- Drink prices are pretty high for a student – $7 to $14 per drink can get out of hand fast
- While pretty, not very good for actually swimming
- No “mega hotel” complex that is a Spring Break anchor like South Padre or Cancun has
The Bahamas
PROS:
- Low cost flights from much of east coast of US
- Brilliant blue Caribbean Sea crystal clear
Shot of Paradise Beach:
- Gambling and casinos legal
- English is spoken here / US Dollars generally accepted
- World class snorkeling & diving
- Considered safer by many than Mexico
- Not Mexico which is important to some people
CONS:
- For most students, the Bahamas is simply too expensive. A large pizza is $30. A bottle of water can be $5.
- Most hotels in the Bahamas are not student friendly
- Overall lack of any Spring Break night clubs or party spots
- Too chill for most folks
- Did we mention the high cost? Again, that is the largest deterrent
Panama City Beach, Florida
PROS:
- Super low cost Spring Break spot
- Has infrastructure of clubs like Spinnaker, Harpoon Harry’s, Sharkeys, and La Vela.
- 18+ to enter clubs and bars (at the establishment’s discretion)
- Very short drive times from Midwest, lower east coast
- Florida is just that – familiar. Easy sell to parents
- White powder sand beaches
- Decent, cheap food and beverage
- You don’t need a flight
CONS:
- Banned drinking on the beach in March in 2015.
- Spring Break student volume has dropped by over 80% from its heyday
- Lots of minors ie high school kids go here on their Spring Break with their parents
- Has a reputation as sort of trashy / red neck Riviera feel. Think Wal Mart walking distance to Waffle House walking distance to all the clubs.
- PCB is just too far north. Weather can dip below 40 degrees in March. Water way too cold to even think about swimming in the ocean
As you can see on the map below, Panama City Beach Florida is further north than even New Orleans. Not exactly tropical in March.
Lake Havasu, AZ
PROS:
- Short drive time for west coast and lower most far southwest colleges
- Has some clubs + partying on the lake
- Low cost trips as March is a real low season for Havasu
CONS:
- No airport anywhere near there, too remote
Can be a trashy, stripper pole on an old pontoon boat sort of scene
- Cops can be feisty
- Weather, it is often pretty cold at night
- Not a beach. Remember, this is spring break. Lakes are for the summer with your family not really spring break
- City and local folks aren’t too keen on College students
- There are a lot of assholes from California. S
Colorado Spring Break Ski
PROS:
- Activity based. You don’t have to be a big time partier nor have a rockin’ 6 pack to go
- 4/20 friendly in Colorado. Puff goes the magic dragon.
- Beautiful scenery. Athletic activity
- Big, beautiful condos in the mountains = relaxation. Condos have kitchens for food prep
- Colorado is easy drive or super cheap flight into Denver
- Very affordable compared to other Spring Break destinations outside of US
- Easy sell to your parents, excepting those that believe pot makes you blind
- Great for those in the South where it is always warm. Think U of Miami students or UCLA or Arizona State. The snow sounds amazing
- Mountains best suited for Spring Break Ski Trips include Breckenridge, Winter Park, Crested Butte, Purgatory, Park City UT, Big Sky Montana, Whister B.C. Yes, we know some aren’t in Colorado.
Pic of Breckenridge, Colorado the premier Spring Break ski destination hands down:
CONS:
- It is cold. It can be cold
- Gear or renting it can run the tab up to snowboard
- Food/Drinks incredibly expensive in the Mountains for students
- White it represents a great value, it is the most expensive US Spring Break Destination to be sure. Trips are $550 to $750 per person, with no airfare nor food included.
- Forget your visions of bikini clad co-eds at the hot springs. It is mainly dudes. Packs of dudes. That’s ok, but you need to know this.
- Cannot be booked cheap last minute. Requires planning.
- It is athletic in nature, and assisting newbies can be annoying if they can’t already ski or board on your vacation.
Negril, Jamaica
PROS
- It’s a Caribbean Island. Tropical by nature
- Amazing weather
- The 7 Mile Beach in Negril is one of the best in the world
- Only 4/20 friendly Spring Break destination on our list. It is everywhere.
- Browns House in Negril. Use google and figure that out.
- The Cliff jumping at Rick’s Café is bucket list worthy
- Exotic, different spot with authentic culture mixed in
- Cheapest Spring Break destination with a true all inclusive option of all meals and drinks included at the hotel. Even without all inclusive, Negril is pretty cheap to eat and drink
- Delicious food – Jerk Chicken, Banana Break, fresh coffee from the Blue Mountains
- Incredibly friendly, warm local people that love tourists
- Some parents against Mexico, this is an easier sell
- Cheaper than the Bahamas by far
- Reggae here. Many have had enough EDM and stupid mumble rap to last their entire lifetime.
- English is spoken here, and quite entertaining here “Ya’Mon!” “I got the BEST stuff!”
CONS:
- Beach vendors/hawkers selling stuff to you 24/7 gets annoying. HINT: NEVER tell a Jamaican “maybe later!” They will get in your face to hold you to your word. Also do NOT ignore a rasta talking to you, just be polite and show respect. Why do you think Bob Marley sang about it?
- Not super packed with students.
- Bars rather than clubs, which could be a plus
- Hotels are all 2 and 3 star more or less. A “6 star” is probably in Ochos Rios or Montego Bay> Those places are not very fun, you must go to Negril. Hotels in other words in Negril are very basic affairs
- Do you like rum? They have Rum with Rum.
- Hard to find. Warm beer common
Las Vegas, NV
PROS:
- Super cheap entry level price for airfare and hotel
- Lowest cost US Spring Break Destination in terms of just airfare an dhotel
- Everyone knows Vegas
- World class food, hotels, night clubs
- Incredible pool parties
- Gambling is legal
- 4/20 is legal now
- Easy sell to friends
CONS:
- 21+ destination in terms of age
- Weather – it can be pretty cold in March
- Price once you arrive gets expensive fast. Drinks super expensive, food is not included and expensive
- Clubs for guys are a nuisance. Need to have girls with you – aka bring sand to the beach, even though there is not a beach
- There is no beach
- Has a douche feel with VIP “bottle Service” the cheese factor is very high
Yeah..don’t be this guy, but even worse is being these girls…
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
PROS:
- White powder sand beaches
- Crystal clear Caribbean water
- Tropical, warm weather
- Massive luxurious all inclusive Spring Break resorts
- Laid back destination for those looking for more relaxation than party-party
- Not Mexico – English is Spoken
CONS:
- Very expensive with flights
- Stuffy resorts without many other students
- No real clubs nor bar scene. Think partying at the hotel “nightclub” which is not fun
- Lacks much to do besides snorkel and drinking your face off
- Still need a passport
- Can be easier sell to Parents than Mexico, but not so easy with the high price
Clearly there are pro’s and con’s for every destination. The Top Spring Break Destinations and how they are ranked really is a matter of what you want for your trip and your personal tastes.
Inertia Tours can organize your package at a lower price than anyone else to every single destination listed here as a hot spot. Call us 800 821 2176 or price trips at our main home page www.inertiatours.com
Spring Break Link Roundup and Spring Break Resources:
www.sopadre.com
https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/spring-break/articles
https://greatist.com/health/14-resources-ultimate-spring-break
www.southpadrespringbreak.com
www.springbreaksouthpadre.com
www.springbreakbeachstage.com
www.springbreakmafia.com
www.inertiatours.com
www.bbb.org
