What You Need To Know About Spring Break Travel, Pricing and Destinations

by Laurie Baratti
Last updated: 4:05 PM ET, Thu February 22, 2024

It may still seem like we’ve just started 2024, but we’re well on our way to March and the time has already come to start planning your spring break escapes. Sure, summer is still a long way off, but that doesn’t mean a warm-weather getaway can’t be in the cards for you in the coming weeks. Spring break can fall anywhere from March to April, depending on your specific school or university schedule, and it pays to be thinking ahead.

According to Hopper’s Spring Break Travel Outlook, 77 percent of travelers say they have not booked their trips yet, despite the rapid approach of this school holiday period, so the time to start booking is now! To get the best prices on either domestic or international travel, you need to book those flights between one and two months in advance to check-in, the price comparison engine said. For domestic trips, you can get away with booking your hotel stay 10-14 days prior to check-in, but hotel stays abroad should be booked a month in advance.

How Spring Break Is Shaping Up

Hopper’s report revealed that, although three-quarters of Americans who plan on traveling for spring break intend to spend the same or more than they did during the same period last year, affordability is still top-of-mind and vacationers are looking to stretch their budgets as far as possible. HotelPlanner CEO Tim Hentschel confirmed as much in speaking with USA Today.

Hentschel also told the outlet that spring break travel looks different today than it used to. “The typical spring break has changed … now you’re seeing record demand for parks and destinations for giving back (with volunteer work),” he said. Other trends include following in the footsteps of social media influencers and “set-jetting”—visiting the filming locations of one’s favorite films or TV series.

Pricing Has Plateaued

On at least one of these fronts, travelers have some good news to celebrate. Air travel prices have plateaued—even dropped—since last year, according to Hopper. Both domestic and international round-trip airfares have fallen, with flights to Europe down by seven percent, and those to Mexico and Central America having dropped 11 percent. Although spring break travel demand is stronger, there’s plenty of supply to go around, according to Hentschel. “They’re not paying more than what they paid last year,” he said.

Unfortunately, Spring Breakers won’t enjoy the same cost reduction when it comes to accommodations, particularly during peak weekend days. Average nightly hotel rates will range from $242 in the U.S. and $339 in Mexico to $440 in London, U.K. and nearly $500 in destinations like Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. One helpful hint to mitigate your overall expenditure is to begin your vacation midweek, rather than on the weekend, Hopper advised.

The Most Popular Destinations

According to Hopper, the top domestic spring break destinations include Orlando, Las Vegas and Miami, with average airfares ranging from $186 to $295. Internationally, Cancun, London and Punta Cana top the list, with average airfares ranging from $403 to $1,368.

Here is the full rundown of Hopper’s most sought-after spring break destinations:

Domestic

Orlando: $205 average airfare, $175 average hotel rate
Las Vegas: $295 average airfare, $178 average hotel rate
Miami: $251 average airfare, $339 average hotel rate
Fort Lauderdale: $216 average airfare, $288 average hotel rate
Nashville: $186 average airfare, $257 average hotel rate

International

Cancun: $403 average airfare, $339 average hotel rate
London: $643 average airfare, $440 average hotel rate
Punta Cana: $466 average airfare, $477 average hotel rate
Los Cabos, Mexico: $431 average airfare, $431 average hotel rate
Tokyo: $1,368 average airfare, $351 average hotel rate

Group of young people going on a road trip.

Finding More Affordable Destinations

For travelers seeking affordable alternatives to popular destinations, consider opting for more budget-friendly options, heading for Cancun instead of Jamaica or Puerto Rico rather than the Dominican Republic. Stateside, you might swap a stint in Miami for Tampa or Fort Lauderdale to save on vacation costs. By opting for less mainstream locales, you can enjoy a longer or more indulgent vacation while spending less.

“I know everyone wants to go to Italy nowadays, but you can easily fit in multiple trips to these budget-friendly destinations for about the same cost that you can go to Europe,” James Clark from Squaremouth told USA Today. “I think people need to think about if they want to go on one big trip or multiple little trips.”

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.