Frugal Finds for Spring Break: How to Book Late Travel Without Breaking the Bank

Spring Break conjures images of beautiful beaches, fun in the sun and time to unwind. And with the season already underway, it can be tricky to find a deal. Indeed, 90% of Americans planning to travel for spring break said that price and affordability are top of mind, resulting in 77% of travelers saying they have not booked their trips yet, according to Hopper. 

Yet, experts said that it’s never too late to book a spring break trip without breaking the bank, and that sipping umbrella drinks with your toes in the sand is not too far out of reach.

Being flexible is the first recommendation for last-minute travel, according to a Skiltravel blog post.

“Your chances of finding a price that fits your budget are higher the more flexible you are with your dates, places, and lodging,” according to the post.

For instance, think about rearranging your schedule to take advantage of these cheaper flights.

Hopper also noted that traveling over peak March weekends will be the most expensive, while early March and late April trips will be the most affordable.

On the other hand, the most expensive weekend to get away will be Easter weekend, starting Thursday, March 28th, through Easter Monday.

As for week-long trips, Hopper said that traveling mid-week can save you hundreds of dollars.

“Trips starting and ending on Tuesday and Wednesday are 29% to 38% cheaper than departing and returning on peak weekend dates,” according to Hopper.

Another tip, according to USA Today, is to trade your dream destination for a cheaper one.

For instance, trade Cancun for Jamaica, and Puerto Rico for the Dominican Republic, or consider replacing Miami or Fort Lauderdale for Tampa, according to USA Today.

Setting alerts from travel and airline websites can not only save time, but a lot of money as well. You can also create price alerts for particular locations, giving you the most recent information on last-minute sales, according to Skiltravel.

“You will have a competitive advantage in finding reasonably priced travel options if you use a proactive approach that guarantees you will be among the first to notice when prices drop,” Skiltravel added.

Several sites, including Travelzoo and Expedia, offer all-inclusive packages, which can be cheaper than booking your flight and hotel separately.

In addition to lodging and airfare, as Seven Corners noted, the rate advertised also usually includes food and drinks,

Groupon also often has getaway travel deals, and if you’re a Costco member, you can take advantage of their budget-friendly travel packages, according to Seven Corners.

This might be the time to use your earned miles or points to book your travels for spring break, as some noteworthy deals enable you to do so.

For instance, The Points Guy explained that American Airlines currently offers round-trip flights to Florida from just 17,000 AAdvantage miles. And these low fares are available from cities nationwide, including ones on the East Coast, such as New York City, and on the West Coast, including Los Angeles, it added.

You can also use these to book your hotel. As The Points Guy noted, you can book a stay at Marriott’s Moxy Miami South Beach, where rooms range from 33,000 to 52,000 points per night in March and April.

“The hotel boasts two rooftop pools, and while not located directly on the beach, it still offers guests access to beach chairs,” it added.