Buying a package from a student travel agency provides good spring break deals on hotel and air together, though you may be able to get each separately cheaper (but without any perks like airport transfers or wristbands for free drinks). Research done on January 23, 2008, showed buying air and hotel separately from a student travel agency is more expensive than buying air and hotel separately from independent aggregators (one outfit, Student City, is providing pretty good package spring break deals this year, though).
Let's learn what spring break deals mean -- what student travel agencies offer you and whether you can get those services without a travel agency, and compare travel costs from travel agencies against deals that you can find yourself.
The cheapest one-week package found for seven nights in Cancun (using Buffalo, NY as a departure city and March 15-22 as dates) came in at $1128 (staying at the NH Krystal) from Student City -- using Kayak.com, hotel and air come in at $1025 ($628 airfare and $397 for hotel, assuming four to a room at the NH Krystal) -- a savings of $103. What should you do? Let's start by looking at what the student travel agencies offer, and where and how you can get that on your own if you choose to. On the second page, we'll directly compare spring break deals from student travel agencies with travel discounts and bargains you can find on your own.
What Do You Need With Spring Break Deals?
Ok, so we're saying you're flying to Cancun, Mexico for the purpose of this comparison.
- You need the best price on a hotel reservation.
- You can make your own hotel reservation or a travel agency will make one for you -- see table on the next page to find hotel bargains. (Using a travel agency does not ensure damage deposits are paid, or that you receive any special treatment from the hotel.)
- You need the best spring break deals on airfare.
- You can make your own airplane reservation or a travel agency will make one for you -- see table on the next page to find the best airfare spring break deals.
- You need ground transportation to your hotel.
- As part of a package, a student travel agency will probably provide bus transportation from the airport and the cost will be included in your total; with STS, for instance, a representative will meet your plane and help you get to the hotel. If on your own, you will have to find a bus, which is not hard if you're willing to go outside -- in the Cancun airport, you may have to walk to the next terminal. (In most airport terminals, you'll see signs pointing you to public transportation.) Don't underestimate the value of being met by a company bus, though -- it can be huge if you've never traveled alone before.
- As part of a package, a student travel agency will probably provide bus transportation from the airport and the cost will be included in your total; with STS, for instance, a representative will meet your plane and help you get to the hotel. If on your own, you will have to find a bus, which is not hard if you're willing to go outside -- in the Cancun airport, you may have to walk to the next terminal. (In most airport terminals, you'll see signs pointing you to public transportation.) Don't underestimate the value of being met by a company bus, though -- it can be huge if you've never traveled alone before.
- You may need help while you're at the hotel.
- You may not see a rep from the travel agency again after you're met at the airport -- you may not get any check-in help from the agency, either. Some student travel agencies specializing in spring break deals, like STS, will give you a Cancun orientation when you arrive at the hotel.
Whether the hotel service is satisfactory will depend on the hotel, not on how you bought your room -- if you've purchased through a student travel agency, though, chances are good that the hotel meets some standards. However, you can check a hotel's rep and ratings before you buy a room independently -- in the table on the next page, click the hotel price under "Hotel.com/Kayak" and you'll be taken to customer ratings.
- You may not see a rep from the travel agency again after you're met at the airport -- you may not get any check-in help from the agency, either. Some student travel agencies specializing in spring break deals, like STS, will give you a Cancun orientation when you arrive at the hotel.
- You need to know how to prepare for Mexico travel.
- A student travel agency specializing in spring break deals on travel will give you pre-trip Mexico info. You can get the same Mexico travel info here or elsewhere on the web -- you'll need to decide whether you'd rather let the student travel agency handle giving you what you need, or do the research yourself if you're buying your travel independently.
- Read a FAQ: "Before You Go To Mexico" -- learn about budget, airfares, passports and tourist cards in Mexico and more.
- A student travel agency specializing in spring break deals on travel will give you pre-trip Mexico info. You can get the same Mexico travel info here or elsewhere on the web -- you'll need to decide whether you'd rather let the student travel agency handle giving you what you need, or do the research yourself if you're buying your travel independently.
- You need to know what to expect while you're traveling in Mexico.
- A student travel agency specializing in spring break deals is going to give you some info on Mexico travel -- in particular, you'll have the option to purchase Cancun party passes from the agency. And you'll know that other students will probably be whooping it up in the hotel chosen for you.
The student travel agency will also give you advice on getting around in Mexico. Again, you'll need to decide whether you'd rather let the student travel agency handle giving you what you need, or do the research yourself if you're buying your travel independently.
- Read a FAQ: "First Timer's Guide to Travel in Mexico" -- learn about food and water in Mexico, getting around in Mexico, and more.
How Can I Find the Best Spring Break Deals?
Student travel agencies exist which specialize in student airfares, and, as we discussed above, some specialize in spring break deals. Let's take a look at hard numbers on some spring break deals on the next page or to an information hub on Spring Break.Return to Spring Break - Return to Student Travel
- A student travel agency specializing in spring break deals is going to give you some info on Mexico travel -- in particular, you'll have the option to purchase Cancun party passes from the agency. And you'll know that other students will probably be whooping it up in the hotel chosen for you.
