After ten grueling weeks crammed with lectures, discussions, tests and papers, spring break 2005 has almost arrived. With only a week of vacation, students are packing up as early as possible to enjoy beaches, skiing, drinking and relaxing in places such as Cancun, London, San Diego and Miami.
The most popular spring break location for students is sunny Daytona Beach, Fla., with Cancun, Panama City, South Padre, Texas, and New Orleans filling out the top five, according to Askmen.com. But students at the University have their own favorite locations to spend their well-deserved vacation.
“The most popular places for students to go during spring break are Europe, primarily London, Germany, Paris and Amsterdam; Mexico, primarily Cancun and Rosarito; and Hawaii, primarily Oahu,” STA Travel manager Marjory Werstuk said.
But those students who have yet to set their spring break plans might have to settle for a road
trip instead.
“We have sold out all of our plane tickets completely,”
Werstuk said.
“There most likely isn’t even a seat available for a flight out of Eugene or Portland,” Ambassador Travel manager Vivienne Kouba said.
Even if students did plan ahead, flights out of Eugene and Portland aren’t cheap, especially during this time of year.
“For Rosarito, you can probably get a package for around $350,” Werstuk said. “But usually prices range from around $500 to close to $1,000 for a package to Europe.”
Although $1,000 seems pretty steep for a week-long trip, STA Travel provides other services with the cost.
“We offer special airfare, primarily for students under the age of
26 and also for teachers,” Werstuk said. “We book the entire package for them, which includes the
flight, the accommodations and the transportation.”
Planning ahead won’t always guarantee a smooth ride either.
“Last year, we had a group of high school cheerleaders due to leave for California right around spring break, and there was a mechanical problem (with the plane),” Kouba said. “What was sad was that because it was spring break, there was no scheduled service that they could get because all of the seats were filled for the next couple of days. They ended up having to actually bus it down there.”
Flights to other states and countries aren’t the only way to get away; cruise ships, such as Carnival, are just as popular. Prices start around $500 for a five-day cruise to the Western Caribbean, plus costs to get to the closest available port, most likely Vancouver, British Columbia.
Activities abound on a Carnival cruise: a Las Vegas-style show, complete with music, dancing, lights and costumes; bars, nightclubs and live entertainment; casinos with roulette, poker, blackjack and slot machines for passengers 18 years and older; spas for relaxation; and “Shore Excursions,” which include white-water rafting in Acapulco, swimming with dolphins in the Bahamas and helicopter and ATV expeditions in Kauai, Hawaii, among others.
No matter what is decided for spring break 2005, it’s never too early to start planning spring break 2006, and getting advice from a travel agent is always helpful.
“The majority of students book spring break plans within the last one to two months, but some of the best deals come out around six months in advance,” Werstuk said.
“You have to be very much ready for crowds for higher prices because of such demand, and you better plan early,” Kouba said.

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