University Daily Kansan / Thursday, February 9, 1989
Travel
11
Last Minute ESCAPE
Stumped on a spring break destination? Try an alternative
Y you haven't made spring break plans and the cheap flights to Padre are gone. Don't worry, area schools
there are alternatives to being stranded in Lawrence March 11-19.
Changing your spring break destination could be an alternative if you have a tight budget or are unable to make reservations at hot spots such as South Padre Island, Texas; Cancun, Mexico or Daytona Beach, Fla. Travel agents also offer tips on how to find cheap air fares, or how to avoid air travel altogether.
Marcia Atchison, manager of Maupinport Travel, 831 Massachusetts St., said that it was really too late to find cheap travel rates to traditional of cheap break hot sauce or those who should have been made in November December, she said.
Atchison said students probably waited to make plans because of the late start of spring semester this year. Students who waited are having a difficult time getting to the hot spots, especially Cancun, which is this year's most popular spring break destination.
Many students are looking for different places to visit this year anyway, said Pat Kelly, owner of Travel Center, 1601 W. 23rd St.
"I think a lot of people are looking for alternatives to Padre Island," Kelly said.
H盛顿 Head Island, S.C., just east of Savannah, Ga., is receiving some interest as a destination for spring break, he said.
Hilton Head is different because it is a more of a resort for Easterners rather than a spring break area. It is usually more expensive than typical spring break beaches, but Travel Center offers a less expensive package to Hilton Head than to Padre because of Padre's higher demand. Hilton Head features golf courses and is located along the Eastern seaboard.
"I was surprised because it was beautiful and a cheap place to go." she said.
Students could also consider going to Fort Walton Beach, Fla. which has a population of about 21,000.
Sellami said Mustang Island, just east of Corpus Christi, Texas, was her favorite spring break spot. The trip cost her about $200 and included staying in a condominium with a jacuzzi tub and sauna. However, because it's fairly unknown, not many college students vacationed there, she said.
Students who would like to do something unique in Florida could attend the Major League spring training games, Attchison said. Maupintour will provide team schedules to plan some of are planning to attend some of the games, which run March 2 to April 2.
Mina Sellami, Lawrence junior,
said she decided to visit the
beaches of Mustang Island,
and she would instead of Padre or Daytona.
Because Fort Walton is located on the Gulf of Mexico, it tends to be warmer than Daytona or other beaches located on the Atlantic Ocean, Kelly said. Fort Walton offers much of the same prefecture and edre in Daytona in terms of beaches, bars and restaurants.
April 2. Another alternative is hitting the slopes rather than the beaches
Travel Center offers a seven-night stay at Hilton Head for $117 and at Fort Walton for $195, excluding transportation.
Holiday Travel, 2112 W. 25th St., offers a ski package to Colorado for $252, which includes transportation in a sleeper bus, five nights of accommodations lift hits, said Ruth Hughes, owner.
"
" WE 'LL ALWAYS HAVE LAWRENCE
Air Fares: roundtrip from KCI
Dave Eames/KANSAN
Source: Maupintour Travel
Kansas City to Orlando
The following figures are from the weekend of Feb. 4. They are subject to change.
The following figures are from the weekend of Feb. 4. They are subject to change.
First-class (round trip)
$1,190
$1,190
7-day advanced purchase, non-refundable, Saturday afterover required (round trip)
$258-298
$260
29% penalty for cancellation (round trip)
$308-348
NA
25% penalty for cancellation, 2- day advance purchase (round trip)
NA
$300
14-day advance purchase (round trip)
$322-364
$324
Coach rates on availability (one way)
$198-377
$250-377
"Students are choosing to ski more than last year," Hughes said.
Hughes said more students were going skiing this year because they wanted to stay away from spring break crowds.
Melissa Shimanek, Leoi初利,
decided to go skiing instead of
going to Padre because of the bad
weather at Padre last year.
"At least when you go to the slopes you know there will be snow," Shimanek said.
She said many students were avoiding Padre this year, possibly because of stricter enforcement of the 21-and-over drinking age.
Other sunny places students could consider include California and Arizona. Braniff Airways, Southwest Airlines and America West Airlines tend to have lower rates to San Diego, Los Angeles and Phoenix, Ariz., said Anne Walters, manager of Sunflower Travel, 704 Massachusetts St. The average March temperature for San Diego is 59, Los Angeles; 60; and Phoenix, 61.
Airplane rates to Chicago are the least expensive for students. A round trip costs about $43.
"I wanted to go somewhere inexpensive that would be just as fun as somewhere that costs a lot," Hunter said.
Stephanie Hunter, Overland Park park senior, said she was going to Chicago for spring break. She had thought about going to Cancun because of the cheap packages that were available, but was afraid Cancun would not allow her to Hurricane Gilbert. So she decided to go to Chicago because of the inexpensive rates.
Walters said students should be flexible to get the least expensive air fares. To get a cheaper flight travel agents recommend:
- Leaving during the week instead of a weekend
- Buying a ticket in advance, usually 21 days before departure.
Buying a ticket the day prices are quoted because rates can change.
Getting a flight that requires a Saturday night stayover; this is sometimes a requirement for inexpensive rates.
Buying a non-refundable ticket.
Because the inexpensive air fares already are booked, the higher rates are the main reason for the flight. Walters said. The best way to travel cheaply is to travel in another way besides flying.
"If you work around it, you can still do something," she said.
still do something, "say and
driving a car to the destination
is almost always the best inex-
press way to travel, Walters
said. Many students drive and get
a hotel package through a travel
agency.
Gasoline for a round trip from Lawrence to Orlando, Fla., would cost about $107 for a car that gets 20 miles a gallon at $84 a gallon. This would probably be cheaper than flying, especially if the cost was divided among several people.
Traveling by bus rather than an airplane can be less expensive. Trailways and Greyhound charge $150 per mile anywhere in the United States.
To save the most money, students could chose Brian Ulryt's alternative and go home for spring break.
"Right now, I can't afford to go anywhere," the Kansas City, Mo., junior said.
story by Jennifer Corser Illustration by Gary Pratt