Top Spring Break Destinations from Let’s Go

Whether your plans include lounging on a warm beach with a cocktail in hand, camping in the wilderness, or pursuing a volunteer opportunity, the time to start planning for spring break is now.

To help travelers plan the perfect spring break vacation, Let’s Go Publications is offering their top spring break trip ideas for 2011. From party hotspots to ideas for a “voluntourism” vacation, Let’s Go has created a list that includes something for just about every type of traveler.

1.    Costa Rica

Costa Rica might mean “rich coast”, but you don’t have to be wealthy to enjoy this country’s natural wonders. From the beaches of the Pacific to the country’s extensive natural park system, Costa Rica has something for everybody. Eco-tourism is the name of the game here, and volunteer opportunities abound. For the budget-conscious, a bare-bones day in Costa Rica (staying in hostels, eating from supermarkets) can cost as little as $20.

2.    Belfast, Ireland

Everyone knows spring break and St. Patrick’s Day overlap. There will definitely be big parties in Dublin, but Belfast— Ireland’s up-and-coming city—is a nice alternative to the crazy party atmosphere. The University District is loaded with student bars, and the city (like most of Ireland) essentially stops running for the big day. Street fairs run wild and Guinness flows freely.

3.    Greece

Greece is definitely one of those more-bang-for-your’s-buck types of travel destinations.  Athens has architecture and history, but each of the Greek islands is like a mini-vacation unto itself. Feeling adventurous? Try researching the different archaeological digs sometimes open to tourists. They might want a longer commitment than a week, but imagine coming home with stories of digging up ancient Trojan armor.

4.    Iceland
The country that gave the world Björk and Sigur Rós just keeps on giving. Iceland is a budget traveler’s paradise. The breathtaking hot springs outside of Reykjavik will have any visitor thinking they died and went to heaven. Bargain flights to Iceland are often easy to find from cities like Boston and New York, and Iceland is a great place to use as a base to fly to Europe.

5.    The American South

The Southern U.S. offers not only warm weather and great Southern eats; it’s also a great place to pursue a volunteer vacation. Even though Hurricane Katrina happened more than five years ago, there’s still a great deal of work to be done. That said, cities like New Orleans and Savannah have plenty to do and see—and for American students, there’s less worry involved than with other international travels. There’s no shortage of organizations looking for volunteers, even short-term, so your spring break can be equal parts service and leisure.

As always, travel requires some advance planning and some “worst-case” contingency plans (when a volcano erupted in Iceland last year, more than a few vacations got postponed). Keep some extra cash handy, bring a book in case you have to wait in an airport for a few hours, and definitely consider travel insurance. Our partners at WorldNomads have a simple application for travel insurance should disaster strike.