Elliott’s tips for a better spring break

There is no question about it: this spring break will be the one against which other spring breaks will be measured. In just a few weeks, fares and hotel rates will probably start to climb, and we’ll see record visitation at traditional spring break destinations. “This spring break will set a new standard,” said Syed Lateef, CEO of a vacation rental company based in Chicago. So how do you get ahead of it?

⬤ Plan an alternative spring break: Book your trip for early February or late April. Even with kids in school, there are ways around traveling during spring break. Plan a long weekend by taking a Friday or Monday off. Or schedule your travel around a school-sponsored event that you don’t have to attend, such as exams or teacher conferences. It doesn’t even have to be a whole week.

⬤ Visit a B-list destination: Durazo, the Allianz spokesperson, is right: Many people are headed to Orlando for spring break, so you’ll want to stay away during the busy times (but go in May and September, which are notoriously slow). Instead, set your sights on a B-list destination for spring, such as a northern beach resort. I’ve spent spring break in places like Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, and they are fun and not too crowded.

⬤ Skip it: This might be the year to skip spring break altogether. Instead, save your money and plan a trip in mid-May, just before the Memorial Day holiday. You’ll spend less than you would during the summer – airfares and hotel rates will be lower – and you’ll still get the warm weather (depending on where you go).