The Ultimate Guide to Do Spring Break 2025 on a Budget

Table of Contents

• Tip #1: Avoid the most crowded destinations

• Tip #2: Consider a “coolcation”

• Tip #3: Look into “destination dupes”

• Tip #4: Take advantage of solo discounts 

• Tip #5: For college kids, consider a cruise 

• Tip #6: Plan trips around your two biggest expenses: flights and hotels

• Tip #7: Explore alternative modes of transportation

• Tip #8: Book accommodations that have a kitchen

• Tip #9: Go camping 

• Tip #10: Create a travel budget worksheet

• Tip #11: Use a travel calculator

• Tip #12: Finance your trip if necessary (*GASP*)

• Tip #13: Use the full potential of your credit card

• Tip #14: Use AirTags to track your stuff

• Tip #15: Consider signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

• Final thoughts: Spring break on a budget

This busy travel season just keeps getting pricier, with the average spring break 2025 trip projected to cost $8,306 – up 26% from $6,125 last year. That’s a lot of cash. So, how can you spend significantly less than this while still maximizing your time off? That’s what I’m here to help with. 

I dug through data from Airbnb, TSA, and travel insurance websites to get high-quality intel on how you can spring break on a budget this year. Plus, I’ve outlined a  few of my personal favorite travel tips. 

Here’s the Ultimate Guide to Do Spring Break 2025 on a Budget.

Tip #1: Avoid the most crowded destinations

Traveling to less crowded destinations is almost always cheaper than going to the most touristy spots. This is just supply and demand… 

A hotel that’s getting tons of reservations is likely to charge higher prices than a hotel that’s sitting vacant. The same goes for flights, restaurants, and excursions. If you’re still in the planning phase, then it’s not too late to avoid this year’s most crowded destinations. 

Here are the trendiest destinations on Airbnb that you may want to avoid for spring break 2025**:**

1. Gulf Shores, Alabama

2. Stillwater, Oklahoma (home of Oklahoma State University)

3. Taito City, Japan

4. Cologne, Germany

5. Milan, Italy

6. Corfu, Greece

7. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

8. Amsterdam, Netherlands

9. Basel, Switzerland

10. Ubatuba, Brazil

The travel insurance company SquareMouth also identified Mexico, the Bahamas, Japan, Italy, and the Dominican Republic as top international destinations for 2025. All of these destinations may be much pricier to travel to than other locations. 

Tip #2: Consider a “coolcation”

You also have a good chance of avoiding crowds by traveling to physically colder destinations – a concept known as a coolcation. 

Coolcations were super popular last year as tourists flocked to places like Switzerland, Antarctica, and Iceland in hopes of avoiding the summer’s insane heat waves. However, data from Squaremouth shows that the coolcation trend is fading. This means it might actually be a great time to book your own coolcation – as long as you don’t mind potentially spending spring break in a jacket.

If a coolcation is a no-go, then you can also avoid crowds by checking out destination dupes.

Tip #3: Look into “destination dupes”

A destination dupe, or travel dupe, is a lesser-known destination that isn’t as well-known as its counterpart but is often just as culturally rich and beautiful. Destination dupes usually offer a very comparable experience at just a fraction of the price and hassle. 

For example, Nashville is a very popular destination for people looking to experience southern hospitality and country music. But, it gets insanely crowded in the summer and is pricier than many other southern cities (source: I live in Nashville). If you want a similar experience, you might consider Memphis. Memphis captures the essence of Tennessee’s rich musical heritage and cultural significance, without the crowds and high cost.

Check out 21 Best Travel Dupes: Experience More For Less to learn more.

Or, just ask one of these 12 free AI travel planners to help identify dupes of your preferred destinations. These travel planners can also help you put together travel itineraries, make recommendations, and much more.

Tip #4: Take advantage of solo discounts 

More people are traveling solo this year as Airbnb data shows a 90% growth in solo searches for spring travel compared to last year. 

Many companies may be offering promotions to attract solo travelers and take advantage of this trend. So, be sure to stay on the lookout for potential discounts if you plan on venturing out by yourself. 

Tip #5: For college kids, consider a cruise 

Cruises are a great way to do spring break on a budget for two reasons:

1. They’re all-inclusive: You usually pay for a cruise in full upfront. Then, everything is included once you’re onboard. This makes it much easier to budget since you know exactly how much you need to spend. 

2. They offer great value for your money: Once you’re on the ship, you’ll get to enjoy amenities like pools, waterslides, gyms, casinos, high-quality shows, buffet meals, dance parties, sit-down dinners, and more. Plus, you get to spend time at and enjoy your destination as well.

If you’re a college student looking for a surprisingly affordable flat-fee vacation, then a cruise is a great option. 

Tip #6: Plan trips around your two biggest expenses: flights and hotels

The two most expensive parts of traveling are almost always the flights and hotel rooms (closely followed by food). Mitigating these two expenses right from the get-go is one of the best ways to make a trip more affordable. I’ve booked plenty of trips that were only possible because I found a $50 flight or insanely cheap hotel room.

There are a handful of ways that you can mitigate your flight and hotel expenses:

1. Explore vacation packages and travel deals: Bundling flights, hotels, and other aspects of your vacation will usually give you a better bang for your buck.

2. Hunt for cheap flights: Sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights “Explore” tab can help you find dirt-cheap flights. You can also check out your local airport to see if it’s a hub for a specific airline. If it is then that airline probably offers more affordable flights than other airlines. Learn 18 more ways that you can save money on flights when traveling. 

3. Find cheap lodging: Sites like HotelTonight or Airbnb’s Last-Minute Deals section offer great deals if you don’t mind making spontaneous plans. Or, you can just run a Google search and filter by the cheapest hotels to see what hotels are offering reduced rates.

Booking trips this way adds a fun element of spontaneity as well. 

You probably weren’t planning to travel to Tomar, Portugal for spring break 2025. But, what if you found a $200 round-trip flight? Suddenly Tomar starts to sound pretty fun. 

Tip #7: Explore alternative modes of transportation

When you think “travel” almost everyone immediately thinks flying or driving. But, there are plenty of other transportation options that can help you save money throughout your trip.

For example, consider traveling to your destination by train. Amtrak can transport you around the country while Brightline caters to Florida travelers. These options tend to be more comfortable than planes and less stressful than driving. Buses are another highly-affordable option.

Additionally, once you’ve arrived at your destination, don’t assume that renting a car is your best option. Car rentals have skyrocketed in price in recent years. To the point where it might be cheaper and easier to just call a rideshare whenever you need to get around.

Tip #8: Book accommodations that have a kitchen

Booking accommodations with a kitchen can be another great way to reduce the overall cost of your spring break 2025. This usually means exploring Airbnbs or VRBOs that offer a full-service kitchen (as opposed to hotel rooms, which don’t).

Without a kitchen, you’ll be forced to eat out for every meal, which adds up quickly. Especially for large families or longer trips. But, if you have a kitchen then you can cook a large portion of meals from your Airbnb or VRBO.

Tip #9: Go camping 

If you’re looking to do spring break on a budget, then camping is another great option. Campsites are usually between $20 to $100 per night and can sleep your entire family or friend group. On top of that, campsites offer plenty to do including hiking, making a bonfire, or swimming (depending on your campsite).

The quality of campsites near you depends on where you live in the country. But, you can always road trip (or train) to an appealing campsite to enjoy what’s sure to be a memorable (and affordable) spring break.  

Tip #10: Create a travel budget worksheet

One of the hardest parts of doing spring break on a budget is just mapping out the various costs of your trip. Booking a flight and hotel is just the beginning. You’ll also need to consider costs for food, excursions, souvenirs, and plenty of other miscellaneous expenses. This is where using a travel budget worksheet can be super helpful.

A travel budget worksheet helps you stay organized and avoid overspending during your trip. It allows you to plan ahead and make informed decisions about how to allocate your funds for food, activities, accommodations, transportation, and other expenses. 

Tip #11: Use a travel calculator

Using a travel calculator is another easy way to make sure that you don’t accidentally forget any trip expenses. This tool helps you account for all the expected costs for your trip so that you know exactly how much the trip will cost you in total.

Tip #12: Finance your trip if necessary (*GASP*)

I’m about to say something very controversial. Ready? Here goes…

Financing your spring break 2025 trip is OK as long as you’re prepared to repay the debt.

Most people balk at the thought of using a credit card or personal loan to pay for a spring break trip. But, you know what? There’s no better way to spend money than on unique experiences with friends and loved ones. That’s really what life is all about.  

For college students, you only get four spring break opportunities ever…if you’re lucky. For families, spring break is one of the rare occasions during the year when the entire family can get away together without distractions. If you don’t capitalize on these trips in the moment, then you’ll blink and the opportunity will vanish. You’ll graduate. Your kids will grow up. Or, a pandemic could even shut down travel for years. Leaning on debt to finance a trip can be worth it as long as you’re prepared to repay what you borrow. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you should whip out your credit card to book a $600,000 ticket on Virgin Galactic’s next trip to space. But, if the trip is affordable (whatever this means for your budget) and you’re just short on cash, then remember that credit cards and personal loans are a viable option. MoneyLion’s partners offer personal loans (up to $50K) with some of the lowest rates available, all in one easy-to-find place. 

Be sure to read Vacation Loans: How to Finance Your Travel before making any final decisions. 

Tip #13: Use the full potential of your credit card

Most people know that credit cards offer rewards for spending that can be used for flights, hotels, and experiences. But, many credit cards offer a lot more value than just points. 

Here are a few extra benefits that might be included with your credit card (but are often hidden deep in the Terms & Conditions):

1. Travel insurance coverage: This usually includes protection for trip delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and more. Having travel insurance through your credit card can save you lots of money by declining other optional plans (like those offered by airlines) 

2. Rental car insurance: This works the same way. You can save a bundle by declining optional rental car insurance every time you rent a car while staying protected.

3. Spending protection: You never think you need this…until you need it (like if your card gets lost or stolen while traveling).

4. Free lounge access at airports: Airport lounges usually offer free food and drink, so you can save a buck on overpriced airport food (in addition to the comfort aspect).

5. Flexible payment options when out of the country.

6. Free TSA precheck or Global Entry: More on this in a later section.

I personally always book flights and hotels with my credit card (which offers travel insurance) because I know there’s a very good chance I’ll get refunded if anything happens. 

Many cards offer perks like these with no annual fee. Learn about the Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2025.

Want even more perks like event ticket protection, checked baggage protection, or cell phone protection*? Check out MoneyLion WOW, our powerful membership for all things money.

Tip #14: Use AirTags to track your stuff

There’s no worse feeling than when the conveyor belt shuts off at baggage claim and you still haven’t seen your bag. 

Not only is all of your stuff gone (maybe forever) but now you’ll have to spend time talking to customer support when you should be lying on the beach sipping drinks out of a coconut (or doing whatever it is you like to do on vacation). This is where AirTags can be a lifesaver.

An AirTag is a Bluetooth tracking device that you can attach to your luggage, wallet, keys, car, bikes, kids, boyfriend/girlfriend, or anything else you want to keep close tabs on. An AirTag can’t stop the airline from losing your bag. But, it’ll make it much, much easier to find it again.

AirTags cost $29. Tile is slightly cheaper. Peace of mind is priceless. 

Tip #15: Consider signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

For years, I ignored my friends who raved about the benefits of TSA PreCheck. I assumed it was an expensive program reserved for the wealthy elite (I have no idea why I thought this because it’s not at all). Please learn from my mistakes and read the following section because I wish I had signed up for TSA PreCheck years ago.

TSA PreCheck is $85 per year and lasts for five years (so basically $17/year). For a family buying multiple memberships, I realize that this can add up. But, for solo travelers, it’s a pretty affordable price to pay for ease of mind every time you go to the airport.

On paper, the benefits of TSA PreCheck might sound pretty mild:

1. You get to go in a special TSA PreCheck line (AKA airport fast-pass) 

2. Your shoes, belt, and jacket stay on during security

3. Your laptop stays in the bag

But, the real benefit is that you get treated with general respect and human decency. 

No more getting bossed around at 6 am as you stand groggy-eyed in your socks trying frantically to remember TSA’s random rules (which I’m convinced they keep changing) before you inevitably get scolded in front of a group of strangers.

Laptop in or out of the bag?

Sweatshirt on or off?

Do my shoes need their own bin?

What about my belt?

Wait, where’s my boarding pass?

Yep, for the cost of just one lunch per year, you can permanently say goodbye to that stress and hassle.  

Plus, if you miss just one flight due to an unexpectedly long TSA line then this membership will pay for itself. TSA PreCheck is also offered for free through dozens of credit cards so there’s a chance you might already have it. 

Final thoughts: Spring break on a budget

I hope that you’ve found this article valuable when it comes to learning how you can do spring break on a budget in 2025. We covered a total of 15 travel tips that you can use for this year:

1. Avoid the most crowded destinations

2. Consider a coolcation

3. Look into destination dupes

4. Take advantage of solo discounts

5. For college kids, consider a cruise

6. Plan trips around cheap flights and hotels

7. Explore alternative modes of transportation

8. Book accommodations that have a kitchen 

9. Consider going camping

10. Create a travel budget worksheet

11. Use a travel calculator

12. Finance your trip if necessary

13. Use the full potential of your credit card

14. Use AirTags to track your stuff

15. Consider signing up for TSA PreCheck

Interested in reading more about how you can maximize spring break 2025 without breaking the bank? Check out our guide on 20 Budget Travel Tips.