Care should be taken in Canada, Mexico, everywhere
Spring Break is just days away, and students are trekking everywhere including Disneyland and Mexico.
Tara Earl, a sophomore physical education major, decided to go to Mazatlan, Mexico with her roommate.
“It was spur of the moment,” she said. “We thought about it one day and booked it the next.”
Earl booked her trip Thursday, but time is rapidly running out for students who want to go places for cheap prices, said Jan Jensen, manager at Morris Murdock Travel.
“It’s so close [to Spring Break], that there’s probably nothing fantastic left,” she said. “Most of the cheap airfares have to be booked 14 days in advance.”
But there are some things still available — like a four-day Catalina cruise with airfare for $620. Cruises usually sell out, but sometimes they get cheaper just before they set off, Jensen said.
Packages to Mexico can be booked at the last minute but will be more expensive, said Suzette Petersen with Travel Time.
“They really can book right before, but they’ll pay more money,” she said. “Generally, the earlier you book, the better the price. It’s best to book a month or two in advance.”
Some of the most popular destinations among students this year are Mexico, various cruises, Las Vegas and Florida, Petersen said.
“They go everywhere, but some places are definitely more popular than others,” she said.
Students like cruises because everything is included, Jensen said.
“What’s really good about cruises is that activities and food are included, and they feed you well,” she said.
Many students are looking for a chance to get away over the break. Jensen and Petersen both said their offices have booked packages for about 75 students each.
“We just wanted to get out of here,” Earl said, who will be in Mazatlan for five days and four nights.
Some basic tips can help make traveling run smoothly and be affordable. For example, when booking airline tickets, check the price a few times before buying, Jensen said.
“[Air prices] are like the stock market,” she said. “They can go up and down daily.”
Another good idea is to buy travel insurance. It is relatively cheap and can save travelers a lot of money if something goes wrong, Jensen said.
Travel Guard International, for example, charges $22 for trips costing $500 or less, $38 for $501 to $1,000 and $49 for trips that cost $1,001 to $1,500.
The cost of travel insurance depends on the worth of the package and the age of the traveler. It covers medical emergencies, trip delays and baggage delays, Jensen said.
Other important things to remember when globetrotting are any necessary documents, Petersen said.
“Make sure you have the right documents, because people are denied boarding if they don’t have them,” she said. “They are getting more and more strict about it.”
For Canada, a driver’s license is required. For Mexico, travelers need a passport or a certified birth certificate and a driver’s license, Jensen said. And wherever people travel, they should know what the laws are.
“Don’t break any laws, that’s for sure — especially in Mexico,” she said. “Watch what you do and where you go, especially in the evenings.”
For those traveling by air, airports still expect fliers to arrive about two hours before departure, and security still takes any sharp objects in carry-on luggage, Jensen said.
“They even take knitting needles and manicure scissors,” she said. “If they take something away, you’ll never see it again. So check anything sharp with your
luggage.”
When renting a car, students should make sure they are old enough. Usually, the driver has to be 24 or 25 years old. Some companies allow younger drivers to rent, but may charge a $50 a day deposit and extra fees. They also may require a current electrical bill. Also, the driver should be sure to remember his driver’s license, Jensen said.
“Just use common sense when you travel,” Petersen said. “Just go and have fun — it’s Spring Break.”
–kcartwright@cc.usu.edu