Most college students in the New Orleans area will be traveling within U.S. borders for spring break this year, although Cancun is usually the most popular destination for area students, according to Going Places Travel Inc., a local travel agency.
However, travel agent Pam Taylor of Going Places said many students are staying closer to home this year because of the recent surge of violence in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Spring break dates for U.S. colleges and universities range from as early as Feb. 15 to as late as April 9, according to springbreak.com, which has a list of most schools and their spring break dates.
Dillard has scheduled spring break for the week of March 29, which means DU students will not be off for any of the “Spring Blings” scheduled at four Florida locations this year, according to Black Entertainment Television’s Myspace page. The one in Dayton was last weekend, and the ones in Panama City and Miami are this weekend. A fourth in West Palm Beach is set for April 10.
A list of 2010 hot spots for spring breakers, compiled in order of popularity, by Studenttravel.about.com are:
- Cancun, Mexico
- Acapulco Bay, Mexico, where mtvU was to film Spring Break 2010 this week.
- Panama City, Fla. (Concerts and events are planned for the entire month of March, with a list available at springbreak.com.)
- The Bahamas and Jamaica
- Miami and South Beach, Fla.
- Europe
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- South Padre Island, Texas
- North American ski resorts.
Dillard student plans varied.
Kim Homer, a freshman international business major from Washington, D.C., said she plans to travel to North Carolina for the break to see her best friend. Sheba Washington, a junior mass communication major from New Orleans, said she plans to go to Miami.
Other students, such as Leatrice Wilson, a sophomore community health education major from New Orleans, said she plans to visit family and relax.
(Angela Harris contributed to this report.)