Tips from travel experts

Flash sales, last-minute bookings and Living Social-type websites have limited-time, special offers that can save you hundreds of dollars on a single trip. But comparing prices is not the only way to save on your upcoming trip.

According to Scott Elling, CEO of CouponPal, “It’s also important to compare deals and discounts if you want to take your savings to the next level. After researching prices for airfare, hotels and rental cars, make sure to factor in hidden costs like baggage fees, transportation and seat selections, and compare sitewide deals from trusted brands like Expedia and Travelocity.”

For standalone airfare bookings, Mark Drusch from CheapOair recommends, “Travelers should always check fares on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, as the airline systems update offerings overnight and release available seats in the morning. Also, consumers should sign up for fare alerts and utilize social media. A lot of companies post last-minute fire sales where prices can be slashed up to 50 percent.”

Because prices of travel fluctuate steeply, it’s worth your while to check up to five different travel sites and deals prior to booking a trip. With these expert travel-saving tips, there’s no excuse to skip out on some rest and recuperation at some of these spring-break hot spots below.

1

Las Vegas

Cha-ching! Cash in on a trip to Las Vegas where you can gamble, see a show, party poolside and test your luck at the tables and slot machines. Glam it up in your best of bling and hit the famous nightclubs. Vegas is the one place you can be anything you want to be for the night.

2

Miami Beach

Nikki Beach, Ocean Avenue, palm trees, Caribbean cuisine; the list goes on and on and on. There’s not much you can’t do in the “cruise capital of the world.” Bike along Lincoln Drive, shop ’til you drop, sunbathe on the soft white sands and take a dip in the ocean in this tropical paradise.

3

South Padre Island, Texas

If you’re in the mood for party people and drinks, go to South Padre Island. Most of the year it’s filled with family vacationers, but as soon as spring hits, it’s swarming with young people on spring break. You can ride the waves in the setting sun, wind surf, parasail and make great memories.

4

Bahamas cruise

Take an island-hopping cruise to the Bahamas,  with food and drink from sunup to sundown. Nothing is better than cruising the open sea with people who all have the same idea in mind: fun. Why book a party bus for the night when you relax on the deck and meet some great people while exploring exotic islands? Exactly.

Frequent Flier: Where to island-hop in the Bahamas >>

5

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Only two hours away from more than 300 of the top university campuses, Atlantic City is one of the top spring break destinations for college students in New York, Philadelphia, Delaware, Maryland, North Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Atlantic City is the Las Vegas of the East Coast, but with an ocean. Hit the sand in the morning to catch a tan and go underground at night to show off your beach body and win some cash. Find yourself on a new adventure each night there.

More tips for getting spring–break ready

Does Bliss’s Fatgirlslim Lean Machine really work?
The beach-ready tote that will be the envy of sun bathers
Get on-trend for spring without breaking the bank