And Fort Lauderdale, along with its nearby brethren of Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, Panama City, Key West, et al, still pulls down a considerable chunk of the spring break dollar.

Other traditional hot spots of the season are Hawaii; Las Vegas; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Puerto Rico; the Virgin Islands; South Padre Island, Texas; the Bahamas; Negril, Jamaica; and several sites all across Mexico: Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Tijuana, Cancun, Cozumel, Acapulco and, on the Baja Peninsula, Rosarita Beach and Cabo San Lucas.

Some alternative sites are New York City, various spots in Europe and even ski resorts, despite global warming. Even cruises have gained popularity among Spring Breakers, although some cruise lines aren’t exactly happy about that.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Gas prices and a slowing economy will no doubt yank a knot in many students’ bikinis.

Still bargains can be found, if one is frugal or just doesn’t want to wade through crowds of inebriated freshmen.

Farecast.com estimates that fares for peak Spring Break trips are up 10 percent to 12 percent over last year. Those prices peak in mid-March, when an estimated 60 percent of U.S. colleges take spring break.

According to John Rauser of Farecast.com, other factors impacting spring break are “rumors of consolidation and reduced capacity (among airlines), emphasizing that consumers need to be smart when knowing when to fly and buy this season.”

Shopping early can almost guarantee savings, although a majority of college students travel in groups and thus wait until dates are set before booking. In mid-January, Farecast.com was tracking national average fares at the upper $200s to the lower $300s.

The collegiate crowd can bank some cash by avoiding expensive destinations such as Cancun, which may cost on average $400-500 per ticket. Consider traveling to less busy destinations such as Nassau, Bahamas, or Puerto Vallarta, where fares can be $30-90 less.

Picking a strategic day of the week can save, too, according to Farecast.com. Leaving and arriving on a Tuesday can be less expensive than heading out or back on a weekend.

For those in the eastern U.S. looking for beach getaways, Nassau in the Bahamas is a relative value, as is Florida. West Coast folk should look to Puerto Vallarta, as well as, surprisingly, Hawaii, which is a much cheaper trip than it is from the East Coast.

-------------------------------

More hints to save

From Suite101.com, some alternatives to the traditional Spring Break trip: