It’s not too late: The 7 best spring break flight, cruise and hotel deals to book now | CNN Underscored (2024)

FAQs

What are the most popular spring break destinations? ›

Instead, consider booking flights and hotels on weekdays, particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays, for potentially lower prices and less crowded experiences. However, it's always a good idea to research and compare prices across different days and factors before finalizing your travel plans.”

Being flexible with your dates and destination is often the key to finding great last-minute vacation deals. But even though prices may become lower in the weeks preceding your departure, it is usually cheaper to book your travel in advance, particularly if you are traveling outside of the US.

The 5 benefits of booking in advance

Generally, the best deals can be found six months before the desired travel date. Then as you get closer to the time you want to stay the sales and deals steadily decrease giving slightly fewer discounts and offers.

Mexico tends to be the most popular spring break destination, namely Cancun. That said, Mexico offers a number of other excellent options, including Riviera Maya, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta.

In general, prices are lower between 23 and 59 days prior. July and August summer vacation travel is best booked 14 to 44 days ahead, with prices generally bottoming out around 21 days.

Do Flight Prices Go Down on Tuesday? The myth has been going around for years, but the truth is that flight prices don't go down on Tuesdays. To be fair, they did at one point in time, and savvy travelers could score a great deal late on a Tuesday night.

When it comes to more luxurious vacations, cruises and worldwide tours then using an agent will usually either cost you the same as it would booking it yourself, or sometimes less. This is because those markets generally have what we term 'price parity'.

What is the most expensive day to book vacation? ›

For domestic holidays, the lowest average daily rate (ADR) for booking accommodation tends to occur on a Tuesday, where travellers could save almost 10 per cent versus booking on the most expensive day, which is a Friday. For international trips, book on a Tuesday, not on a Thursday, to save around 10 per cent.

The race against the clock makes travel agents more flexible on price the closer the departure date gets. Therefore, you're likely to get hotel deals and late flights cheaper than if you'd booked it months earlier.

Planning your spring break about 4-6 months in advance does a few key things to help your group and your budget. Better hotel/resort deals. Cheaper flight rates. More time to plan excursions and activities.

Reality is, hotels tend to offer the best rate when guests book directly with them. At the same time, hotels are very clear about their prices in order to avoid any misunderstandings that might affect the guests' experience. Because of this, when you book directly with a hotel, prices are final and free of hidden fees.

Generally, booking 6 to 9 months in advance provides a good balance between securing availability and accessing early-bird deals. For peak travel seasons or popular resorts, consider booking even earlier to secure your desired room type and dates. 2. How do you get the best deal on an all-inclusive resort?

Mid- to late March is typically the peak period for spring break for most colleges and universities across the country. This year, the majority of these institutions will have their rest and recreation between March 11 and April 1.

Percentage of students on break, 23 March - 16 April 2024

This period begins in the middle of the week following Easter and will be especially pronounced during the weekend that corresponds to last year's Easter break period (Friday, 5 April through Monday, 8 April of this year).

Cabo San Lucas, Nassau, Punta Cana, and Cancun are the best Spring Break destinations with excellent resorts. These locations offer beautiful scenery, exclusive parties, and affordable all-inclusive packages for college students.