It’s almost that time of year, when you can temporarily forget about schoolwork and exams and let loose for some much-needed fun with friends. Spring Break is known for being a little crazy ~ a chance to be the girl or see the girl in a skimpy bikini and take part in public and potentially embarrassing fun contests sponsored by MTV, radio stations, liquor companies, etc.

Some will down rounds of shots and get their dance on in the sand and some will skip the beach altogether and do something totally different. Of course, travel companies know this is peak season, so tickets can be pretty pricey. So where can you go to spend as little as possible and still have the break you and your buddies will be talking about years from now?

Beach it

If you are looking to fly south for the winter and hit the beach and you don’t mind the crowds, Daytona is one of your best options. It will be between 80-85 degrees, and the restaurants and hotels are much cheaper than those in Miami. At the Daytona Welcome Center, you can get the 2015 Spring Break VIP Card for $25, which awards you free cover to the clubs, free beer and discounts at other local places.

Mexico is another great place with excellent deals for Spring Break. Do yourself a favor and look at Riviera Maya or Playa del Carmen instead of Cancun. These places are only a bit south of the city but are just as gorgeous and $300-$400 cheaper. All-inclusive resorts are the way to go ~ you won’t have to pay for food or drink while you’re there.

Another awesome beach location is Jamaica. Montego Bay and Ocho Rios may have some good deals, but if you are looking to save a few bucks, look into Runaway Bay. One of the cheapest places you can go down in the Caribbean, though, is the Dominican Republic. You may get lucky and find a great Punta Cana deal, but if you really want a gorgeous beach trip on the cheap, look at Boca Chica. There are deals for less than $800 (yes, all-inclusive hotel AND flight combined). Hard to beat that!

Bet you didn’t know that Blue Curacao was named after an actual island. The tiny island of Curacao lies east of Aruba, and you can get some amazing deals here. Whereas Aruba tends to jack its prices up for Spring Break, you can get a beautiful hotel with flight for around $1,200, and the ocean is just as blue as the liquor.

Cruise the seas

Cruises are also an option for those who want to get away. Unfortunately, there aren’t many that leave from Boston, but if you can get to New York and go from there, Norwegian Cruise Line has some deals to the Bahamas and Caribbean (and even Canada) for good prices.

Head north

If you are OK with the cooler temperatures, want to avoid the crowds and march to the beat of your own drum, you may consider heading north instead. It’s certainly a lot cheaper, and whether you are into hiking, skiing and snowboarding, or simply pub hopping, this might just be your cup of tea. Toronto has tons of things to do, and you can get a flight and few nights at a nice hotel there for less than $800 easily.

Skiers and other winter sport aficionados can skip paying the airfare altogether and book rooms at lodges for $100-$150 per night in Killington or Stowe, Vt., and spend their days on the slopes and nights near the fire. Many places will have lift tickets on the cheap this week, too.

Go west

Extremely cheap deals await those who want to go to Las Vegas during Spring Break. With the number of hotels and casinos in close proximity to The Strip (and the fact that you probably won’t spend much time in your room anyway), find the cheapest place you can. Stratosphere, Hooters and Circus Circus all have cheap rooms. Place a few bets, catch some topless shows and eat some of the best food in the world.

California is a great place to visit, and if you shop around, you can usually find pretty good deals in downtown Los Angeles, San Fernando, San Diego and even San Francisco if you look hard enough. Consider Santa Rosa, too; there are often good options, and it’s in the Sonoma area of California, so if you are a wine connoisseur, this might be your heaven.

Whereas Utah might not seem very “vacation,” for people looking to see something different and experience something new, think about staying near Zion National Park. The mountain views and sunsets are breathtaking; the log cabins and clay-colored buildings are gorgeous; and the park itself is a natural wonder all its own, with canyons, caves and springs. Learn more at nps.gov/zion.

General Tips

Booking vacation package deals saves you a lot, so do that instead of trying to book your flights and hotel separately. I saw Daytona for $814, with four nights at a beachfront hotel and flight included at last check. I also saw a great deal for $1,300 (all-inclusive hotel with flight) in Playa del Carmen, too.

Shop around and book as early as possible, unless you want to take your chances with the “last-minute deals” some travel sites offer. Be careful of those, though, as you can’t guarantee something isn’t sold out.

Check out Kayak.com, which shows you fare history and trends for domestic and international flights.

Pack light. If you can manage to fit everything you want to bring in a carry-on bag and a small duffle bag, you can skip those ridiculous baggage check fees (AND the ticketing lines).

By Jennifer Russo

Zion photo credit: DaveJonesPhotography.Com