There are several students finalizing spring break travel plans, but due to the recession and money issues, the only plans some students are making are to work.
Miami, Panama City, Cancun and Daytona are among the most popular spring break destinations for college students everywhere. However, the condition of the current economy will stifle some plans of enjoyment this break, while others have not let the recession hinder their traveling.
Jamisha Turner, a second-year social work student at Tallahassee Community College from Wichita, Kansas, says she would like to be vacationing somewhere like Miami this spring break, but instead she will continue to work in order to save.
“My plans are to stay in Tallahassee and work and make extra money instead of going else where to spend money,” Turner said.
She notes that the recession is a large part of the reason she is choosing to stay and work, and that “the recession is stopping [her] from having fun.”
Like Turner, fourth-year English student Korwin Clayton, 21, from Jacksonville will also stay in Tallahassee during spring break to remain working as an elementary after- school aid.
“I have no plans because I work for Leon County School Board and school will still be in,” Clayton said. “But South Beach is always an option.”
Clayton though, has not completely called off his plans for this spring break season. Instead, they have only been delayed.
“I do plan on going to Panama City while the [elementary] students are on break,” Clayton said.
Businesses, like hotels and cruise companies, don’t anticipate a substantial decrease in student turnout.
Nicole Steinman, marketing and public relations manager for Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Paradise Palms, Days Inn Beachside and Casa Loma- all located on Panama City’s beach- recalls large numbers of student reservations for the hotels during the spring break month.
“We’re normally sold out throughout the whole month of March,” Steinman said.
This year Steiman says bookings normally start being made right after Christmas but they started to come at the end of January this year. However, the hotels are still receiving reservation requests and doubt that this year’s turnout will be much different.
“Three out of the four [hotels] are sold out two weeks in March and we expect the rest to be sold out in the next few days,” Steinman said.
Sales Manager Lenny Kopple, for Cruise Holidays of Tallahassee, isn’t forecasting student hesitations either.
“We normally don’t have a large student turn out but I haven’t noticed any change in 3-5 years,” Kopple said.
Adolphus Thompson, third-year political science student from Miami, is among the various students who will still be traveling during the break.
“I planned a trip to Orlando to go to Universal Studios or Wet and Wild,” Thompson said. “We’ll stay there then drive to Panama City and go to the beach.”
Thompson said he usually travels to visit family in Alabama during spring break.
Steinman explained that the hotels she markets for offer much more than a room so that the students get more of a value.
“Kids are looking for a deal,” she said.