Ah, November. The month when the snow begins falls, the temperature plummets, the work becomes unbearable and Spring Break planning starts.

Now is the time when Notre Dame and Saint Mary's students begin dreaming of escaping from the South Bend permacloud, envisioning a fun-filled jaunt somewhere far from the world of academics and dreary dorms. But not every student imagines the same type of break; each student's dream is shaped by different preferences, budgets, likes and dislikes. And the possibilities are endless.

Stereotypical Spring Break insanity

For the students who want the traditional, crazy Spring Break filled with wild debauchery, beautiful beaches and endless partying, the best idea is to stick with the standards and head to a well-established spring break destination.

Vacation spots like Cancun, Mexico, Mataztlan, Mexico, Daytona Beach, Fla., South Padre Island, Texas and Panama City Beach, Fla. are guaranteed to be packed with thousands of other college kids, awesome clubs, gorgeous stretches of sand, activities and bargains geared toward a younger crowd.

Affordable packages are abundant and easy to find. Web sites such as www.StudentCity.com, www.StudentAdvantage.com, www.Springbreak.net and www.Spring-Break-Party.com offer numerous options and great information.

But students should do extensive research before booking a trip; all-inclusive and "special" packages are frequently advertised, but often the bargains aren't as amazing as they sound. A deal which covers food, such as guaranteeing seven breakfasts and seven dinners, may end up costing unnecessary dollars.

If a person sleeps through the breakfast hours, he or she will have to buy his or her own food anyway. Students also often end up foregoing the prepaid meals for local eating establishments because dining in hotel lobbies and restaurants gets very boring very fast.

"Very often, the menus are very restrictive," warned Kayleen Carr of Anthony Travel. "You might be given a $2 voucher at the hotel restaurant, and that will be your meal."

Party passes are another tricky commodity; many times, students would be better off simply strolling or driving through the hotel zone every afternoon and surveying the different nightly promotions of each club. Smart planning can save money, enabling students to get into great clubs without a cover each night by taking advantage of the various specials.

Anthony Travel, the agency on both Notre Dame and Saint Mary's campuses, in the basement of LaFortune, offers some of the best rates around. For example, packages to Nassau start at only $676 — a price which students will find after days of comparative Web surfing, is hard to beat. And, even more importantly, the agency's packages are a good deal more reliable than ones randomly discovered on the Internet.

For instance, many companies book Spring Breakers on charter flights, which often can result in up to 24 hour delays or, in worst case scenarios, cancellations.

"We use scheduled air instead of chartersbecause charter flights have so many problems during spring break," Carr said.

The exotic

If a students are looking to book a trip on their own, without a package or they're searching for a tropical location that's less crowded, somewhat calmer and decidedly cheaper than the well-known spring break destinations, worthwhile options abound.

The Dominican Republic (DR) is quickly becoming a popular vacation spot because of its inexpensive rates, impressive scenery and famously friendly population. The second-largest and most populous nation in the Caribbean, the DR boasts tropical rainforests, breathtaking mountain ranges and golden sandy beaches which extend over one-third of the 870 miles of coastline. Bordered by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, reasonably-priced resorts covering the northern and eastern shores offer all-inclusive rates which are actually quite advantageous.

The Canary Islands, off the coasts of Spain and Africa, are also surprisingly inexpensive. Lodging and dining are extremely cheap; travelers can enjoy the seven islands for less than $40 a day, spending $3 to $5 on meals. Countless low-cost flights are available from major European cities. The best strategy when planning a trip is to find a cheap student fare to a major European metropolis and then take another, inexpensive flight from there to the Islands.

The Islands are a tourist haven, packed with souvenir shops and commercialized beaches, but the temperatures and sun are unbeatable year-round. The nightlife on the islands is also unrivalled; the discos and clubs remain packed until at least 3 or 4 a.m. Many continue on until the early morning. The island of Tenerife, especially, is known as one of the disco Meccas of Europe.

Hitting the slopes

For those students envisioning log cabins, snow-covered peaks and hot chocolate, numerous ski resorts exist throughout the nation that promise hours of outdoor enjoyment in addition to tranquil, refreshing atmospheres.

Breckenridge, located high in the Central Rocky Mountains in Summit County Colorado, offers first-class slopes, ice skating, snowboarding and countless other outdoor opportunities. But the Victorian town is the site of many other forms of entertainment; when you're exhausted from draining physical activity, you can visit more than 400 shops, galleries, bistros, salons and restaurants. Even a simple stroll through the town in the crisp mountain air is scenic and calming; strict building codes have preserved many Victorian-style buildings, leaving the streets reminiscent of the town's old mining days in the Old West.

New England also harbors impressive ski lodges which include many benefits other than snow. Vermont's Killington Ski Resort, the largest ski and snow resort in the East, encompasses seven interconnected mountains and more than 87 miles of trails. But the region offers much more to the jaded student; the surrounding region is home to everything from quaint New England country stores, artisan shops and factory outlets to fine dining establishments.

Road trip

For students afraid of flying or tight on cash, the 80s-movie romanticized road trip calls. Jump in the car and head out onto the open road. The continental United States and Canada offer more than enough vacation destinations that will afford great memories in addition to being affordable.

Savannah, Ga. is a great place to spend Spring Break. This spirited city, in addition to being filled with stately historic mansions, beautiful tree-lined avenues, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality, is also the proud home of the second-largest St. Patrick's Day parade in America (the largest takes place in New York City.)

Mardi Gras vendors flock from New Orleans for the fiasco, beads in tow. The fountains of Savannah's 13 squares and the river are dyed green. The bars and clubs of the city's River Street and City Market are thronged nightly with thousands of people, starting several days before the actual St. Patrick's Day parade on March 17. The preceding week is filled with performances by numerous local bands and several more well-known groups. Sister Hazel was one of the more famous entertainers last year.

"You just walk up and won the street, talking to strangers," said Maria Duque, a Savannah resident and Notre Dame sophomore. "Last year everything started Wednesday night and went on through Sunday. Friday and Saturday nights are huge."

The daytime activities abound in Savannah, as well; a variety of historic tours of homes and sites run daily, and the remarkable Civil Rights Museum is a must-see. And the scrumptious Southern fare of the port city cannot be forgotten.

"You've got to eat seafood while you're in Savannah," Duque said.

Another popular road trip destination is only four hours from South Bend. Although it's in another country; Windsor, Canada, is a favorite among college students who are drawn to its many shopping venues, acclaimed restaurants, quaint city squares as well as drinking and gambling age of 19.

Vacationers in Windsor can visit everything from wineries and maple syrup factories to casinos and Point Pelee National Park, which is world-renowned for its variety of bird and butterfly species.

For the adventurerous

A restless wanderer who wants to see the world or is simply sick of cookie-cutter breaks, might want to pick a vacation spot more off the beaten track. Switch continents, switch hemispheres. With a little bit of research, it's definitely doable.

March is part of the off-season in Europe, so airfare to the continent is cheaper than at any other time of the year. Whether you're going to visit a friend abroad or simply want to sightsee, Spring Break is the time to go.

The fairly new Eurail Selectpass is the perfect idea for the week; starting at $230, it allows a minimum of five days unlimited train travel through three bordering countries that the student chooses. The train pass, combined with a hostel card, which is only $25, provides for inexpensive transportation and lodging; careful planning will yield cheap meals, as well, and the week will prove informative, enjoyable and economical.

Not many students would think of Indonesia as a Spring Break destination, but the exotic island of Bali is not at all out of reach — or out of college-age price range. Kuta Beach on Bali's southwestern coast is an Indian Ocean Village that rivals any Western Hemisphere spring break hotspot in beaches, nightlife, and, most importantly, cost.

As in Europe, Bali's off-season includes March, and roundtrip flight specials can be as low as $500 to $600. Figures like that, at first glance, probably make students cringe, but the bargain rates for lodging, food, drink and entertainment in Kuta Beach more than make up for the cost of getting there. The most powerful exchange currency in Indonesia is the American dollar and its clout is blatantly evident in Bali prices.

If students are willing to rough it without any frills (which would include no air conditioning, private bathroom or hot water), it's possible to book a hotel room for $4 to $8 a night. Adding those luxuries and more, a standard-quality hotel room can be found for $20-30 a night. Even deluxe lodging can be secured for as low as $40. The local food is exotic but cheap. If students are not a fan of culinary adventures, Western franchises have made their way to Bali. Students can have a breakfast of Dunkin' Donuts rather than durian and orangensteen fruits.

Nightlife hotspots are numerous and diverse, ranging from Irish pubs in two-story huts to clubs established in docked ships. But they all have one thing in common: cheap, creative drinks and friendly, entertaining staff. Spring Break in Bali can be nothing short of crazy, unusual and ultimately unforgettable.

Regardless of what students want in their Spring Break, how much they want to spend, or how many people they're traveling with, the perfect vacation is out there.

With careful planning, savvy research, and an open mind, anything and everything is possible.

Contact Sheila Flynn at flynn.58@nd.edu.

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