A Cheap Alternative, Road Trips

From coast to coast there is one thing that college students all seem to agree on, Spring Break costs money. This year more than ever students are being faced with the reality of what they can and cannot afford, and have been resorting to cheaper ways of vacationing, one in particular being road trips.

This year, college students from several states and backgrounds drove to the Gulf of Mexico beaches in Florida.

Oklahoma University student, Chase Westmoreland, and his friends decided to go to Destin, FL last minute when they realized how much money they could save by driving themselves. “We all realized we needed to cut back on spending this year, Destin was in a good price range so that all of our friends could be in one place,” explained Westmoreland.

The best part about Destin for Westmoreland and his friends was not having to buy $300 plane tickets. “We drove 12 hours through the night and got to the beach the next afternoon. It was a good way to get to know my friends on a deeper level after being cramped in a tight space for that long,” said Westmoreland.

For Eastern Carolina University student, Darcy Thomason, the drive to Florida was not as pleasant. “My four girlfriends and I drove my car, and half way there we got a flat tire. We were in the middle of nowhere, but thankfully my friend had her AAA card. None of us knew how to change a tire, so we had to call in reinforcements,” said Thomason.
For college students, Spring Break road trips are quite possibly their first experience traveling without parental guidance. Some do not think to prepare for the worst, and unfortunately in the event of a flat tire a spare can not usually exceed speeds of 45 mph.

University of Arkansas student Keegan Walhood said even though gas prices are going up, splitting the cost is not only cheaper, but easier than the price of a plane ticket for one. “The time it would have taken me to fly from Fayetteville, then to Dallas, then to Panama City Airport, and finally drive the thirty minutes to our house would have almost equalled the 13 hour drive,” said Walhood.

Though gas money was a big deal for some, the biggest concern for Texas Christian University student Michael Berndt was the miles he put on his 2005 Denali. “I am a pledge in my fraternity and was volunteered to drive some of my fraternity brothers. I didn’t mind driving except my truck is five years old and could’ve done without the road trip,” said Berndt.

A group of University of Oklahoma students decided to bypass the miles on their own cars by renting a vehicle from El Monte RV rental. Their final destination was Key West, but decided to “stop by nearly every spring break hotspot on the gulf coast on the way,” said Daniel Jones.

The eight young men decided this $450 a piece all inclusive vacation was the best way to fully experience their Spring Break.