Bars, beaches, budgets. An all-inclusive Spring Break that is cost efficient? It seems too good to be true.
Or at least college students may think so, but some students at Fairfield University know differently.
A group of approximately 35 students traveled to Acapulco, Mexico for seven nights for a little over $900. Sounds reasonable, so what’s the catch?
Student City is a travel organization geared toward college students looking for inexpensive Spring Break deals.
E-mails advertising this year’s deals were received by students all over, including Fairfield. If one student gets a group together who shows interest in the trip, and a big enough group commits, that student receives a discounted trip.
The advertisement offered a $900 vacation including flights and a seven-night hotel stay. For $200 more, a student could book the Party Package. This deal included top-of-the-line privileges and open bar.
However, some of the students interviewed said the advertisement was misleading. Only certain bars were available for this package, and once a student got to the bar, only certain drinks were part of the deal.
Students originally planning to pay $900 for their Spring Break trip paid closer to $1200 before they even got on the plane. The trip was scheduled for Sat., March 5 to Sat., March 12, from either Newark, JFK or LaGuardia Airports.
Students would be informed of which airport they’d leave from approximately a week prior to the trip.
Although some students were disappointed with certain financial aspects of the trip, the experience itself was well-received by most who went.
“It was the best time of my life,” said Amanda Clemente ’07.
She and her friends enjoyed days on the warm, sunny beaches and nights in the crowded dance clubs. They met many college students from all over the U.S. and had a lot of fun.
“If I could do it over, I’d do some things differently,” said Pete Genovese ’07. “But my friends said they had a good time.”
He planned on traveling to Acapulco as well, but decided not to go, partially because of the misleading ads. He somewhat wishes he went on the trip.
“There’s always next year,” he said.
Many travel agencies offer student packages for groups traveling on a spring vacation.
For years, Brooklawn Travel, Inc. in Fairfield booked all kinds of vacations for students and families. They are now closed, but Ester Roth, an independent representative who worked for Brooklawn for 12 years, is familiar with Fairfield University and she said she would be happy to help any students with a trip for next year.
There are also travel agencies in Westport, Conn. and other surrounding towns.
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