Collegians say nay to ‘naycations’

By Angela Mapes Turner

Spring break in exotic … Indianapolis?

For college junior Kaity White, Spring Break 2009 won’t get any wilder than the state capital.

But the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne student, 21, shivering against the wind on the snowy campus Thursday, said her decision doesn’t have much to do with the current recession.

“I’ve just always worked,” she said. “I’ve never gone anywhere.”

Lower gas prices, airfares and hotel deals are making spring break attractive to even cash-strapped students, who often find they can still afford the iconic beach trip.

Fares for spring break – Feb. 28 through April 5 – are averaging 15 percent lower than 2008 prices, costing about as much as two years ago, said Live Search Farecast, a travel-search Web site that offers airfare predictions.

Premium hotel rates in popular U.S. spring break destinations are also about 15 percent lower than last year, Live Search Farecast said.

Tarik Tucovic, 18, an IPFW freshman, plans to take his usual trip with friends to Florida, and he’s not worried about finding the cash.

“Luckily, my family has not been affected so far,” he said.

According to Rachel Berg, a senior writer for Travelocity’s WindowSeatblog.com, even those families affected by the economic downturn aren’t necessarily choosing a “staycation” – the tourism industry’s term for vacationing closer to home.

But more spring breakers are traveling domestically than internationally.

The top destination this year is Las Vegas, which was No. 3 last year, Berg said.

“Packages to Vegas are so good right now,” she said.

Amusement parks, swimming pools and shows mean Vegas has much to offer for both student groups and families traveling together.

Travelocity does not separate bookings by families and students.

Orlando and South Florida round out Travelocity’s top-three domestic spring break destinations, Berg said.

Travelocity has also seen a trend of more college students booking all-inclusive cruise packages.

“You know very easily what the price is going to be upfront,” she said.

Because of Mexico’s weakened economy, Berg said, three of that country’s destinations top Travelocity’s list for foreign vacations: Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.

About 30,000 partyers are expected to visit Cancun this year, the same amount as last year, according to the Quintana Roo state tourism office.

Other foreign locales might not see as many American visitors.

Last year, Ben Gates, executive director of Greater Fort Wayne Campus Ministry, led 24 students from IPFW and Indiana Tech on a spring break mission trip to Italy.

At the start of the school year last fall, almost 40 expressed interest in this year’s trip to Nice, France.

But only 11 are going, Gates said.

Because of expensive international airfare, the trip will cost $2,000 a person, not to mention the unfavorable exchange rate for the euro.

Most of the students who opted out told Gates money was the reason.

Even so, Gates said, the organization – IPFW’s largest student group – is planning a trip to Northern Ireland a year from now and to India a year from June.

“Even with the economy the way it is, we’re not cutting back on those trips,” Gates said.

It’s hard to choose a “naycation” – tourism slang for nixing a trip altogether – when the prices keep falling, Travelocity’s Berg said.

“They’re taking advantage of the deals,” she said.

But even the good deals aren’t enough to entice Bethany Casey, 22, an IPFW history major who traveled to Europe on spring break last year.

Even though the recession isn’t necessarily the main reason she’s staying put, she said, it seemed foolish to turn down an opportunity to earn a few dollars at the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center.

“I’ll get stuff done around the house,” Casey said. “I’ll be working part time.”

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