Fun and Easy Last Minute Winter Break Trips

By Amanda Cohen on December 6, 2017

Winter break is approaching us (thank goodness because I am drowning in schoolwork) and many people haven’t planned what they are doing yet. The same situation has happened to me: you think about planning a trip in advance and then you realize that you want to be a potato at home all of winter break and then you quickly and frantically realize that you want to do something fun instead of watching Netflix on your couch all day. Even though it may seem like there is no time to plan fun getaway, I am here to tell you that this is not the case because 2-3 weeks is plenty of time! You would be surprised at how easy it is to plan a trip with only a few weeks’ notice. The trips I’ve written about are affordable, fun, relaxing, and exciting… trust me, you will want to capture every moment on Instagram #blessed. Read on if you are intrigued and are looking for a fun trip!

via Pixabay.com

The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic (DR) is a great location for a variety of reasons. First, there are so many low-price all-inclusive resorts there (having food and drinks included will allow you to spend a little extra on airfare because getting flights during winter break can be on the pricier side). Second, beautiful weather and lots to do. You can tan, go snorkeling, swim with turtles, go sightseeing, drink a pina colada, and more (cue “If You Like Pina Coladas”). Third, most resorts are either family-friendly or college student-friendly so it is the perfect location for a restful family getaway or a party-filled college vacation.

Miami, Florida

If you want to embrace your inner Pitbull, then Miami is for you. The only downside of Miami is that the weather can be unpredictable, but the good news is that there are plenty of activities that you can do in both warm and gross weather. Hotels and rentals might be a little pricier, but airfare to Miami is usually reasonable because so many airlines fly there, so definitely check out Frontier, Spirit, Southwest, and more. Another amazing benefit of Miami is that you don’t need a passport. Miami has great food, great beaches, fun clubs, and amazing shopping, so pack your bags!

Upper Peninsula Michigan

If you don’t know what the Upper Peninsula (the UP) is that’s totally normal because I had no idea what it was until I came to Michigan for college. The UP is beautiful in the Winter and has amazing bars, ski mountains, yummy food, cute little rentals, and all-around cozy-vibes. If you love to ski and if you love the cold, I highly recommend looking into Airbnb rentals. Flights into Detroit are usually pretty cheap and you can fly similar airlines that you would use when flying into Miami (listed above). After that you just need a rental car because it is a three-hour drive, but it is worth it. So scenic, so beautiful, and it will definitely get you in the holiday spirit.

Disneyland/ Disney World

Who wouldn’t want to be in the happiest place on earth? Disneyland is so fun and pretty affordable for college students. I see pictures of people on these trips all the time and I am always envious because who wouldn’t want to eat lots of yummy Mickey Mouse-shaped foods and then go on Space Mountain and then finish the day off my getting your autograph book filled with Goofy, Cinderella, and Ariel’s signatures. Flights to both Disneyland and Disney World are affordable because so many different airlines fly to these locations.

New York City, D.C., and Chicago

These three cities are so fun and so easy to get to. All three cities have amazing activities, yummy restaurants, cool bars, lots of sightseeing, and unreal shopping (shout out to all of my fellow fashionistas). These cities all have cheap hotels and rentals that are both safe and affordable. In addition, most of the cities can be travelled to by plane, bus, train, or car (just don’t walk there unless you live in the city itself). You can go to Rockefeller Center, the National Mall, or the Bean… you can’t lose!

These five suggestions are awesome, and I’m not just saying this because I’m the one writing the article. However, there are tons of details that still need to be figured out, but luckily there are websites that were made to help you find affordable airfare, hotels, rentals, restaurants, and more. Here is a list of websites you should look at:

  • Trip Advisor
  • Airbnb
  • Hotel Tonight
  • Expedia
  • Yelp
  • Open Table
  • Orbitz
  • Kayak
  • Trivago
  • Travelocity

Even though there is still time to plan a trip, the sooner you make your travel plans the better, because prices will continue to go up. If you aren’t in the mood to travel by plane, there are fun road trips to take (weather-permitting) that will make your winter break unforgettable. I hope these suggestions helped! Have a fun, safe, and adventure-filled break!

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