Last-minute plans mean higher costs

Spring break is now less than a month away and can be met by students with mixed emotions. While some may be looking forward to his or her travel plans, others may be wondering if it's too late to plan any kind of trip. But don't despair yet. If you're willing to pay a little extra, there are still hundreds of destinations awaiting your visit. \nThe market is devised to keep pushing students to make travel plans for spring break, said Erika Funston, branch manager for STA Travel located in the Indiana Memorial Union. STA Travel starts early and keeps at it while there are still customers and available trips. Funston advises students to make their plans at least a week ahead of time.\n"You'll probably be paying really high prices then," she said. "In October a trip to Acapulco costs around $1,200, and now it costs around $1,800 to $2,000."\nSome places are easier to make last minute plans. Funston listed Cancun as the easiest, along with Los Cabos, since people think it takes many stops to get there, when in reality there can be as few as one. Jamaica, on the other hand, fills up quickly and would be difficult to make last minute plans. The number of great properties available also drops as time progresses. \nFreshman Abby McConnell waited until just a few weeks ago to finalize her plans to spend spring break in Florida and realized the downfall of doing so. The cost of her plane tickets went up $50 within a week, from the time she first looked at them until the time she was ready to buy them. \n"It took forever to get a hold of my friend in Florida that we're going to stay with," McConnell said. "We always start too late anyway." \nFor the procrastinator or spur of the moment type person, the Web site, Cheaptickets.com, offers last-minute trip packages starting at $150 per person. Customers can browse through offers sold from 14 days before or up until three hours -- five hours for international flights -- before scheduled departure. These packages always include more than one thing, most commonly, hotel and airfare. There is also the option of paying for either the hotel or plane ticket and one extra component such as a rental car or pre-paid dinner.\n"Availability is limited," according to the Web site. "So when you see something you like, buy it."\nSome sample packages leaving from Indianapolis include Orange County Coast, Calif. starting at $331 plus tax, and Miami Beach, Fla. starting at $302 plus tax. Costs vary depending on the length of the trip and the flight times. \nLast minute trips specialize in weekend getaways and longer weekend trips, so the earliest departure day is Thursday and the latest return is Tuesday, with a mandatory Saturday night stay. The only exception to this rule of thumb is Las Vegas, which offers weekday departures and returns and select cities which offer Wednesday departures to Hawaii. \nFreshman Katie Greer is waiting as long as possible to make her spring break plans. She said she is hoping to go to South Padre Island, Texas, with her best friend who's going to school in Texas, but is currently focusing her attention on getting a job.\n"Before I can finalize my plans I need to come up with enough money," Greer said.