It's Spring Break!!

With hordes of students celebrating the end of midterms by running to such far-flung locales as Cancun and Vegas, many overlook the most important aspect of their trip — namely how much it costs and is it affordable.

Talking about money may not be as fun as heading to the beach, but setting a fixed spending limit can allow students to plan a well-budgeted and fun spring break. One of the first things to consider is where you get the most bang for your dollar.

Although spring break tends to be associated with traveling out of state or even internationally, staying local or choosing less mainstream destinations like Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Lake Tahoe or Venice Beach can make the difference between having enough money for groceries and gas (or not) when it’s time to head back to school.

A common mistake at this time of the year is paying for overpriced hotel rooms. It can be much cheaper to rent a room through Airbnb , Fiplkey or Roomorama. After all, you’re probably not spending much time in the room anyway.

Sarah Gavin, a senior editor at Expedia, the travel web site, told The New York Times in a recent interview that opting for travel packages instead of booking flights and hotels separately can save customers as much as $540, on average.

Of course, staying with a friend or relative who lives in a spring break-type location is the most cost effective solution.

When traveling by air, skip the extra fees whenever possible by not lugging unnecessary (or extra heavy) baggage.

Once you arrive at your destination, it’s easy to give in to the temptation of eating out and buying fancy drinks on a regular basis. Consider buying cheap snacks and ready-to-go meals that keep you full and are within your budget.

These simple tips can help students have a memorable and affordable spring break — returning to school refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the semester.