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Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305.sPubDate = "3/2/2009 7:38:37 PM GMT";
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Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Introduction","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302-Cancun-beach-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Cancun, Mexico", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of Mexico Tourism Board ", "273", "412", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<br><a href=\"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/\"> <img src=\" http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/source-msnbc-com-newlogo.gif\" border=0></a><P ALIGN=LEFT><i>By Harriet Baskas, contributor</i><p><br><b> <p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"> Introduction </p></b><p>Officials in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. &#151; once the top destination for wild spring break adventures &#151; have spent years urging college students to please take their rowdy, drunken beach parties elsewhere this time of year. Fine with us, say many spring breakers. They&#146;re finding that in this time of recession, plenty of other towns are welcoming students &#151; and their money &#151;  with open arms, bars and beaches. Here&#146;s a sampling of some popular destinations for spring break 2009. ";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Jamaica ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302-Jamaica-Rick%27s-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Rick&#146;s Caf&#233; in Negril, Jamaica ", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of Jamaica Tourist Board ", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<br><b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>Caribbean destinations are always popular with spring breakers, and this year Jamaica is once again topping many lists. What&#146;s the attraction? Plenty of all-inclusive resorts, cliff diving, white-sand beaches and a spring break season that stretches out over three months with concert series and themed events on the beaches and in the bars and restaurants in Negril, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay (MoBay).</BR><br>Keep in mind: In Jamaica, the drinking age is 18. Contrary to popular belief, marijuana (ganja) is illegal. ";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Cancun, Mexico ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302-Cancun-beach-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Cancun, Mexico", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of Mexico Tourism Board ", "273", "412", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>After Jamaica, the most popular international spring break destination is Cancun, on Mexico&#146;s Yucatan Peninsula. In Cancun, the drinking age is 18 and the dense main &#147;Hotel Zone&#148; has close to 100 hotels, including many all-inclusive resorts along the 17 miles of beachfront. There are also plenty of bars, nightclubs and restaurants that operate full-tilt to accommodate the more than 30,000 partying spring breakers expected to come to town despite the recently updated <A HREF=\"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29304150/\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. State Department alert about travel to Mexico</A>.</BR><br>Keep in mind: Patrick Evans of STA Travel says this year even procrastinators will find good deals to Cancun (and elsewhere) because many package prices offered in September and October are still available, &#147;likely due to the economy.&#148; <br>";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Panama City Beach, Fla.","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302-PanamaCityBeach%20%20coastline-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Panama City Beach, Fla.", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of Panama City Beach CVB ", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<br><b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>mtvU's official spring break beach destination for 2009 is Panama City Beach, which is located on the west coast of Florida and sits on the Gulf of Mexico. More than 200,000 spring breakers are expected to swarm the 27 miles of beaches here and attend events that range from reggae concerts and a concert featuring former \"American Idol\" stars to the kickoff of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.</BR><br>Keep in mind: In addition to using Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, the Panama City Beach CVB is sending text updates about parties, events and deals to celebrants who sign up at PCB Insider. <br>";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","South Padre Island, Texas","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302_South%20Padre-%20Beach-hmed.standard.jpg","","Image: South Padre Island, Texas", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "298", "263", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<br><b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>In late February, officials in South Padre Island, Texas, were planning to welcome an estimated 40,000 spring breakers during March and April. &#147;We were estimating a little lower than last year,&#148; says Melissa Zamora of the South Padre Island CVB, &#147;but considering what is occurring in Mexico [<A HREF=\"http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29304150/\" target=\"_blank\">The U.S. State Department has issued warnings about travel to Mexico</A>], we might actually see a jump in visitors.&#148;</BR><br>Keep in mind: There&#146;s a free shuttle bus, The Wave, which serves South Padre Island and nearby Port Isabel. <br>";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Miami Beach/South Beach ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302_Miami_hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Miami Art Deco hotel ", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of Greater Miami CVB ", "273", "422", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<br><b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>The Greater Miami Beach Area doesn&#146;t really market itself as a spring break destination, partly because the &#147;luxury resorts and sophisticated restaurants have made it unattainable for the typical student on a budget,&#148; says a spokesperson from the Greater Miami CVB. But during this spring break season, when there are so many great travel deals &#147;it will difficult for anyone to stay away.&#148;</BR><br>Keep in mind: March events in Miami include the Miami International Film (March 6-15) and the Calle Ocho Festival (March 15), a street festival that stretches for 23 city blocks in Little Havana. ";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Orlando ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302_Orlando_hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Family at pool", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of Greater Miami CVB ", "273", "411", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<br><b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>Orlando is definitely at the top of the list for families taking spring break vacations, but the theme-park-rich area also benefits from being nestled in-between two other popular college spring break destinations in Florida &#8212; Daytona Beach and Clearwater. This year, Orlando is an especially popular last-minute destination because there are so many late-breaking deals that include free attraction tickets, free meals, extra amenities and significantly discounted lodging.</BR><br>Keep in mind: An up-to-date list of the unprecedented offers being rolled out in Orlando is at <a HREF=\"http://www.orlandoinfo.com/smile/\" target=\"_blank\">Bundles of Free Smiles</A>. (Don&#146;t let the saccharine title keep you from cashing in.) <br>";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Colorado ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302_Colorado_hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: Concert at Steamboat, Colo.", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Larry Pierce ", "273", "350", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>Consistently great snow conditions and resort packages that include air fare, lift tickets, lodging and even ski equipment and ski lessons are luring spring breakers to the Colorado slopes in record numbers this year. &#147;The deals aren&#146;t necessarily getting better than they were a few months ago,&#148; says Dan Sherman of Ski.com, &#147;They&#146;re just better than they&#146;ve ever been during the peak travel season.&#148;</BR><br>Keep in mind: In addition to all the ski packages, many ski resorts are hosting free events. At Telluride, the concert line-up includes Charlie Hunter and the Subdudes; Steamboat&#146;s concert series will feature Yo Mamma&#146;s Big Fat Booty Band, Ozomatli and others.<br>";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Europe ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302_London-hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: London&#146;s Tower Bridge", "", "", "", "", "", "", "Courtesy of visitlondonimages/britainonview ", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>High-priced plane tickets and the ailing U.S. dollar are just two reasons why spring breakers have been putting off booking trips to places like London, Amsterdam, Paris and Prague. But last-minute airfare sales and hotel deals are making Europe much more do-able this year. And like many U.S. cities, many European cities are posting deals and free offers on official visitor Web sites. For example, <A HREF=\"http://www.visitlondon.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Visit London</A> has discount meal offers and lists of free attractions.</BR><br>Keep in mind: Low-priced lodging is available at the extensive network of European hostels. Also, during Easter/spring break, the London school of Economics and other colleges rent out dorm rooms at very reasonable prices. <br>";

Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i++] = new Array("","Alternative spring breaks ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090302_Alternative%20Spring%20break_hmed.hmedium.jpg","","Image: alternative spring break", "", "", "", "", "", "Michele Palazzi", "Courtesy of Dalit Solidarity", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
Travel_Baskas_SpringBreak_090305[i-1].body = "<b><p style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: red\"><headline/></p></b>Many students pass up the beach parties and the bar hopping and instead take an ASB or &#147;alternative spring break,&#148; which involves volunteering time and energy to fix or build houses with Habitat for Humanity or joining a group to do good deeds for others at home or abroad. Many national programs have already filled all their slots for this spring but are referring folks to <A HREF=\"http://www.alternativebreaks.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Break Away</A>, an organization that helps campus groups organize their own alternative break activities.</BR><br>Keep in mind: If you missed your chance to sign up for an ASB program, sign up now for a slot in a summer program or, better yet, organize your own. <br>";

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