The 21 Best Spring Break Destinations for 2024
Bored of the same spring break destinations? Looking for something different and more affordable? Well, we've got you covered!
Depending on your age and travel type will certainly make a difference in choosing the perfect spring break destination for you.
Having done Spring Break as both a student and teacher, living in various countries, and experiencing a variety of trip types, I've decided to round up all of my favorite spring break destinations! Not only that, but I've looked up flights for all of March, to help open the door to some really fun and affordable options. Happy travels!
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🎉 Most Fun Spring Break Destinations for Parties
Spring Break is a week that is particularly exciting for the party lovers and students out there. As a big partier myself in college, I learned which are the craziest places for a wild Spring Break party atmosphere. If you're not looking for crowded and reckless destinations, then we advise you to skip to the next part!
🇺🇸 Most Fun Spring Break Destinations for Parties in the US and Mexico
Traditional Spring Break destinations typically have a few things in common. They're hot and they tend to have everything conveniently located in one area. If you're a student, then here are some of the top spring break destinations for the best parties and weather.
🏖 Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City beach in Florida doesn't have much to offer the rest of the year, but Spring Break is when this beach city truly comes to life.
My friends and I did PCB for 3 years in a row in college, and it truly is an insane experience. You can expect large and rowdy crowds, concerts, and themed parties at the different clubs.
It's certainly far from a classy destination, but a bucket list one for those trying to live that typical wild Spring Break week.
🇲🇽 Cancun, Mexico
Cancun is another one of the most iconic Spring Break destinations for students each year. It's full of all-inclusive hotels lining the incredible beaches, and themed parties that you can enter in each one.
Come night time they have epic nightclubs with events catering to young Americans, and you can expect long days and night of partying hard.
If you're a family with young kids, then we'd advise you to steer clear of Cancun at this time!
🎰 Las Vegas, Nevada
While Cancun and Panama City Beach tend to attract the younger crowds, Las Vegas is a great option for your Junior or Senior year of college, or for those that recently graduated.
Las Vegas suring Spring Break is known for its massive pool parties and exclusive nightclubs, making it super fun for those in their early twenties.
🤠 Nashville, Tennessee
When I was in college, Nashville was still really under the radar. But now, it may just be one of the best party destinations in the US!
Having just come back from Nashville days ago, I can attest to the fact that it's one of the best spring break destinations for those that want to drink all day and night, and easily bar hop.
Nashville is great because it's got a very varied crowd, with groups in their early twenties to late seventies! Expect boozy brunches, mulitipe story clubs with live music, party buses, pedal bars, and so much more for a fun-filled few days in Tennessee's most popular city.
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✈️ Most Fun Spring Break Destinations for Parties Internationally
So many people assume they have to stay right here in the US to have a fun time for Spring Break. Well, let me tell you- that right after college I started teaching in Spain, and my Spring Breaks in Europe were also super fun!
While they don't have big student parties, this area of the world (as well as South America) has some incredible nightlife, have a drinking age of 18, and also can be even cheaper than staying in the US! Here are a few of my top choices for Spring Break destinations abroad.
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is one of the party capitals of Europe, and is famous for its Red Light District. There are little rules in Amsterdam, make it really fun and wild for students looking to experience something a little different.
In March there are flights from the US to Amsterdam for as little as $153 each way, making it a great unique Spring Break destination to try out this year!
🇨🇿 Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is another great city you can get to for just $155 from the US. With booming night life and beer cheaper than water, it's perfect for those wanting to have a good time on a budget!
Not only that, if you need a moment to relax, you can head to beer spa, which is one of the things this city is particularly known for.
🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland
If you're spring break lands on the second or third week of March, then you may want to consider Dublin for Spring Break destination!
The city of Dublin is a super fun city, full of pubs, and the home of the Guinness Factory. But come March 17th (St Patricks Day) the city is even more fun! The city is full of green, and plenty of people partying in the streets and the pubs.
Dublin is closer to the east coast than some places in the US! With cheap flights and just 5 hours in the air, this is a seriously great choice for Spring Breakers.
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Most people assume they need to stay close to the US for Spring Break. But with a full week and two weekends, it's the perfect time to take advantage of the further destinations, especially those that are at the end of their summer in March!
Rio de Janeiro is one of the best party cities in the world, and is affordable, with great weather. The flights are just a couple hundred dollars, and are overnight flights, meaning you can simply go to sleep and wake up in Brazil!
*Keep in mind that you do have to be careful in Brazil, and watch out for your belongings while you are partying there.
👨👩👧👦 Best Spring Break Destinations for Families
Chances are if you have a family with small children, you'll want to steer clear of all of the above Spring Break destinations.
We also highly recommend avoiding places like Disney or Caribbean cruises at this time. While they may seem like an obviously great choice, they are actually much more expensive during these months, and very, very, crowded.
Traveling during Spring Break is very popular for families, but can be super expensive! That's why we're here to share a few places with you with a variety of budgets.
Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!
🇺🇸 The Best Spring Break Destinations for Families in the US
While we absolutely prefer international destinations, it can be a challenge to plan family-friendly spring break destinations outside of the country. Here are a couple of places that you can travel in the US, that are great for families with children.
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🌊 St Augustine, Florida
You'll find so many people head to South Florida as a Spring Break Destination. But the truth is, these places get very crowded, and full of intoxicated young adults.
If you're looking for a more peaceful vacation, St Augustine is a fabulous choice! The quaint city is actually the oldest city in the US, and has a perfect mix of clean beaches, historical sites, and great restaurants and bars.
🤠 Austin, Texas
Austin is such a fun city, and is truly great for all ages! Whether you want to check out the bar scene, swim in the natural pools, or rent a boat on the lake, it's easy to enjoy this city with your family, no matter what kind of trip you're looking to have.
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is just far enough from the mainland to feel more like a vacation, but close enough that it is hassle-free for families.
You can easily have fun on the beach with the locals having barbecues and drinks on the beach, without things getting out of hand like the other traditional Spring Break destinations.
Visit El Yunque Rainforest or go zip lining in the jungle for some adventure, or visit the beaches and islands of Culebra and Vieques for a more low key vacation. There is truly something for everyone in Puerto Rico.
☀️ The Best Spring Break Destinations for Families in the Caribbean
It may sound crazy, but often leaving the country is much more affordable for families than it is still in the states! Here are a few great options for those that want to have a more affordable and tropical vacation with their family.
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🇲🇽 Isla Mujeres, Mexico
The crazy partiers may be in Cancun, but you can still enjoy the tropics of Mexico, in some of the other great areas nearby!
Isla Mujeres is the perfect island trip from Cancun, and is much more family friendly than the wild city where the spring breakers will be.
Rent a golf cart with the family and explore the island, rent a boat, or simply soak up the sun on one of the many beaches. Isla Mujeres is the perfect alternative as a spring break destination for families this year.
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
It's no secret that the Caribbean is popular for its Spring Break destinations. But one place that we found to be surprisingly affordable to travel to this March is St Lucia.
The gorgeous island has a ton to offer, and escapes the crowds of adolescents and party-goers, which is why we find it to be one of the best spring break destinations for families this year!
🤑 The Most Unique & Cheapest Spring Break Destinations
Most people think that the best spring break destinations are in the US and the Caribbean, but the truth is that you can have a much more affordable and less crowded trip to so many other places!
Here are some of our personally recommendations, which pertain to all different types of travelers and age groups.
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🌋 The Most Unique & Cheapest Spring Break Destinations in Mexico & Central America
Mexico and Central America are amazing to visit in March, as they are much warmer than the states, and also much cheaper! Here are some particularly unique places you can escape the crowds, but still have a lot of fun.
🚂 Guadalajara, Mexico
Welcome to the home of tequila, and one of the most fun and unique places you can choose for a spring break destination!
Guadalajara has fabulous weather, and is home to the Jose Cuervo Tequila train, and different tequila distilleries. Our favorite part though? There's a hotel where you can actually sleep inside giant tequila barrels!
🇳🇮 San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
San Juan del Sur is definitely one of the most fun beach towns we have ever been to, and is a surfer and partier's paradise.
Every Sunday San Juan del Sur has a big Sunday Funday pool party crawl, which is certainly one of our top recommendations for those looking for a unique party atmosphere.
Another thing why we believe San Juan del Sur is a great Spring Break Destination is because it's super affordable, and you can rent massive villas on the cliff for your family or group of friends for a fraction of the price that you would in the US!
🇨🇷 La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the perfect Spring Break destination for those that love nature and adventure.
We particularly love La Fortuna, as it is home to a ton of hot springs, volcanoes, and fun activities like rafting, zip lining, and so much more.
Flights to Liberia are as low as $50 from the US, making March the perfect time to make it over there!
🇪🇺 The Most Unique & Cheapest Spring Break Destinations in Europe
People tend not to think of Europe for Spring Break Destinations, and this is because the Caribbean is typically much warmer. But don't let that deter you! March is a great month to enjoy some European destinations while they're a bit quieter, and much cheaper to access.
While many of the cities we already mentioned in Europe are party destinations, we chose this one because of its warm weather and culture.
🇮🇹 Sicily, Italy
There is never a bad time to go to Italy, and we love it as a spring break destination.
We particularly chose Sicily, as the temperatures are warmer in the south, and by the end of March you have much higher chances of being able to enjoy the beautiful beaches and outdoor parties.
Flights to Palermo right now are as low as $180 each way, making it a great time to explore one of the most incredible countries in the world.
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🏔 The Most Unique & Cheapest Spring Break Destinations in South America
Most people don't think of South America as being home to many spring break destinations, but the truth is that this is the perfect time to travel there!
In most areas it is the end of their summer, and prices are much lower than in the US, and the weather is better.
Not only that, but flights are extremely convenient! Some destinations are just as close as the Caribbean, and others offer overnight flights, which means you lose less time than some of the shorter flights. Here are some epic spring break destinations you can check out if you're looking for something different.
🇨🇴 Cartagena, Colombia
If you want a tropical getaway but don't want to spend a fortune, then Cartagena is the perfect place.
Cartagena has a stunning and vibrant old town, beautiful beaches, and a ton of islands surrounding it that you can visit.
If you're looking for a good party spot, then don't miss out on Casa en el Agua (House in the Water), which is a giant floating party hostel right near Cartagena!
🐢 Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
If you're looking for a great family-friendly, or animal-filled trip, then the Galapagos Islands are definitely a place to look into as a Spring Break destination.
With around 9,000 different species of animals, it is one of the most well-protected areas in the entire world, and a place that both children and adults alike can enjoy.
Flights in March to Ecuador are also as low as $59, which is a steal!
🇵🇪 Cusco, Peru
Cusco is one of our favorite cities in the world, and you can get there in March for around $150-200 each way.
Visit the iconic Machu Picchu, check out rainbow mountains, sleep in a capsule hanging from a mountain, or party at one of the most fun hostels in the world, Loki Hostel.
Cusco is perfect for the adventure lovers, partiers, and every wild child out there.
🇧🇷 Manaus, Brazil
If you're looking for something truly different, then you may also want to consider another area of Brazil.
Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon Rainforest, and with flights as low as $178, it's perfect for those that truly are ready for an adventure.
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So are you ready check out some of these incredible spring break destinations? We hope this article has helped you choose a few options, and if you want more info, feel free to check out the various guides we have for some of them.
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