• Choose a cheap vacation to give yourself a break from college classescollege"s building image by Leonid Tarassishin from Fotolia.com
  
  The life of a college student is full of excitement and new experiences, but all too the adventurous college student is short of ready cash. Fortunately, the financially strapped but creative student can find cheap--yet really cool--vacations in the United States and in other, often more exotic locales.
  
  

Florida

• A road trip to Florida is a must for broke college students. Besides the quality time with friends in the car, the road-tripper can save serious money by avoiding air fare. Pack four or five people in each car and your transportation costs are minimal. For example, if you are making a 1,000-mile drive and your car gets 20 miles per gallon on the highway, you would need 50 gallons of gasoline. At $2.50 per gallon, you would expect to spend $125 for gas each way, for a total of $250. Divided among four people, you would spend only $62.50 per person round trip. If possible, bring along a friend with a relative in Florida who can provide you a place to stay. This is the route to the ultimate cheap vacation. Failing that, search online for cheap lodging. Split the cost of a hotel, motel or house among your friends. You can usually find a place to stay for around $100 per night. Split that among four fellow travelers and you're looking at about $25 per person per night. Fun destinations for college students include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach and Miami. The Comfort Suites hotel in Panama City, for example, offers excellent deals. You can book a room for around $130 per night, or $32.50 per night per person.
  
  Comfort Suites Panama City
  225 Richard Jackson Blvd
  Panama City Beach, FL 32407
  850-249-1234
  comfortsuites.com/hotel-panama_city_beach-florida-FL756?promo=gglocal
  
  

Mexico

• Mexico is another great place to go for a cheap vacation for college students. Cancun is the perfect place for the college student who is looking to have a great time on a budget. You will experience some of the wildest nightlife in the world in Cancun, along with plenty of sun, beaches and swimming pools. Choose an all-inclusive resort that includes all of your food and drinks. The Ocean Breeze in the Riviera Maya, for example, offers packages starting at $599 per person for a four-night stay during the first two weeks of March, which includes the room, all meals and drinks. High season in Cancun generally runs from December to April.
  
  Ocean Breeze
  Avenue 34 Norte
  77710 Playa del Carmen
  Quintana Roo, Mexico‎
  +01-984-206-4013‎
  oceanbreezehotels.com/pages/rmaya_location.htm
  
  

The Bahamas

• The Bahamas are another cost-friendly vacation option for college students. It's easy to get to the islands, located off the southeastern coast of the United States, by air or sea. Several budget cruises are available that provide all meals and drinks, including Discovery Cruise Lines and Carnival. When looking for a place to stay, consider the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino, which offers package deals starting at $299 per person for a four-night stay. This price includes a $100 food and beverage credit. The hotel offers beachfront access, a variety of swimming pools, several bars and restaurants within walking distance and a casino.
  
  Wyndham Nassau Resort
  West Bay Street at Cable Beach
  Nassau, Bahamas‎
  242-327-6200‎
  wyndham.com/hotels/NASBS/main.wnt