5 Things You Shouldn’t Do On Spring Break

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Your spring break can be one of the best times you have in college. Whether you’re packing up and driving to the nearest beach, visiting a big city nearby, or jetting off to the Caribbean or Europe, the idea is the same: you get to get away from the stress of school for a week or so and enjoy some pure recreation time with your close friends. The whole idea is purely about fun. At the same time however there are certain things you should probably avoid if you want to stick to your budget, stay out of trouble, and keep the experience smooth.

Don’t Over-Share On Social Media

Let’s be honest. Plenty of college students will do things they don’t exactly want their parents, teachers, or even future prospective employees seeing. That doesn’t have to mean anything particularly bad, but even a beach party can produce some less-than-flattering photos and videos. At the time it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and want to share it with friends. But just remember that most of those posts never truly go away, and try not to over-share. It can be refreshing to unplug a bit anyways!

Related: 9 ways to Avoid Overpacking

Don’t Eat At Chain Restaurants

Oddly enough, despite the reputation of college students as binging on cheap fast food in order to stick to limited budgets, the most-visited restaurants in college towns tend to be local places, often with nice traditions attached to them. Still, there’s plenty of fast food and chain consumption among college students simply because it tends to be cheap, available, and quick. So use your time away to experience something different. Don’t go to the beach or the Caribbean only to eat at Subway, in other words. You can get more out of the experience, and also give your body a bit of a break from the fried and processed foods.

Don’t Go Off Alone

We don’t need to delve too far into this point, because a nagging attitude does’t help. But it’s still true that college students shouldn’t go off alone while on spring break away from home. Even at a destination that seems perfectly safe, you’re still in a strange place for a limited time, and there’s at least a reasonable chance you’re partially inebriated (again, let’s not sugar coat what happens at spring break unnecessarily). You don’t need to implement a full-fledged buddy system, but try to stay with a friend or a bigger group at all times.

Related: A Complete Guide To Making Friends In College

Skip The Casinos

A lot of popular spring break destinations appeal at least in part because they offer legal gambling through casino venues. It can definitely be fun to pop into these places, but the truth is they’re not necessary. If you really want to play real money games, , and you’ll have legal access wherever you could otherwise visit a casino, for the most part. That saves you the extra costs of a live venue, keeps you from getting in over your head at a poker table, and frees you up for more time exploring a destination or hanging out with friends.

Avoid the Hot Spots

There are a lot of hot destinations for spring break – and a lot of alternatives as well. And while the hot spots have become famous as spring break destinations for a reason, they also tend to be crowded and often a little underwhelming. That doesn’t mean you have to avoid them, but remember: You can get a drink with an umbrella in it just about anywhere, and there doesn’t have to be a massive crowd of spring breakers from across the U.S. around you while you do it! Consider skipping these hot spots and finding some more inventive destinations to consider.