Travel Cheap and Smart This Summer

AOL has some real problems for me. They're a huge corporate empire that has ticked off more and more customers who wanted to get out of their pay schedule. I mention them because they have just listed some typically idiotic vacation ideas lately as a headliner for college students wanting to visit out-of-the-way places during spring break. Only one of them would be a good idea for anyone wanting a sunbathing, surfing, swimming summer. Their lure was the headline you see in this web link. Yet three of these places aren't even affordable for college students. Nor are they devoid of crowds. Ideas & Inspiration - Spring Travel- Where the Boys -- and Girls Aren't: Less Crowded Spring Break Destinations

I would agree that Gulf Shores is very affordable for people generally, and the rates do go down in the summer, for sure. All the rates for Gulf Coast vacations go down because that's the time people are taking adventures into cooler climes. The dirty little secret is that on the Gulf Coast the range of rates between summer and winter are much smaller than what you see on the busy Atlantic coast. I t's a great place that I know like the back of my hand. Even Gulf Shores is getting "discovered" in the natural progression of life. It is not as cheap to rent here as some places in Panama City of Destin or Pensacola Beach, but is it less crowded. That will change soon in just two years or less, I'm sure

Do you want privacy and fewer crowds or a cheap vacation? There are very few "cheap" places to go anymore on the coast--any coast. I can only say that the other three suggestions by AOL were ludicrous, if they advise students to indulge. There's no doubt that Iceland would be a wonderful place to visit. But typical of the geniuses at AOL who advise on these things, It's all about the advertisers' money and has little to do with common sense or customer benefit.

So forget about any of those stupid AOL headlines that are bought and paid for by their advertisers. It so happens that Gulf Shores is less crowded than the Destin/Pensacola/Panama City area on the Gulf coast. But it's still crowded. Their hype is just a bunch of bull dokey. I wouldn't forego that as a destination, though, because it's a pretty beach. Do a goggle search of places to stay and they will probably be somewhat cheaper than the Florida Gulf Coast.

The other three places are just insane. What student has the money to make a round teip to Iceland? DUH! And most people looking on the internet don't have the scratch to come up with some of AOL's idiotic suggestions. I've ranted about these people long enough. Here's some places I suggest you do a google search for on your own for a week's vacation in or near the U.S. where you won't get murdered, like in Aruba, like Natalie Holloway. This is just a list of ideas, nothing more. Do the rsearch on your own.

Orange Beach, FL
Panama--the whole country--ticket prices aren't exhorbitant, prices for everything is not high. Look around for land purchases,
Seminole City, FL
Costa Rica, CA--costs more but my son went with a girlfriend and their ttoal was just aroudn $1600 for a whole week for everything.
Don't fall for one of those Cruise line tours to the Grand Bahamas. I took one and they're absolutely pathetc delivering any sort ot privacy. Yes, they give a good package. But I didn't have any fun. The commercialization is numbing within one day.