Spring break?

[Mamianka]

Can someone define what in generally meant by Spring Break? Are we to assume that it is usually Holy Week, or the week AFTER Easter, or that odd Presidents' Week in February? We've already defined the week in January that our NY state schools have Regents Exams, and kids not taking them ( a LOT of kids!) are often the impetus for parents to take them to a warm vacation, instead of leaving them home that week while Mom and Dad are at work.

I am never sure what is universally meant by "I got top dollar renting out my Spring Break week at XXX".

M

 

[vacationhopeful]

Depending on the state or school (college and the lower grades), Spring breaks are set by each individual entity.

NJ has NJEA week which is the week election day is in -- the public schools are closed for election day and then Thursday and Friday for the New Jersey Education Association annual meeting and conventions in Atlantic City. The week is also call NJ WEEK in Orlando - as many families take off the week to enjoy a family vacation.

The current governor in NJ is trying to eliminate this "break" as the union can meet during the summer or other non-school days.

Each individual (546 separate school districts in NJ) sets their own Spring Break schedule. If there are bad winter storms, those days may be used to make up some of the closed school days to meet the minimum number of days schools must be open. As schools consolidate functions, like a county specialized schools or regional high schools, the separate county board of educations will be setting Spring Break schedules more so.

 

[dioxide45]

We love to vacation that first week of November, but we do notice it is busier than other off season times that we travel to Florida. I would be okay with "Jersey Week" going away as it would mean less crowds in Orlando and Florida

 

[Fasttr]

Can someone define what in generally meant by Spring Break?

I believe its the college breaks that drive it...and those can range from late February to the end of March.

I Googled "Spring Break Fort Lauderdale" and along with some great pictures , came a few respectable websites that appear to define it as...

Starting February 21st ending after April 1st.......

With March 7th to the 18th being the peak.

 

[SunandFun83]

Spring Break - Girls Gone Wild

I hear College Spring Break when asked about when is Spring Break. Check the college schedules and you will usually find a one week break around the end of February or the first two week of March. I have found this to be weeks 8 - 9 = 10 on the timeshare calendar. We stopped to tour Marriott Beach Place in Ft. Lauderdale during week 9 this year and it was definitely Spring Break.


Winter Break for grades K-12 will vary for each school district. The most common is President's week or week 7. You will see this as a super platinum points week on most Marriott resorts. Other school districts favor winter break during Holy week, the week before holy week is winter break for many Chicago school districts.

My Spring Break with the family is now college oriented and we go Week 9. When we were limited by K-12 school schedules we always had vacation for President's Week 7 and Holy Week before Easter.

 

[Mamianka]

I hear College Spring Break when asked about when is Spring Break. Check the college schedules and you will usually find a one week break around the end of February or the first two week of March. I have found this to be weeks 8 - 9 = 10 on the timeshare calendar. We stopped to tour Marriott Beach Place in Ft. Lauderdale during week 9 this year and it was definitely Spring Break.


Winter Break for grades K-12 will vary for each school district. The most common is President's week or week 7. You will see this as a super platinum points week on most Marriott resorts. Other school districts favor winter break during Holy week, the week before holy week is winter break for many Chicago school districts.

My Spring Break with the family is now college oriented and we go Week 9. When we were limited by K-12 school schedules we always had vacation for President's Week 7 and Holy Week before Easter.

So just as i surmised - there is NOT standard Spring Break designation among travel marketing people. I know (because I was a teacher for over 30 years) that school districts and college set their own rules, from town to town, never mind state to state - but I wanted to know if there was some kind of re-definition of this in the travel industry - just so I could pick a goodie for high trading demand we have the week before Easter designated for MGC, and locked off and deposited both halves - we'll see if that makes any difference. So many variables - impossible to massage them all.

M

 

[vacationhopeful]

My nephew is looking forward to being 21 and knows I have a Spring Break week booked in Ft Lauderdale ... he better have superior Fall term grades or his mother will squash that plan.

But what was priceless was my sister's reaction of SHOCK when I inquired as in the info on his being 21 yo and his college dates for Spring Break 2014.

 

[Fasttr]

So just as i surmised - there is NOT standard Spring Break designation among travel marketing people.

Here are some stats from a travel website looking at estimated # of U.S. college students spring breaking. Not sure if stats are using 2013 dates, or anticipated 2014 dates, but you can see the trend for the potentially biggest weeks.

335,000 Spring Breakers........February 18 to February 22
155,000 Spring Breakers........February 25 to March 1
1,700,000 Spring Breakers.....March 4 to March 8
2,100,000 Spring Breakers.....March 11 to March 15
880,000 Spring Breakers........March 18 to March 22
295,000 Spring Breakers........March 25 to March 29
300,000 Spring Breakers........After April 1

5,765,000 Total United States Spring Breakers

 

[vacationhopeful]

So just as i surmised - there is NOT standard Spring Break designation among travel marketing people. ..... but I wanted to know if there was some kind of re-definition of this in the travel industry - just so I could pick a goodie for high trading demand we have the week before Easter designated for MGC, ....M

TRUE -- but you MUST consider WHO your market is.

East Coast Florida I-95 route is different than the I-75 market. Mexico is popular in other regions due to airline routes.

Costs to rent the resorts to your guest - Marriotts might appeal MORE to families. Pompano is NOT a Spring Break destination for college kids, but great for families (grandparents to teenagers; not 21yo) as there are NO walk to places for FUN.

Some resorts demand 25 yo checkin and others (DVC is 18 yo). Most demand a credit card in the name of guests; others take a ATM/VISA card.

Some resorts are known as STRICT enforcers of peace & quiet, occupancy, beverages, etc - other host better activities to involve the 21-25 yo. Some regular TS guests enjoy the younger people by temperament and amusement; others complain relentlessly to management. Some managements are wisely experience in college age guests (lower floors units are assigned at check in) and hire additional nighttime security).

I had done several Spring Breaks in recent years in both Ft Lauderdale and Pompano. (I did Spring Break 1971 in Ft Lauderdale personally). I as an older adult, have truly found HUMOR in the Ft Lauderdale attendees. And I have noticed pool attendance it very high by all the regular Winter Snowbirds - it appeals to all segments of the resort population. And I have explained the public bus system to several young ladies whose parents booked a "wonderful" Spring Break week in a Pompano resort.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

Here are some stats from a travel website looking at estimated # of U.S. college students spring breaking. Not sure if stats are using 2013 dates, or anticipated 2014 dates, but you can see the trend for the potentially biggest weeks.

335,000 Spring Breakers........February 18 to February 22
155,000 Spring Breakers........February 25 to March 1
1,700,000 Spring Breakers.....March 4 to March 8
2,100,000 Spring Breakers.....March 11 to March 15
880,000 Spring Breakers........March 18 to March 22
295,000 Spring Breakers........March 25 to March 29
300,000 Spring Breakers........After April 1

5,765,000 Total United States Spring Breakers

This is a great guide. I knew week 9 and 10 were popular spring breaks but not for Florida schools who generally do weeks 11 and 12. Thanks for posting this.

 

[schiff1997]

Oh Dear my husband and I have an exchange into the Hilton South Beach for March 7 to March 14/14. I am thinking this may not have been a good idea !!!

 

[golf4hrs]

Hawaii

If anyone is interested, University of Hawaii has their "spring break" from March 24-28, 2014. It will affect airfares and possible occupancy at MVC's in Hawaii. The week before is also spring break for K-12.

 

[SmithOp]

If anyone is interested, University of Hawaii has their "spring break" from March 24-28, 2014. It will affect airfares and possible occupancy at MVC's in Hawaii. The week before is also spring break for K-12.

I agree with others, you have to adjust for regional differences.

We went to BI this year for SB, its the last week of March for our California K-12 school district. Maui and BI are popular at this time because it's also Whale season. We stayed at Waikoloa, which was hosting the LavaMan Triathlon. A perfect storm for peak pricing.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Saintsfanfl]

Oh Dear my husband and I have an exchange into the Hilton South Beach for March 7 to March 14/14. I am thinking this may not have been a good idea !!!

The Beach will be busy that first weekend but it should lighten up some by Sunday.

 

[jackio]

On Long Island, most public schools have a winter break during President's week, and the spring break coincides with Passover. This year our spring break is April 12 - 19th. Last year it was in March.

 

[Mamianka]

TRUE -- but you MUST consider WHO your market is.

East Coast Florida I-95 route is different than the I-75 market. Mexico is popular in other regions due to airline routes.

Costs to rent the resorts to your guest - Marriotts might appeal MORE to families. Pompano is NOT a Spring Break destination for college kids, but great for families (grandparents to teenagers; not 21yo) as there are NO walk to places for FUN.

Some resorts demand 25 yo checkin and others (DVC is 18 yo). Most demand a credit card in the name of guests; others take a ATM/VISA card.

Some resorts are known as STRICT enforcers of peace & quiet, occupancy, beverages, etc - other host better activities to involve the 21-25 yo. Some regular TS guests enjoy the younger people by temperament and amusement; others complain relentlessly to management. Some managements are wisely experience in college age guests (lower floors units are assigned at check in) and hire additional nighttime security).

I had done several Spring Breaks in recent years in both Ft Lauderdale and Pompano. (I did Spring Break 1971 in Ft Lauderdale personally). I as an older adult, have truly found HUMOR in the Ft Lauderdale attendees. And I have noticed pool attendance it very high by all the regular Winter Snowbirds - it appeals to all segments of the resort population. And I have explained the public bus system to several young ladies whose parents booked a "wonderful" Spring Break week in a Pompano resort.

I am not renting out anything - I deposited my MGC, and when I chose the *nominal* week to deposit into II, I chose the week before Easter - so whoever wishes to can then either trade for that week, or Marriott can rent it out. I wash my hands of the whole thing. This is only to give me an edge in trading this week for something WE want.

M