Crash Course

Spring Break seems pretty straightforward: Find some friends and a beach, and have yourself the haziest, sleaziest week of your life. But not so fast, beaver-eager. There are some bad people, and badder deals, lurking out there. We spoke to Rocky Berndsen, New York regional manager of STA Travel and frighteningly knowledgeable Spring Break expert, to get the low-down on vacation scams and what not to do on vacation.

By COED Staff

Always book your trip with a reputable company. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The worst scammers will take your money and disappear without a trace by the time your so-called flight is scheduled to take off. Others will change your flights without telling you, forcing you to return to the airport day after day until they finally feel ready to board the plane. And don&#39t even get us started on those hidden fees (which, Berndsen helpfully points, STA doesn&#39t do).

Be safe. When traveling to foreign countries, don&#39t hang out by yourself at night. First of all, that would be lame. And, second, a lot of popular vacation spots aren&#39t necessarily situated in the safest cities. Local criminals often prey on unsuspecting tourists. That&#39s why they call them &#39criminals.&#39

Purchase travel insurance. In STA&#39s case, a mere $48 covers lost bags, a refund in case you fall deathly ill the day before your flight and hospital expenses (in case you stumble over a balcony while trying to take an upside-down body shot).

Start planning NOW. Most package deals won&#39t sell you a ticket for a specific date. You&#39ll have to be flexible within a few days, and you might not know until a week before your trip whether you&#39re leaving on a Friday or Saturday. If you&#39d feel more comfortable choosing your own dates (*cough* control freak *cough*) and want to fly on a major airline, you can invest a little more money on a custom package.

Get the extras. Definitely go with the party package if your travel company offers one. For about $100, you get VIP entry (no lines, no fees) to all the best clubs, drink deals every night and entry to a bunch of all-you-can-drink parties. Most companies offer inexpensive three-meals-a-day plan, and they can still make money doing it, because hardly anyone actually eats the slop they&#39re serving. If you really don&#39t care about what you&#39re eating and want to save all your money for drinks, go for it. Otherwise, shell out a little cash for something edible.