Avoiding the Spring Break college crowd
 

My DH and I have a timeshare week that we must use this coming March. A warm weather retreat appeals to both of us, but we have no desire to book in an area that will be overrun with college students on Spring Break. Any suggestion regarding coastal communities that cater to the over 30 crowd would be greatly appreciated.

Do you want this to be in the continental US or world wide?
Mexico comes to mind, with easy
access and many choices.
Resonable packages are always available from virtually every
travel resource online and off.
Give us more information and
maybe we can help a bit more.

If you want to truly avoid Spring Break and you DO think of Mexico be aware that many Spring Break students have definitely discovered some of the hotels in Cancun.

I'm sorry.... in the continental US, please. My FIL has many health problems, so we don't want travel overseas currently just incase we would need to get back home quickly for a medical emergency.

I know you specified the continental US so Mexico is out, but for anyone else considering the same:

Forget Mexico, especially Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Cozumel. Not only will Mexican beaches be crowded with the party-hearty crowd, but prices will be a lot higher as well. The same will be true for South Florida or South Texas.

I wonder if San Diego would be better? Maybe a poster from SoCal can help.

I think the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area would fit nicely with your requirements. Warm weather and a lot of time shares to choose from in the area. March is a great month here in the desert and the area no longer caters to the Spring Break crowd.

HI--sightseer, OP asked for "coastal". I am not sure that there are any beachy places that are not spring break magnets.

Also, Retired teacher, it would be useful to see what is available. Have you checked with your timeshare site to see what options have openings for the week(s) you are considering? That could be helpful in narrowing your choices.

It would be useful to know which areas are possibilities for your time share. For example, the west-coast Florida areas tend to have fewer college students (NOT the panhandle of Panama City, etc.) We love NAples, Sanibel Island, Captiva, etc. because they have less in the way of lodgings and nighlife that appeal to the college crowd.

Also consider Palm Springs, Scottsdale, AZ, La Jolla, CA.

I think if you avoid Daytona, South Padre Island, and Key West, you'll be okay. Southwest Florida (Naples, etc.) would be a good option.

Palm Springs/ Desert Hot Springs, San Diego/ La Jolla/ Temecula or Tucson are my picks.

Oh yeah, definitely avoid the panhandle. Good call, madameX.

West coast of Florida between Naples and Tampa. My parents wintered in Venice for many years and we went down to visit every spring break until just the past few years. The area is full of silver haired "snow-birds" who spend 3-4 months there. Almost no college kids anywhere.

Lots of great Florida suggestions here. Let me make one more: Vero Beach on the east coast. Again, quiet with not the sort of nightlife that appeals to the college crowd.

Thank you so much for all of the helpful suggestions. With your recommendations in mind, I'm off to my timeshare website to check out my options.....

I realize that you probably can't select your vacation time but maybe it helps to know when what colleges are on their Spring Break. Check out http://www.tripsmarter.com/panamacit...sbcalendar.htm
for a list of colleges with the size of their student body and their break dates. Also, if you google on college student Spring Break trips you can get a good idea of where the travel agencies are directing them to - AVOID these places! We live just north of Clearwater, Florida and though we get some breakers, the numbers are much smaller than other areas of the state (Panhandle, Daytona, Miami). Hope this helps - enjoy your break.

Karen, thank you <b>so very much</b> for that link!!! RT

Also on the west coast of Florida is a wonderful town called Cedar Key. It's about an hour west of Gainesville, sleepy, quaint, fabulous seafood. It should be quiet in March, but April has a great art festival.

Thank you <font color="Green">Green</font> Dragon!

A few spring breaks ago, I was looking for the same type of place. We ended up at Cocoa Beach, Florida, and it was just right for us. No college kids, more a family place. Quiet beach that time of year, close enough to Orlando for a day-trip, and Kennedy Space Center, too. Good restaurants and shops, but not overly touristy. Also less expensive than many places.
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