Spring Break is only three weeks away, and some students are packing up and baring their bodies at top-travel destinations such as Florida, San Padre and Cancun. However, for many, preparation involves more than buying a bikini and jumping into the car or plane. From sweating at the gym to obtaining their passports, students are taking measures to assure a great trip.
While students carry plenty of baggage onto airplanes, many don't want to pack extra pounds on their waistlines.
Gyms and fitness rooms are available at Ball Gym and Irving Gym as well as smaller workout rooms in the residence halls. Their usage has increased recently.
"Just this last week, it's really picked up," said Dan Haynes, an office assistant in the Office of Recreation Services. "There's a 100 person limit in the (fitness) rooms, then we have to have a waiting list."
Haynes said the gyms are busier in the afternoon and evenings, when students have finished classes for the day.
Many vacationers also shun their stark-white winter bodies and visit tanning beds in the weeks prior to spring break.
Becky Reece, a manager at Ultra Image Suntanning in the Village, has seen an increase in business prior to Spring Break. She suggested that vacationers start tanning early.
"A lot of people wait too late," Reece said. "They're used to instant everything, and the tanning process isn't that instant. They need to start a little earlier."
Stephanie Haskins, owner of JR's Tropical Tan, advises her customers to start tanning a month before their vacations. She has extended store hours in response to the recent fluctuation in tanners and also plans to extend special offers in future weeks.
"We'll offer packages a little closer to Spring Break," Haskins said.
In addition to the achievement of a coppery skin tone, the perfect hairstyle is also on the list of spring break must-haves for some, and increased business at beauty salons reflects those desires.
"People get coloring, highlighting, haircuts done, getting ready for the summer look," Mary Dabbs, owner of Something About Mary's Salon on Wheeling Ave., said.
Nails and hair removal are targets for salon-goers as well.
"A lot of people come in for pedicures and waxing," Alyssa Petty of Salon Shapers Day Spa said.
Appearance is not the only concern of Spring Break vacationers. Those traveling out of the country must obtain a passport, requiring a fee of $85 for people age 16 and over. After one sends in the application, it may take up to six weeks to arrive.
"I had to get my passport right away, and I also had to get a medical release form," Dawn Van Deman, a freshman going on a mission trip to Honduras, said.
Those crossing the U.S. border should check for immunization requirements in the country they are visiting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site on travelers' health, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/, provides specific information about diseases and necessary vaccinations in certain parts of the world.
Cost is another aspect of any vacation. Whether it is a cruise in the Bahamas or a road trip to Chicago, money is a deciding factor in whether some students travel.
"It depends on what my bank account tells me I can do," Ian Munday, a junior considering a trip to Windsor, Canada, said.
Opportunities to book flights and cruises, reserve hotels, rent cars and search for rebates abound on the Web. Expedia and Travelocity are two popular online resources for vacation planning.
Travelers may also contact local agencies to assist in trip preparation.
"Spring break is a busy travel time," said Larry Walburn of CruisePro, a travel agency on Wheeling Avenue specializing in booking cruises.
Airline seats fill up faster than cruise ships do, according to Walburn.
"We've had several people call in and be very disappointed," Walburn said. "They can't get arrangements because the airlines have all been booked. If people could start planning spring break in December, it would be a lot better for them financially and in getting what they want."
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