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 Travel & Outdoors | March 2007 
Breaking for the Beach
 Katie Levine - the Cowl
After three years of jealously watching people come back tan and happy after spring break week, I am finally taking my own spring break vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, this year. Many other Providence College students have similar trips in mind. There are only a few days left before break, and if you are anything like me, you are almost delirious with excitement.
But anticipation is not enough to make your trip successful. There are all kinds of things you should take into account before taking a trip (especially if you are flying or leaving the country), and I am here to help you make sure your trip is as fun and safe as possible.
Most people already have their vacations planned, but what are the hot spots for college students in 2007? Old favorites like Cancun, Acapulco, and Florida are still going strong. However, new passport regulations have put places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory where the drinking age is only 18) back on the map for spring breakers. But don't forget about other great vacation spots like Jamaica, beach resorts all over Mexico, the Bahamas, ski resorts, cruises, and Europe.
If you are leaving the country for your spring break trip, the most important thing to have is a current passport. A new law, effective Jan. 23, says that all persons (including U.S. citizens) traveling by air to the United States from Mexico, Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport when re-entering the country. So once you are on your trip, make sure you take good care of your passport because you cannot get back into the U.S. without it.
Don't forget to check out the laws and customs of the country you are planning on visiting. Foreign laws could be different than ours, and the government officials wherever you travel are not going to care if you are a U.S. citizen. If you think you may be engaging in risky behaviors, make sure you know what is legal and illegal where you are traveling. The U.S. government reports that every year, approximately 2,500 Americans are arrested abroad-and we do not want any PC students contributing to that number.
The Department of State operates a Web site that has specific tips for student travelers during spring break: http://travel.state. gov. Check it out for detailed information on regulations (especially concerning Mexico) and phone numbers for U.S. consulates abroad.
If you plan on flying to your spring break destination, make sure you are aware of all restrictions on air travel. Know the permitted and prohibited items; otherwise, you may slow down the process of check- in or even lose some of your belongings. Most items-aside from the obvious weapons, chemicals, and explosives-are allowed in checked baggage. However, you are not allowed to carry lighters with fuel in either checked or carry-on luggage.
You are now permitted to have liquids in your carry-on, but be aware of the 3-1-1 rule, which says that you may only carry bottles of three ounces or less in one quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag. Each passenger is only allowed to have one of these bags. The liquids must be in their original packaging, so that they can be easily identified at the security checkpoints. If you are unsure about these rules or don't feel like going through the trouble, just store all of your liquids in checked luggage.
For questions about luggage and flight restrictions, call your airline or visit its Web site. Information about flying, including a complete list of prohibited items, is also available on the Transportation Security Administration Web site at http://tsa.gov.
Make sure you pack appropriately for where you are going. Obviously, do not bring gloves to Mexico or a bathing suit on your skiing trip! Only you know what your plans for your trip are, so bring clothes that are appropriate for what you will be doing. Try to make sure you bring everything you will need for your trip, and avoid buying supplies once you get to your destination. They may not have exactly what you want, and will probably be more expensive.
Pack lightly, but smartly. Try to pick out outfits instead of just throwing a bunch of clothes into your suitcase. This way, you will know you have exactly what you need. A helpful tip is to make a list of everything you think you will need and check it off as you put things in your suitcase. This will make it harder to forget to pack something you know you need.
All this aside, my number one tip for spring break 2007 is to have fun! No matter where you are going, make sure you have a great time. But you can still have fun without forgetting about safety-be aware of your surroundings and don't go anywhere alone in a strange place. However, don't get preoccupied with this and scare yourself. Especially for all of the seniors: Make this week a college memory you will never forget. |
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