iccky

My girlfriend and I just started grad school, and to reward ourselves for the 16 hour heads in the books days we're going to take our first real Spring Break this year. We're looking for someplace fairly inexpensive (trying for 5+ days on a 1.5-2k budget). The big requirements are not too crowded white sand beaches and clear water to snorkel in. Drunk college students are alright (we like being drunk college students too), so long as that's not the only thing going on.

Anyone got some recommendations? I'll send a postcard!

amonkie

Be warned, Spring break is a Red Season, which means rates will jump and just about any beach will be crowded. When exactly will your trip be taken? Doing St. Martin or the Virgin Islands can be affordable, and Cozumel has some EXCELLENT snorkeling/diving waters.

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maleficent

Since you are on the east coast already, most of the carribbean should be in your budget or Puerto Rico... but it all could depend on when your spring break is... Places like Daytona or Paradise Island I would avoid because that would be all about the drunken college students and you'd probably get very little quiet time...

Both American Airlines (www.aa.com) and United (www.united.com) have vacation sites, check those out for some of your options - they are a little expensive, but they are mostly all inclusive... and it would give you some ideas.

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spindles

The whitest beach I've ever seen is here, though getting to Oz might be pricey. There is no resort here, however. It is in a National Park and camping only. Actually, there is nothing here except beach and day trippers from resorts...

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Borla

The whitest beaches I've ever seen in person are along the Emerald Coast.......the panhandle of Florida between Destin and Panama City. I don't know how great the snorkeling is, but the beaches are freaking awesome. If you stay somewhere around Seaside or Seagrove Beach you get the advantage of a small community without crazy crowded beaches, but are also within a 20-40 minute drive of all kinds of cool clubs and restaurants in either direction.

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RainbowBright

When my hubby and I were in college we took a super budget spring break, camping in hunting island state park in S. Carolina. It was not "spring breaky" at all, it was still the off season but coming from MI it felt plenty warm to us. It was quite and we generally had the beach all to ourselves. We loved it.

Daval

The cheapest carribean option would be Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Try the IFA Bavaro beach resort. They are fairly inexpensive and all inclusive.

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Poppinjay

Want to try something REALLY different and well within the realm of your budget?
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-b...s/nc/shackle_1

America's oldest continual colony, however, no people.

A ferry (skiff boat) takes you and camping gear over for $30. This is a real island, walk to the southeast side and it's all ocean as far as the eye can see.

You will never find trash, butts in the sand, crowds (in fact, you rarely see people).

Just horses. Horses that wander up and check you out. All on what would be a mega $$$ resort island in any other state.

The downside is keeping your own campsite, leaving no trash, and having no "facilities" - not one, nope. You do it like the horses do it.

No buildings, just some old foundations from the former "promise land" neighborhood that moved to the shore after one too many hurricanes.

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raveneye

On that budget you might want to consider the Florida Keys, which could be the cheapest option for you from Pennsylvania.

Hawaii might be out of the question in terms of airfare, but once you're there it is very easy to sleep out on the beaches. I spent a couple weeks on Kauai once just tenting on the beaches. I could have gotten a fine, but never had any problem, and lots of locals were doing it (although they could do it legally apparently).

dlish

ive heard that the whitest beach sand is on the south coast of new south wales in Jervis Bay just 2 hrs south of sydney...but like spindles said..quite pricey to come down here

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Blackthorn

You can do St. Thomas / St. John (or my personal fave -- Water Island) for 1500 to 2000. St. John has some of the best beaches you can find.

http://www.vinow.com/ -- this will get you started.

Meagan's Bay beach on St. Thomas:


Honeymoon Beach on Water Island (near St. Thomas)


I've been to both Trunk and Cinnamon Bay on St. John and they are absolutely stunning.

Trunk:


Cinnamon Bay:


Jost Van Dyke which is part of the British Virgin Islands is another place with great beaches and with places like the Soggy Dollar and Foxy's you can't help but have fun.

Since it's my favorite of the USVI's here's a better picture of Water Island's famous Honeymoon Beach:


I might even be able to hook you up with some good accomodations if you are so inclined.

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woOt?

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. You'll thank me.

veruca

I would go to the West Coast of FL. But, further south than where Borla said. There really isn't much snorkeling, but the water is gorgeous and the beaches are white.

But, if you really want the snorkeling and stuff, go to the keys. You get the white sand and turquoise water of the tropics, but still in the U.S. And don't stay in Key West, too expensive.

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