5 Cheap Spring Break Trips to Take This Year

Spring break is one of the most popular times to travel — but it doesn't have to break the bank. By selecting destinations with affordable flights and low-cost accommodations, you can enjoy a memorable getaway for a fraction of what you might otherwise pay. Better yet, redeeming points and miles can help you save even more on flights and hotels. Here are five cheap spring break trips to consider.

1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

You don’t have to head to Cancun to take advantage of white sand beaches. The Dominican Republic has its own share of all-inclusive resorts for less and even offers stays using hotel points. With 24 nonstop routes from the U.S., it’s also easily accessible to many travelers.

Accommodations can cost as little as $21 per night. You can also make a stay at a higher-end hotel more budget-friendly by redeeming rewards points instead of paying cash. For example, Emotions All Inclusive Puerto Plata, Ascend Hotel Collection is a Choice Hotel, which means you can redeem American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou® points or Wells Fargo Rewards for your stay.

The hotel isn’t cheap when paying cash; one night for four adults in a room will run you upward of $600. However, you’ll pay just 30,000 Choice points per night for the stay. Even better, eligible Citi ThankYou® points and Wells Fargo Rewards can be transferred over to Choice at a 1:2 ratio, meaning you’ll end up paying just 15,000 points per night.

2. Orlando, Florida

Known for its theme parks, Orlando, Florida, is a spring break favorite that's easy to reach. Orlando International Airport (MCO) has direct routes to 112 airports in the U.S. with several airlines. Many of these airlines allow you to redeem your miles for flights, potentially dropping your flight costs to near zero.

Although Orlando will be busy during spring break, hotels are abundant and affordable. For example, the Maingate Lakeside Resort, just a few miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, costs under $60 per night, even on a weekend in March.

Otherwise, hotel chains such as Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Choice, Wyndham and IHG have properties in Orlando. The Hyatt Place across from Universal Orlando Resort is an especially good value when redeeming points. As a Category 2 hotel, it can cost as little as 8,000 World of Hyatt points per night for your stay.

» Learn more: How to go to Disney World for cheap

3. Paris, France

You don't often see “France” and “cheap” in the same sentence, but because of low-cost airlines such as French Bee, you can get to the heart of Paris for as little as $350 round-trip during spring break.

Hotels tend to be a little more expensive, but you can still find some for under $100 per night. A better option for this popular city is to redeem your rewards points. With a population of over 2 million people, Paris offers plenty of options when it comes to booking award stays. For example, the Hilton Garden Inn Paris La Villette costs as little as 36,000 points per night. Since AmEx points transfer over to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio, that means you’d pay just 18,000 AmEx points per night for your stay.

4. Las Vegas, Nevada

If staying stateside is more your style, Las Vegas is an excellent choice. In spring, temperatures tend to be mild. And with direct flights to 172 airports across the U.S., visiting can be convenient and affordable. For example, you can pay as little as $38 round-trip for a flight from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Las Vegas (LAS) in April.

Hotels are cheapest during the week, so avoid weekends if at all possible.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

5. Discounted cruises

Another popular option for spring break is cruising. You'll find plenty of discounts and deals on either coast, but generally, the cheapest cruises depart from Florida.

For example, a four-night Caribbean cruise for two with Royal Caribbean departs from Miami for just $340, including taxes and fees. That price is hard to beat!

» Learn more: 7 tips for getting the best deal on your next cruise