Spring Break on a Budget
Anthony Pong strolls around Hearst Castle, looking at the sights. Photo by Emma Donnelly.
Students at Chaffey College spent their spring break in many different ways. One student, Rachel Dorn, kicked off her spring break volunteering at the Auto Club Speedway NASCAR event in Fontana. Dorn spent the weekend as an usher in the grandstands, and was lucky enough to catch some of the main race.
“It was really cool getting to see the race because that was my first time actually seeing the cars on the track. I mostly enjoyed my time at the information table where we helped anyone passing by with questions,” shared Dorn on her experience at NASCAR.
Anthony Pong, another student at Chaffey College, went a little further from home. For his spring break, Pong made stops at Hearst Castle and Monterey Bay.
“It was my first time going outside of Southern California and it was awesome. The drive was beautiful and so was seeing Hearst Castle," said Pong about his trip up north.
Pong shared how he was able to journey to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and see all of the animals and exhibits. Pong said it was reassuring to find out the aquarium was a rehabilitation center for the animals.
Glynnis Hernandez, a mechanical engineering major at Chaffey College, took a trip to New York City on her spring break. Hernandez spent the majority of her break in New York and explored museums and popular spots. She was able to go up the Empire State Building, explore the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Statue of Liberty.
“One of my favorite things to do was walking around and trying out the different pizza places. They had so many different kinds with so many different toppings,” shared Hernandez about her trip to New York.
Both Pong and Hernandez utilized Airbnb to find places to sleep to try and stay within a small budget.
“I used Airbnb for both places I stayed at when I went up north," said Pong, “It was cheaper than some hotels and we had more space.”
Airbnb can be a resource for students planning trips close or far from home. When traveling with a group of people Airbnb may be a better idea than a hotel.
Students can utilize different online travel websites to help them find the best deals for a small budget. STA Travel and Student Universe are two websites that specifically aid students with travel plans.
Students should also be open-minded about their travel plans when they look for the cheapest options. One option is to travel by train.
“Traveling by train from point A to B is one of the quickest and safest ways to see the United States,” said Sarah Munley, director of sales and marketing for the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
If you want to travel for a cheaper price, an important key is to be flexible with your plans. There are many alternative plans that can be made such as riding a train instead of a plane or staying in an Airbnb slightly outside your destination rather than a hotel. Be open-minded on your travel plans and enjoy the trips you take, rather than being worried about every small detail.