Novelty of Wild Party Scene Fades as Safety Concerns Come to the Fore
DALLAS, March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The annual ritual of wild
Spring Break partying by U.S. college students may be losing its appeal. A
recent hotels.com(R) survey of college-age adults reveals a rise in interest
around alternatives to the overexposed debauchery long seen as a rite of
passage. Citing increased concerns about personal safety and the decreasing
appeal of the stereotypical Spring Break party atmosphere, 69 percent of
survey participants agree that huge, crazy, "girls gone wild" type Spring
Break events "stopped being cool about five years ago." "A cool hotel" tops
the list of today's must-haves for a great Spring Break.
In news sure to delight parents, the survey reveals that nearly half of
all respondents feel the best way to spend Spring Break is by taking a
low-key, relaxing getaway with a couple of close friends. Parents who want to
encourage a saner holiday should consider the power of the pocketbook.
Forty-eight percent of young Americans surveyed pay for their Spring Break
entirely on their own, but 61 percent felt that their parents would be more
likely to help them pay for their Spring Break vacation if they'd choose a
low-key venue over party central.
For parents and Spring Breakers alike, safety is clearly a top focus as
more than six out of ten young Americans (64 percent) say they are more
concerned about safety when traveling than they were several years ago, with
nearly one in four reporting that they "think about safety all the time" when
traveling during Spring Break. Today's savvy young adults are taking
responsibility for themselves and their friends, as 62 percent of female
respondents now make more of a point to talk with their friends about safety
on Spring Break than in previous years.
Though the ground rules may have changed, the focus on fun remains the
same. When asked to choose three essentials for an awesome Spring Break from a
list, the most popular response was "a cool hotel" (61 percent), followed by
"trendy restaurants and shopping nearby" (47 percent) and "access to fun
activities like bungee jumping" (33 percent). With its detailed property
descriptions, customer reviews, local area attraction listings, side-by-side
comparison features, and great deals, hotels.com makes it easy for travelers
to find a "cool hotel" that best fits their needs.
"These days it is easier than ever for travelers to find the perfect hotel
and dream destination for a memorable, fun and safe Spring Break," said Nicole
Hockin, leisure travel expert, hotels.com. "With a little creativity and
willingness to plot their own course, Spring Breakers can find fantastic deals
on great hotels in locations with interesting cultural activities, plenty of
sightseeing opportunities and trendy hotspots nearby."
When researching destinations and activities for a non-traditional Spring
Break trip, there are several options, including:
-- Hotel-spa adventure in Arizona;
-- Shopping/Broadway/Museums trek to New York City;
-- Holing up in a vacation rental in Hilton Head;
-- Lazing on the beach in San Diego
hotels.com offers great deals on happening hotels in cities such as
Acapulco (from $54), Los Angeles (from $66), Montreal (from $78), Palm Springs
(from $71), Phoenix (from $106), San Diego (from $64), and Washington D.C.
(from $99). To discover the wide array of potential spring break
destinations, visit http://www.hotels.com.
Survey Methodology
This online survey was conducted in February 2006 by Kelton Research on
behalf of hotels.com to a nationally representative sample of 300 U.S. adults
between the ages of 18-22 who had considered planning a Spring Break vacation.
In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does
not vary, plus or minus, by more than 5.7 percentage points from the result
that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in
the universe represented by the sample. The survey instrument was designed
jointly by hotels.com and Kelton Research, while all material production,
respondent contact, data capture/validation and tabulation was handled solely
by Kelton Research.
About hotels.com
hotels.com(R) is a leading provider of lodging worldwide, offering
reservation services through its own web sites (including
http://www.hotels.com and others), its interactive affiliate network
(http://www.IAN.com ), and its toll-free call centers (1-800-2-HOTELS).
hotels.com gives travelers one of the widest selections of lodging
accommodations from traditional hotels to vacation rentals at more than 25,000
properties worldwide. Hotels.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc.
(Nasdaq: EXPE).
hotels.com Tips for a Smarter Spring Break
-- Take advantage of the advice your hotel can offer. Ask the front desk
for recommendations on restaurants, spas, bars, shopping, etc., and
information about the safety of areas you plan to visit;
-- Don't walk anywhere by yourself and make sure you stick with at least
one of your buddies at all times;
-- Don't leave personal items, including food or drinks, unattended;
-- Don't give your hotel room number out to anyone;
-- Bring two types of ID with you, and always leave one in a safe place at
the hotel;
-- Carry your hotel address and phone number with you at all times.
For more information, including a full list of tips, contact Erin Krause
at hotels.com: (425) 679-4317 or press@expedia.com.
SOURCE hotels.com
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Related links:
http://www.expedia.com
CONTACT:
Erin Krause of hotels.com, +1-425-679-4317,
or press@expedia.com
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