For students who have not yet committed to a spring-break destination, it is not too late to plan a weeklong getaway, although it may come at a considerably high price.

Melissa Kultenbach of the Wisconsin Union Travel Center said consumers are wise to plan vacations far in advance because the best deals are available throughout the months of October and November.

“That’s when you’re most likely to get free meal plans and other deals,” Kultenbach said.

Students who travel to Cancun, Mexico and other spring-break hot spots will sometimes choose options for their trip such as “all-inclusive” packages that account for food and drink and at times save students much cash while soaking up the sun. However, as spring break rapidly approaches, cashing in on a deal of this sort becomes increasingly difficult.

In addition, Rod McLean of the Dane County Airport said that when it comes to purchasing airfare, planning ahead could also save money.

“The further in advance you plan, the better,” McLean said. “People normally say that 21 days in advance is the minimum before tickets really start to increase.”

McLean also said this spring the Dane County Airport anticipates a busy season following last year’s 14 percent increase in passenger activity. To avoid commotion and possible problems, McLean has advised travelers to arrive at the airport two hours prior to flight time to ensure a smooth airport experience.

“It’s better to be there an hour early than two minutes late,” McLean said. “You can wait for the plane, but I guarantee the plane will not wait for you.”

In addition to saving money up front, Kultenbach urged students to investigate all travel agencies with the Better Business Bureau in order to avoid any possibilities of getting scammed.

“If it seems like too good of a deal, it probably is.” Kultenbach said. “Go with someone reputable.”

Some students chose to indulge in the less expensive route this season, which ultimately led many to sacrifice concrete plans. In turn, many of these students are not pleased with their vacation carriers and overall plans. UW freshman Angela Amin plans to visit Cancun this spring break, assuming all goes as planned.

“Our travel agency hasn’t hardly sent us any information,” Amin said. “We know we are going to Cancun and we are flying there … We know how many days and the hotel we are staying at … but other than that, they haven’t really told us anything.”

With spring break just over a week away, Amin and a number of other students are still unsure which day they will be departing or returning.