Getting Away From It All

YOU'VE JUST handed in that last paper, the dining hall is serving "venerable vegetables" and it's raining again. Now, wouldn't you really rather be surfing?

It's a small wonder that each year hundreds of college students head south for spring break. Overworked and pale, they descend on Dixie hoping to find their place in the sun.

Florida is still the primary destination of vacationing Harvard students in spring. Airline fare wars have reduced ticket prices to Florida to as low as $98--for a round trip on People's Express.

Travel services have been quick to offer complementary packages. Mark A. Carter '85 of the Harvard Student Agencies' travel service said HSA plans to offer one-week hotel accomodations in Florida for as low as $60 a night for a dollar abroad, and attractively priced quadruple occupancy.

Clearly the low rates will attract new customers. "I know a lot of people who are going who didn't go before," Carter said.

In addition, HSA will offer its regular charter bus service and new budget hotel rates for New York City, another popular spring destination.

But a few students plan to eschew these traditional get-aways to visit Moscow and Leningrad in the Soviet Union.

"It's one of our special promotions," said Mary E. Sullivan of Crimson Travel Service, which is arranging these jaunts. "Russia in April, China in summer."

A combination of factors, including lower airfares, the strength of the U.S. packages and charters, have led to a small surge of business for Square travel agencies. Travel is holding its own despite the recession, according to Larry P. Joseph, manager of Council Travel Services.

Mexico's and Brazil's near loan defaults are causing headaches for international bankers, but the devaluation of Mexican and Brazilian currency has been a boon to American travelers to these countries. Ellen W. Grinberg, an agent at Trips & Company, said her agency is offering a one-week package to Rio de Janeiro, including round trip airfare and hotel, for $499. "We see many students taking advantage of this," said Grinberg, who pointed out that the lowest scheduled airfare to Rio alone is $1200.

Banking problems can be a mixed blessing for a country's tourism, but political turmoil definitely turns travelers away. "Argentina, El Salvador, and Nicuaragua are definitely down." Durgan, who handles student services at Crimson Travel, said.

By contrast, travel to Jamaica has increased since the conservative government of Michael Seaga took office, according to Grinberg.

Many students have already started planning summer vacations. Europe is unquestionably the most popular destination, but the Far East is attracting more student travelers, especially to China. Durgan said that travel to China is "snowballing" despite tourism problems in that country and the lack of Westernstyle accommodations and services.

Travel agents say the age-old advice on travel still holds true--plan early.

"Harvard students are at a disadvantage in this. It's difficult to think of summer travel until you go home for spring." As most universities have their spring vacations earlier than Harvard, other students get a jump on Harvard travelers.