Best Destinations for Spring Break 2024

Unlike the past two years, international travel is a realistic option for Spring Break 2024. Popular destinations in Europe have reopened to vaccinated travelers from North America. US neighbors Canada and Mexico are open, as are more remote destinations like Australia and Thailand. This year's travel landscape significantly expands the options for US travelers during Spring Break 2024.

Here are some great destinations to consider as you plan your Spring Break vacation in 2024.

Jamaica is open to all travelers with a negative COVID-19 test result. The Caribbean island getaway famous for Bob Marley and its pristine beaches is a great Spring Break destination. In Montego Bay, you're all but guaranteed to have an incredible time. Easily accessible via Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay is a bustling resort destination with plenty of top-quality resorts nestled along the coast. Beachfront access and loads of arts and music infuse Montego Bay with loads of Jamaican culture. Spend time in the local neighborhoods away from the resort areas. Here you'll find shops and small restaurants bursting with character. Charter operators offer tours onto the waters where you can enjoy windsurfing or other sports. Jamaica's amazing people and beautiful scenery are two reasons we wholeheartedly recommend Montego Bay as a great Spring Break destination.

Set on a small strip of land bordering Mexico, San Pedro is essentially cut off from the rest of Belize and located along a coral reef island chain. The reef system, known as the Belize Barrier Reef, is the second longest in the world, surpassed only by Australia's Great Barrier Reef. This unique marine environment in the Gulf of Mexico is home to an astounding array of sea creatures. It's an ideal place to explore below the waves. With several resorts located in the area, you'll have your choice of great places to stay. As clear waters stretch out before you, look for a groove and find that place where the world drains away. Afterward take a contemplative stroll along the sands or wade into azure seas. Few things are as wonderful as a prime beachfront location and San Pedro has a lot going for it. This is one Spring Break destination you're sure to love.

The Bahamas hardly need an introduction. This spindly archipelago located a little more than 60 miles off Florida's Atlantic Coast is easily accessible from the continental United States. The Bahamas epitomize the Caribbean vacation ideal with incredible scenery and coconut-based drinks overflowing with rum. Lynden Pindling International Airport in the capital Nassau is the country's main air transportation hub. From Nassau, secure yourself onward passage to Harbour Island, located approximately 60 miles to the northeast. The resort island with its eastward facing shore is a popular Bahamas destination and a great place for some amazing sunrise photos. Beach access is simple and the magnificent sands run nearly the length of the island. Stroll along until you find a spot for you and then stake your claim to some rest and relaxation. At night, there's plenty of great food and entertainment on offer. Open to most travelers with proof of a negative COVID-19 test, this Bahamas' destinations is perfect for Spring Break 2024.

Puerto Rico's amazing spirit is on full display in the capital San Juan, where the streets have a wonderful vibrancy about them. Explore the historic district by the waterfront and see Castillo de San Cristóbal, once the largest Spanish colonial fort in the Americas. Visit nearby Castillo San Felipe del Morro and snap some pictures as you walk around the peninsula. The streets in old San Juan are filled with amazing examples of colonial era architecture. You can spend hours wandering past the many shops and small cafés here. Stop at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico before enjoying the city's famous nightlife. Offering stellar beachfront locations as well as great cultural attractions, San Juan is an ideal place to spend Spring Break 2024. Travelers will need a negative COVID-19 test and proof vaccination against COVID-19, but as long as you have that, you can visit without needing to quarantine.

Contrary to common belief, it is legal to travel to Cuba from the United States; however, would-be visitors do have to jump through a few hoops. The US Embassy in Cuba lists 12 general categories of travel that are currently permitted, including family visits, educational activities, public performances, support for the Cuban people, and humanitarian projects. As long as your trip fits into an approved category, broadly speaking, you can visit Cuba. Make sure to spend time in Old Havana. Cuban charms are on full display here with lots of pastel colored buildings, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, and classic cars zipping around. Check out the famous Catedral de San Cristobel and Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Literary fans will want to stop at the Museo de Ernest Hemingway, which is housed in Finca Vigía and was where the Nobel Prize winning author lived for many years. If you're looking for a special Spring Break destination for 2024, Havana might be just what you're looking for!

Mexico has loads of amazing Spring Break destinations and, at time of writing, zero COVID-19 restrictions. Here are a few locations to consider if you're looking to head south of the border for Spring Break 2024.

Puerto Vallarta is a famous resort town on Mexico's Pacific coast. This place is highly regarded for its pristine beaches, water recreation, and vibrant nightlife. Throw in some great examples of Spanish colonial architecture and you have a recipe for an outstanding Spring Break destination. Conchas Chinas Beach to the south of central Puerto Vallarta is a gorgeous area with plenty of resort hotels. The rocky beachfront makes swimming a bit challenging but you'll find ample room for a lay in the sun. If you're looking to get wet, make for nearby Los Muertos Beach. At Los Muertos you can find plenty of sun chairs and delicious food and drink. At night, wander the streets where Puerto Vallarta's restaurants will be overflowing with revelers enjoying the music and carrying on late into the night. As Spring Break resort destinations go, it's hard to do better than Puerto Vallarta.

For those with an eye toward frolicking in Pacific waters, Cabo is the place to go. Located on the far southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, Cabo is a literal paradise at land's end. Cabo has plenty of sand and choice resorts, so you'll have ample opportunity to enjoy yourself. Take a walk past the marine where you can spy the yachts coming and going. The famous El Arco de Cabo San Lucas is a great photo stop. Nearby Cannery Beach is popular with sunbathers. Hike up Mt. Solmar for some gorgeous views before wandering down to the secluded Lovers Beach. Back in town, make a stop at the Museum of Natural History in Cabo San Lucas before enjoying drinks and a great meal at one of the city’s numerous cantinas. Cabo certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the best places to enjoy Spring Break.

Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum form Mexico's triple-threat resort oasis on the Yucatán Peninsula. Over the past several years, there's been something of movement among young Americans striking out to make a new life for themselves here. With a veritable feast of hedonistic, historic, and cultural attractions, you'll never lack for things to do. Intersperse visits to the beach with day-trips to archaeological sites for a nice balance. The Maya were prevalent on the Yucatan Peninsula and the region houses some of the best-preserved Mayan artifacts in all Mexico. The Mayan Museum in Cancun's hotel zone is a modern space with a stunning collection. Tulum is likewise famous for its ancient walled city. Many visitors also elect to make the drive to Chichén-Itzá to see its famous step-pyramid. Don't forget to visit one of the many cenotes scattered around the Yucatan Peninsula. These natural sinkholes form when underground water causes the limestone to collapse, creating stunning natural depressions.

If you're looking to avoid international travel, not to worry, there are some excellent Spring Break destinations in the good ol' U.S. of A.

Never one to be outdone, Miami rolls out its best for Spring Break. A great place to start is in South Beach, which is packed with upscale developments and great resorts. Trendy restaurants and cafes dot the streets near the pointe. Take a stroll through South Pointe Park and head north along Washington Street. The Florida Jewish Museum is a great place to duck in if you want to get out of the sun. Otherwise, bring your lotion and enjoy the more than 2 mile stretch of pristine sands. Make sure to admire the South Beach's famous Art Deco architecture. The World Erotic Art Museum features sculptures, drawings, paintings, and photographs of erotic subject matter. It's a fun stop before dinner and an evening spent enjoying the famous South Beach nightlife. When the sun goes down, the streets near the waterfront buzz with activity as restaurant-goers dress their best and make for a night on the town.

Hawaii's state capital and largest city is most people's first stop in America's tropical paradise. Resorts cluster along the beaches and a vibrant community surrounds Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, the US military's Pacific redoubt. Visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and see the remains of the USS Arizona. It's a moving tribute to the more than 1,100 sailors and Marines still entombed there. There's plenty to do outside Honolulu as well. The island's North Shore is world-famous for its incredible beaches and epic surf scene. Visit the famous breaks at Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline or head straight for legendary Waimea Bay. On your way out to Waimea along Route 99, stop at the Dole Plantation to walk through the pineapple fields. Finally, if scuba diving and snorkeling is your thing, venture to the USS YO-257 shipwreck site if you want a fascinating and challenging underwater adventure.

A city of fast cars and fast living, Daytona Beach offers up Spring Break excitement all year round. When the Daytona 500 comes to town in mid- to late-February, Daytona Beach becomes the epicenter of the stock car racing world. The atmosphere at Daytona International Speedway easily bleeds back into town as race aficionados and scores of beachgoers turn the place into one big festival. Catch a flight or drive in from Orlando and make your way to the shoreline. Extending over several miles, the beachfront is packed with resorts and restaurants. Florida's warm Atlantic waters are perfect for swimming and water recreation. See what's playing at the famous Daytona Beach Bandshell or at the nearby Peabody Auditorium. At night, the bars and restaurants throughout Daytona Beach's resort areas overflow with people eager for a good time. If you fancy Spring Break in the fast lane, you're going to want to check out Daytona Beach.

South Carolina's famed resort destination always attracts a lively Spring Break crowd. The best accommodations are located along Ocean Boulevard. To get a sense for what's on offer, stroll along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk running between 1st Avenue and 14th Avenue. Take a ride on the SkyWheel Myrtle Beach and enjoy amazing views of the city from an air-conditioned gondola. A raft of tourist attractions including haunted houses, a Ripley's Believe It or Not, and Free Fall Park give you plenty to enjoy when you're not strutting your stuff along the sands. During Spring Break, concerts and parties run basically all hours day and night. You can easily wander between different resorts and venues before heading into town for a meal or finding a spot to barbeque. No matter how you slice it, Myrtle Beach is a great Spring Break destination.

What Sin City lacks in sandy beaches, it more than makes up for with amazing natural landscapes, monumental engineering, and of course, the glitz and glamor of the world's swankiest casinos. Are you ready to let it all ride? South Las Vegas Boulevard, known simply as "The Strip," is a roughly four and a half mile thoroughfare and where you'll find all the best casinos and entertainment in Las Vegas. Don't confine yourself just to the Strip, however. There's plenty to see beyond Las Vegas Boulevard. Make time for the Freemont Street Experience, Red Rock Canyon, or the National Atomic Testing Museum. If you've been wondering what to do with your Spring Break, give Las Vegas a try. You'll be glad you did.

It may not last long and, depending on your mode of enjoyment, you might not remember much, but Spring Break is an excellent time to travel. Whether you're here for fun in the sun or just looking for a place that won't require another student loan, we've got you covered. From the United States to Mexico and the Caribbean, we've profiled some of the best places to enjoy Spring Break 2024. Find the one that's right for you and start planning that epic vacation now!