STA Travel employee and MSU alumna Hewlett said despite the recent economy, spring break bookings have actually increased.

“More (students) budget for it, and they realize if they’re going to graduate soon, it’s a good rite of passage — going on spring break with your friends.” Hewlett said.

Assistant professor of commercial recreation and tourism Dan McCole said this could be attributed to people’s tendency to prioritize leisure activities when money is low.

Price can cause a change in plans when students request places such as Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, Hewlett said.

Currently, the most commonly booked spring breaks for MSU students include Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Caribbean cruises.

“The theme this year has just been warm,” she said.

Hewlett said factors such as price, climate and the availability of all-inclusive packages often help shape the plans of students hoping to travel.

While students can book international spring break vacations for about $1,200 through STA Travel, some students, such as freshman Ivory Ativie, simply decide to go home.

“It was just assumed (I would go home),” the biomedical laboratory science major said.

Ativie said if she were to do something special for spring break, it would be a form of volunteer work.

“I feel like my time should be better spent — helping others,” she said.

But students such as Ativie might be in the minority, as many consider the party atmosphere often associated with spring break to be a rite of passage.

“We typically do get a couple larger groups a year of upperclassman that want to do a big spring break, kind of a last hurrah,” said Hewlett. “But we get a big mix of people (going on a spring break trip).”

For interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore Vayla Rusakova, domestic beaches, such as those in San Diego, are just as good as international beaches.

“I wanted to visit (a friend) and relax,” Rusakova said. “I’ve always wanted to see (San Diego).”

While resorts such as those in the Dominican Republic might be going fast, Hewlett said she didn’t think it would matter to students.

“Most students in general are happy as long as they have a nice beach and it’s warm,” Hewlett said.