Spring Break is upon us. Trips, however, may come with a price tag larger than a student’s bank account. The following list combines discounts from Spring Break “hot spots” and tips for general money saving throughout the week. Grab your piggy bank and a pencil and start taking notes.

The first Spring Break “hot spot” is Panama City Beach, Fla. Thousands of college students travel to Panama City Beach every year to enjoy their break. Adventures at Sea is an outlet that provides pontoon and jet ski rentals, as well as parasailing and Shell Island tours. Visit their website for a 15 percent off coupon with a student ID. Check out more details and great discounts at www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/things-to-do/spring-break.

Although its biggest party of the year has passed, New Orleans, La. also has a lot to offer students on Spring Break. Spend your Spring Break with drink deals every night of the week at The Boot Bar & Grill in New Orleans. These specials include three-for-one select beers and $2 drinks for women on certain nights. New Orleans also has some fun St. Patrick’s Day specials with Tracey’s St. Patty’s Day Party where visitors can enjoy green drinks and traditional Irish favorite foods on St. Patrick’s Day. Who says Mardi Gras is the only holiday in New Orleans?

The third Spring Break “hot spot” is Orlando, Fla. Although not on a beach, Orlando provides students with warm weather, theme parks (including Harry Potter, Transformers and Disney themes) and the Atlanta Braves spring training games. If an adventure is what you are seeking, look no further than Universal Studios Orlando where visitors can buy two days and get the third day free. This rate includes admission to both parks at Universal Studios for a price of $194.99 plus tax. Watch the Atlanta Braves take on the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals at ESPN Wide World of Sports for as low as $18.

No matter where students are vacationing, there are many ways to save money on the trip before getting to the beach.

Check out Groupon.com. There are goods and local deals for the majority of top Spring Break destinations online. These deals include restaurants, shopping, lodging and more.

Rates for hotels tend to change if rooms are not filled in time. If students have already booked a hotel, check with the hotel website to see if there is any availability at a lower cost. Rebooking can save money as long as there is not a cancellation fee on the original reservation.

One of the major costs of any vacation, including Spring Break, is from food.

When choosing a hotel, select one that has a kitchen inside or a grill outside for cooking meals.

This can save money when late night meals and expenditures starve your wallet. It is also important to indulge in a continental breakfast. There is no better way to jump-start the day than free breakfast.

Another added cost of Spring Break is travel. If going on vacation with a group of friends, consider using the car with the most room and splitting the cost of gas between all members.

The payments will be smaller by adding more people and the adventures on Spring Break will be shared with more friends.

Getting out of classes for a week is exciting, but saving on Spring Break may be an even better feeling.

Story by Tiffany Whitfill, Staff writer