MAR 17 THE MOST POPULAR SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS

MAR 17 THE MOST POPULAR SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS

It's mid-March and in America that can only mean one thing: SPRING BREAK! For our readers outside the USA: Originally for the Easter holiday, American universities usually give students a whole week off classes. While some students use the free time for intense extra studying sessions, many others instead head south to warm beaches for intense party sessions. According to this year's AAA survey, here are the five most popular Spring Break destinations:

#5. Cancun. Although Mexican resorts have been hit by a crime wave recently, there is one demographic who does not care: Spring Breakers! Not normally the 'news-reading' type, college kids come for the white-sand beaches and the turquoise Caribbean waters. NOT! The main appeal of Cancun is the 18+ drinking age. This solves the biggest problem underage college kids face. As expected, a high level of tequila poppers leads to a high ranking on the party scale for this destination.

#4. Punta Cana. The Dominican Republic also boasts an 18+ drinking age. It also has pristine tropical beaches. But most importantly, the island is closer to the East Coast. The secret is out and tourists are coming in droves to the Eastern tip of Hispaniola. Built in 1984, the international airport has since expanded and is now the busiest in the Caribbean region. It's serviced by major US carriers like Delta, JetBlue and American Airlines. Punta Cana succeeds as a laid-back alternative to the "Girls Gone Wild' vibe of Cancun.

#3. Honolulu. Oahu boasts high visitor numbers year round, but March is their top month. Waikiki

was built for fun and continues to deliver the goods Spring Breakers demand. They need tropical beaches and tropical drinks. Look for this destination to rise in next year's rankings when Southwest Airlines will be allowed into the oligarchical lock on Hawaii flights.

#2. Ft. Lauderdale. Everything changed for this small town in 1960. That's when Connie Francis filmed the movie 'Where the Boys Are' on the main beach. This small act instantly created the whole concept of the Spring Break beach party. For the next two decades, the city was besieged by college kids every March. It became unmanageable, and in 1980 the city council passed strict laws. Next, the city successfully re-branded themselves with high-end additions like the Ritz Carlton. Rich kids still count and likely are responsible for the high ranking.

#1. Orlando. The only entry not located on a beach tops the list. That's because a high number of Spring Breakers aren't in college. Nope, they're in High School and the top destination for family vacations is resort-packed Orlando. Sure, a couple of fraternity brothers will be chanting "Chug! Chug!" at the local Hooter's...but Disney World is the real reason Orlando is this year's top Spring Break destination.