When all you want is to close the books, leave the dorm, and log off Zoom for good, organising Spring Break can feel like way too much effort.
But what if we told you that your ultimate reset doesn’t have to be another overpriced hotel down the coast?
It’s time to put the fun, mystery, and adventure back into Spring Break
Image source:Contiki
There’s never been a better time than 2026 to swap your winter blues for Mediterranean beaches, the cherry blossomed streets of Japan, or eating your body weight in Pad Thai.
Life is pretty full on these days. Between economic pressures, rising political distress, and simply even just trying to figure out what the future holds, decision paralysis can overwhelm all of us.
Spring Break is meant to be fun, right? So instead of coming back to the dorm swapping stories of Florida, what if this Spring Break you came back regaling your friends with tales of Italy? Or Spain? Or Thailand? Or, if we’re looking a little closer to home, Mexico?
A week or two of browsing the sun-soaked streets of Europe, indulging in picnics under the cherry blossom trees in Japan, or trawling through the vibrant markets of South East Asia might be the exact reset you need. And you don’t even have to have a plan. Sounds good, right?
This Spring Break, your best memories are abroad
Image source:Contiki
When you’re feeling overwhelmed with school and studies, you probably don’t always have the mental or emotional capacity to plan an epic adventure. And, look, to be transparent, we’re here to toot our own horn.
Think of Contiki as your Type A bestie doing all of the planning for you. All you need to do is show up. Save your mental space for next semester, but also give yourself the break you deserve before classes start giving you night terrors again.
From accommodation, must-do activities, soaking in scenic sites, and making new friends totally taken care of, there’s never been a better time to invest in a group trip for a momentary break from life’s stresses.
Even if your student budget feels more fragile than your mental health in exams week, here’s what we want to remember in the future: indulging in a daily gelato in Italy. Eating the best tacos in Mexico. Snorkelling in Thailand. Karaoke in Japan.
It’s this that gets us through the hard times.
The pros of going international for Spring Break
Image source:Contiki
Have you ever felt the pain of friends flaking on plans or organising trips and having them blow out in cost? Or is the idea of just staying in the US and not experiencing life kinda… filling you with dread?
One six-two reader Laurel, told us that getting out of the US for two Spring Breaks (Mexico and Madrid) helped her with getting outside of her usual ‘bubble’.
“I learned SO much in Madrid,” she said. “We went to Prado, and did a walking history tour. I think going international for Spring Break helps you learn things outside of your own bubble and helps with cognitive flexibility. Plus, just like, learning to take care of yourself in novel situations, too.”
Mixing fun with culture, Laurel said both her trips to Mexico and Madrid offered different experiences.
“I remember feeling the general ambience was so different from home, it felt like totally different worlds,” she shared. “In Mexico we admittedly didn’t do a ton of cultural activities, but I think being passively exposed to new cultures and different ways of doing things, as well as new landscapes can help you learn quite a lot.”
Laurel said traveling in her late teens and early twenties during university gave her a broader perspective on life, as well as set her up for future travels as an adult.
“I’d traveled internationally as a kid, but doing it in university definitely gave me a broader perspective and a better understanding of diverse experiences that I didn’t have prior to that.
“I definitely think I now manage unexpected occurrences better for travel, and am better versed at being able to work with people from a variety of backgrounds.”
Just in case you need convincing group travel is the best way to spend 2026 Spring Break…
Planning fatigue, especially in the midst of study hell, is real. Group trips like Contiki take the stress out of travelling and replace it with all the things life should be about: good vibes, new friends, optional activities, and the ability to go to a magical location and do as much or as little of the itinerary as you feel on the day.
Forget having to plan your own accommodation, transport, or experiences. We’ve done that for you!
Book once, pack once, and come back with stories for years. We’ll see you there.
Need some inspiration of where to head to for Spring Break? Make sure to check out our favourite locations here.
