Buckle Up For Crazy Spring Break Travel In And Out Of Tampa International

Just how busy will Tampa International Airport be during this spring break season? We could see record-setting numbers of travelers during the month of March.

Remember, Miami kicked off their campaign to keep spring breakers away from their beaches. They literally run commercials that send the message that spring breakers are not welcome. If they don't go to South Florida, will they come to our Tampa Bay area? Why not!? We've got beautiful beaches, too. Even though we don't offer the same level of nightlife that Miami does, we certainly have fun things for those who are on spring break to do here. AND you can find fun dining experiences and nightlife experiences that cost less here than they do in Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Just how busy will Tampa Interational Airport get during spring break? Well, on February 25 a record was set when 93,334 travelers came through TPA.

According to a press release from officials at Tampa International Airport, “Projections utilizing airline booking data suggest TPA could once again set new all-time passengers records with more than 100,000 passengers expected on both March 9 and March 17. The Airport is preparing to accommodate 90,000 to 100,000 passengers every Saturday and Sunday over the 38-day spring break travel period.”

The projections for travelers are huge. It's expected that 3 million travelers will make Tampa International Airport part of their path between March 4 and April 8. What can you do if you find yourself traveling over the next month? Just make sure you arrive early. Give yourself 2 hours even for domestic travel.

Get there early and relax in whatever Airside you happen to be traveling out of. There are always good choices for food. That's one of the reasons Tampa Airport is such an awesome airport. Not only is it logistically friendly, but there are delicious food options. Safe travels!

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For years Miami has been considered one of the best destinations for spring breakers. However, that will soon change. Due to the violence and chaos that transpired last year during spring break, Miami Beach will now be implementing rules and security measures in an attempt to keep spring breakers away. So since Miami doesn't want any spring breakers, we decided to give you our top 5 spring break destinations to go to other than Miami.

Spring Break of 2023 did a number on Miami Beach. With over 400 arrests, more than 100 firearms seized, and 7,000 traffic citations issued, it was evident that spring break was starting to become a problem. The tipping point was the chaotic crowds and shootings that left 2 people dead. This ultimately led Miami Beach into a state of emergency. This was the third consecutive year that Miami Beach had to place emergency measures to combat disorderly crowds, so they are putting their foot down this year.

The city has now set new perimeters for March to try and avoid spring breakers.  They have warned visitors of safety precautions such as curfews, bag searches at the beach, early beach closures, DUI checkpoints, and arrests for drug possession and violence. Miami even made a video campaign to inform everyone of the "break up".

Florida Governor Ron Desantis held a press conference to discuss the safety measures for Spring break across Florida on Tuesday and stated “You are going to pay the price and be held accountable if you’re coming for reasons other than to have fun. That is not gonna fly in the Sunshine State.”

So technically Spring Breakers are still able to go to Miami, but many are not very happy with the new safety measures being implemented. So where can you go for spring break if you don't want to deal with Miami? We thought you'd never ask! Here are our top 5 Spring Break destinations to go to other than Miami.

Instead of stopping in Miami, drive a couple of more hours south and check out Key West. If you want to be more low-key and like nature you can visit The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, but let's be real it is spring break. You want drink and check out the bars. Key West has more than 300 bars you can choose from. Party with all of the other spring breakers on Smathers Beach. Just make sure to book a boating excursion at some point to see the beautiful ocean scenery.

I know what you're thinking, but there is a lot more to Vegas than just gambling. With over 340 bars listed on trip advisor there are certainly a lot of places you can drink and party. However, many don't know about the Red Canyon Waterfalls. Now there's something you can't find in Florida. If you want more water adventures you can go rafting at the Hoover Dam or check out the Springs Preserve. Did I mention gambling?

Move over Tulum! You may be the new "cool" place to go nowadays, but you will never take the Spring Break crown away from the original King. Especially if you're looking to save some money. To comfortably get through a 3-day trip, you will need to set aside around $700 for expenses, which is typically cheaper than Tulum and Miami. Just make sure you apply for that passport way ahead of time.

You won't need your passport or to break the bank for San Juan. With flights leaving Tampa starting at $44 on Expedia, Puerto Rico is a cheap and quick trip that is also surprisingly affordable. You would need around 7,602.0$ in Miami, FL to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 6,100.0$ in San Juan. Plus, I will hype up Puerto Rico whenever I can.

What was once considered the Spring Break capital of the US, Panama City is another viable Florida option that is way cheaper than South Beach. You have beautiful beaches and jumping nightlife that are the main attractions, but there are also countless theme parks and arcades to keep you busy and having fun. Don't forget to check  Shipwreck Island Waterpark, Race City and a Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Clearwater, FL

Daytona Beach, FL

Medellin, Colombia

Myrtle Beach, SC

New Orleans, LA

Nassau, Bahamas

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

San Diego, CA

Scottsdale, AZ

South Padre, TX

St. Petersburg, FL