As seniors start to prepare for the end of their high school career, they have many activities to look forward to. Senior breakfast, senior sunrise, and even graduation are just some of the activities that seniors can look ahead to. However, most of these activities are planned by the senior council or the school, so when it comes to planning private senior trips, it is up to the seniors to plan it themselves.
According to The Shield, when planning a senior trip, follow this order: find a destination, choose housing, find the mode of transportation, and form a budget. For some seniors, it might work better to find a budget first, then work around that. Seniors have many things to consider when planning a senior trip, and it can get overwhelming. It also can be stressful for seniors to plan on their own if they are in the midst of finding out about college acceptances or figuring out future plans. Staying organized throughout the planning process is essential to not getting overwhelmed.
Here are some vacation spots for Louisa County High School seniors to think about, sorted closest to furthest:
Virginia Beach, Virginia – If you aren’t interested in driving far, VA Beach is perfect. It has the Boardwalk and a multitude of restaurant options.
Sand Bridge, Virginia – Just south of Virginia beach, but a little more quiet, Sand Bridge has very local restaurants and is a known surf spot if you’re interested in picking up a new hobby.
Cape Charles – Virginia – If you want a quiet local town on the Chesapeake Bay with shopping, ice cream, and restaurants, Cape Charles would be a great place to check out.
Outer Banks, North Carolina – Not every beach has a show named after it. OBX has a variety of beaches, beautiful sand dunes, and plenty of other activities to keep busy.
Emerald Isle, North Carolina – If you’re interested in camp grounds, lots of trails, fishing, along with the beach, Emerald Isle is perfect.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – With a variety of beaches Myrtle Beach offers restaurants along “Broadway”, and has scenic views with good fishing spots, so it’s the best of both worlds.
Charleston, South Carolina – A little more pricey, but definitely worth it. Charleston has an assortment of restaurants and history in the city, and it also has local islands like Isle of Palms and Kiawah that are good for renting homes by the water.
Senior Kara Kotowski and her friends have planned their senior trip for spring break. Together, they worked to find a house within their budget by using two different websites: VRBO and Air B&B. These websites can be beneficial because they allow customers to choose a precise location, price range, number of sleeps, and any specific amenities wanted. When choosing a location, once again, all members have to agree, and it is imperative to be realistic. Finding high school seniors who have the money to fund a trip to the Caribbean could be difficult.
“Its important to lay out what you are looking for when you’re deciding on location and stay,” Kotowski said. “ And consider all the opinions of the group because everyone is chipping in their share to fund this trip.”
One of the main things to consider when planning a senior trip is finding a good group to go with. This can come into play when you consider the drive and spending a number of hours in a car with this group. Figuring out who is willing to drive, the mode of transportation, the cost of gas, and the number of seats is key to having a trip at all.
“Go with the people you love, the place you go matters, but the people you go with matters more,” Kotoski said.
Lastly, whether the group chooses to do it first or last, the budget can depend on the number of things: people involved, the location, the cost of food, gas, and activities. When considering all these factors, compromise is imperative for the group.
Senior Stephen Smith is traveling to Buford, South Carolina with a group of his friends after graduation. Smith’s group found the importance of compromise when planning a trip with multiple people, and recognized its challenges. They struggled with finding a location that met their needs, and they had to compromise to create a plan. They also concluded that whoever isn’t driving has to split the groceries, while the one that is driving pays for the gas.
“We tried to be as even as possible when it came to money, but we also just want to have fun, and make memories,” Smith said.
