6 Places to Spend Spring Break if You Don’t Want to Party with Frat Bros

Want to plan a spring escape but don’t feel like dealing with the typical locales filled with wild foam parties and tequila-guzzling college students? Avoid spring breaking co-eds and set your sights on some alternative tropical destinations.

We’ve handpicked five alternative Spring Break destinations that all offer sun, sea, sand, and an added special something.

1. Railey Beach, Thailand

Get off the grid at Railey Beach in Thailand (also known as Rai Leh). This remote paradise hotspot sits on a picturesque peninsula between the bustling city of Krabi and the popular tourist haunt of Ao Nang. Only accessible by boat, thanks to the jutting cliffs that cut it off from the mainland, it’s the ideal place to escape the stresses of daily life.

Though the beach doesn’t get that busy, there is plenty to do for a week-long trip. As well as sunbathing and cocktail-slurping, there are plenty of reggae bars to check out, like The Last Bar and Joy Beach Bar, and the opportunity to rock climb up some of the impressive limestone cliffs.

2. Hanoi, Vietnam

For a more culturally-focused affair, Hanoi is the place to go. Packed full of fun travellers on the hunt for a good time, it also boasts an eclectic selection of museums, temples, and historic sites, like the Hoa Lo Prison and the Opera House, to keep your curiosity flowing.

When you’re ready to kick back with a few beers and soak up the good life, head to Ho Tay Lake, where spring break celebrations take place in full force every year. The areas surrounding the lake are alive with cool boutiques, bistros, and a burgeoning art scene.

3. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

 

If the idea of soaking up the sun on a paradise island floats your boat, but partying with the masses doesn’t, consider the Galapagos Islands as your Spring Break destination. Nature-lovers will feel right at home among the unique wildlife on offer – like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and bright-footed birds.
When you’re not chilling out with the local critters, there’s plenty to get up to, including cruises, conservation projects (including sea lion monitoring and giant tortoise breeding), diving, and surfing. For adventurous Spring Breakers, nearby Isla San Cristobal offers the opportunity to snorkel alongside stingrays and sharks – how’s that for a holiday to remember?

4. Isla Margarita, Venezuela

 

Venezuela often gets overlooked in favor of its neighbors, but its islands are some of the best in South America. Isla Margarita in particular is a haven of shore-side antics for the American spring breaker.

Set 40km from the mainland against a backdrop of breath-taking scenery – we’re talking palm-fringed beaches, pristine white sands, and turquoise shallows that seem to go on forever – the island is a playground for thrill-seekers and beach-goers. The island’s history that dates back to Columbus’ colonization means there are plenty of pretty colonial villages to sip beer in, including Porlamar and Juan Griego.Visit San Carlos de Borromeo Fortress to see the colonial fortress that helped ward off island intruders in the days of pirates and privateers.

5. Diani Beach, Kenya

 

Diani Beach in Kenya offers all the ingredients for a perfect spring break trip, including soft white sands, clear blue waters, ample bars and restaurants – Madafoos is a popular choice, serving fresh African dishes right on the beach front. The samosas in particular come highly recommended from visitors.
But this isn’t your average spring break hotspot, because there’s also the opportunity of going on a spectacular safari trip during your stay. Book a excursion — options are available from day trips to multiple overnight excursions —  and you can see some of Africa’s most majestic creatures up close. You’ll definitely have stories to share when you get back about zebras, elephants, and other exotic wildlife you spotted.

6. Anjuna Beach, Goa

Exotic beach lovers, look no further! Goa’s mesmerising collection of sprawling beaches, palm-fringed forests, and impossibly blue waters make a paradise backdrop for your spring break. Among Goa’s beach collections, Anjuna Beach is the best of the best.

 

In addition to a lively collection of bars (enjoy a cocktail while puffing on a hookah pipe for a relaxing experience at Curlies Beach Shackk, for example), restaurants, and boutiques lining the shore, there are local markets and street stalls for the culturally-inclined spring breaker. Anjuna oozes a laid-back, hippy vibe, and is well-loved for its full-moon parties, where revellers rock out on the beach into the wee hours of the morning.
If you want your spring break experience to be more than raucous parties in the usual hotspots, but you still want the fun and the sun, these alternative destinations have you covered.