2011/01/30 Neil Warrington relaxs at a Resort at Julios Barrio in Calgary Photos By Shane Innes

With spring break rapidly approaching, students nationwide will be heading to warmer climates.
Many students will have booked their hotel rooms by now.
Others are still looking for a last minute deal, and the rest will just fly by the seat of their pants.
While each option has its benefits, sound pre-trip research is key to a good spring break travel experience.
Most all-inclusives abide by a five-star travel rating, and a failure to prepare adequately beforehand could mean the difference between sleeping in luxury or sleeping with cockroaches.
“Take the time to compare the differences between two and five-star resorts,” says Carla Roosen certified travel consultant (CTC) and school of travel and tourism instructor.
Roosen says a two-star resort will often feature a standard room with no frills or gimmicks.
With a two-star, you’re likely to save a couple hundred bucks, but  you may be asking; are the savings really worth it?
Alixandra Steffen, 24, went on an all-inclusive 12-day trip to Europe in 2009 without doing much research beforehand, and says the experience wasn’t one she’d repeat.
“I don’t think I would do an all-inclusive trip like that again,” Steffen says.
“Mostly because our version of high quality and the trip planner’s version of high quality were completely different.”
Steffen says the food and room conditions reflected the ‘budget’ nature of the trip package they had selected, and the savings weren’t worth the disappointment.
Roosen says five-star resorts, while more expensive, have a few more options.
Wherever you’re going this spring break, take your time and do your star research.
For more economical travel advice, call one of the student-centred agencies like  Travel Cuts at the University of Calgary.