Hotel deals, splitting costs fit for travel on college budget winter break 2012

World Top Stories News :Hotel deals, splitting costs fit for travel on college budget winter break 2012 ; The first week of classes can be pure torture for some students. Knowing that winter break is over and studying must begin is, to many, the worst feeling in the world. Many of us are on the "college budget," where, if it isn't on the meal plan, you can't have it. Luckily, this season is the perfect time for a weekend getaway to the beach. Hotels right now range from $39 to $70 per night, quite a bit cheaper than in other seasons. If you can get a group of friends together, you can have an affordable and fun weekend.

With only about two hours and 45 minutes separating USC from Myrtle Beach, you can choose one of two options.

Option A: Get up early in the morning, drive down and spend just one day at the beach, go to a couple of nice restaurants, take a walk on the beach and head back to school.

Option B: Get up early, drive down and spend two complete days exploring the area. We decided on option B, and it ended up being very cost effective.

Hotel — $52 after tax per night (split among four people)

We stayed at a very nice beachfront resort with two queen beds and a balcony, booked through Expedia.com. For the best nightly deals, book through a travel site instead of the actual hotel.

Gas — $50 (split among four people)

Gas could be the most expensive component of any trip. Depending on the car and gas prices, this could go up or down. A helpful hint: Plan out where you want to go at the beach instead of driving aimlessly like we did. This could save you a significant amount on gas.

Food — $30
We had lunch at a burger joint on the beach averaging about $7 a burger. Dinner was at Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger in Paradise, a tourist-y restaurant with a menu to match. These plates averaged out around $13 each. We did not make it out for breakfast but instead had brunch at IHOP. My sandwich was $10 after taxes and tip. There are many food options at the beach; you can go for a $30 seafood buffet or eat at McDonald's for every meal.

Any trip can be as affordable or as expensive as you want it to be. Our total per person was just under $60. After figuring out the two main costs — hotel and gas — the rest is a breeze. We ate, shopped and even took an exhilarating swim in the Atlantic. There are countless things to do at the beach, and the choice is really yours to make.

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