As the days grow colder, students are already planning vacations to exotic spring break locales that will bring sunshine and relaxation come March.

"I want to go to the Bahamas ... and I would love to go to Jamaica," Lauren Evans (freshman-communications) said.

Evans' dream destinations are similar to those of many students hoping to escape State College for spring break, which is from March 6 to 10.

Alaina Scalercio, branch manager at STA Travel, 104 HUB-Robeson Center, said Acapulco, Cancun, Mexico and Jamaica are the most popular spring break destinations this year. Each destination is a unique experience and many students go to all three places every year, she said.

"Acapulco is extremely popular. It has the Miami-type feel and is very club-oriented. Of course, there are also pretty beaches," she said. "Cancun is, well, Cancun. It's crazy all the time. There's lots going on and there are lots of beach parties."

Jamaica, on the other hand, is a more laid-back alternative, she said.

"There are still a lot of people there," Scalercio said. "[But] students don't have to go from beach party to beach party and get all dressed up."

Bonnie Robinson-Harper, manager of Campbell Travel, 137 S. Pugh St., named Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as this year's destinations of choice.

"There's a lot of hype from MTV and different sponsors who are promoting spring break in these destinations," Robinson-Harper said. "I've been in the travel industry for 20 years and it's constantly changing -- every year there is a new popular destination."

Many students cite price as the determining factor when planning their spring breaks, said Sandy Berardis, a travel specialist at Centre for Travel, 114 S. Hiester St. However, she said travel agencies can give students options that can make trips more affordable.

Robinson-Harper said spring break prices are increasing every day -- so students need to book their trips as soon as they figure them out.

"People may think they're going to get great last-minute deals, but in reality, the people who booked before Christmas got the real deals," she said.

Lindsay Filoseta (senior-psychology), who hopes to visit either Florida, a remote area of the Bahamas or Costa Rica, wants something more relaxing than the typical spring break.

"The main factors that will influence where I go are price, weather and how expensive the alcohol is," Filoseta said.

Scalercio said although most students consider the islands the typical spring break destination, others choose to travel abroad, particularly to Amsterdam, London and other European destinations.

The most popular destinations within the country are Florida and Las Vegas, she said. Las Vegas is particularly attractive to the over-21 crowd because of its casinos, nightclubs and bars.

Kristi Korzen (senior-public relations) said she turned to travel Web site studentcity.com in November to get the best deal for her trip to Cabo San Lucas.

"StudentCity is really easy, especially for those who aren't sure how the process works. It might be a little more expensive, but it's worth it," she said. "They set everything up, including the flight and the hotel."

Korzen is traveling with eight friends, who also accompanied her to Acapulco last year.

"We had a really good time in Acapulco, so going back to Mexico was an easy decision," she said. "We thought Cabo would be more relaxing, and we're all really excited."

The aftermath of this year's hurricane season may affect some students' plans to visit Cancun, Berardis said.

Centre for Travel will not book trips to Cancun due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Wilma; however students who are determined to go there, can make the trip other ways.

But Keith Schroeder, a travel agent at Nittany Travel, 2603 E. College Ave., said he does not think Wilma will keep students from Cancun.

"Cancun is advertising very heavily," Schroeder said. "It has always been one of the most popular spots, along with Florida, because both advertise more for the spring breakers. They are trying to bring the single people in."