He said the most effective precaution students can take while traveling is to plan ahead -- and use contraception to avoid STDs if they plan on having sex.
"Your risk in international areas is that much greater because you can not be sure of the immunization policies in every individual's world," said Andrew Badulak, a physician at the Travel Medicine and International Center at the Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, studies suggest that despite a rise in HIV infections globally, condom use among travelers is generally low.
One survey found a 15 percent increase in the rate of STDs in travelers upon returning home.
If students have unintended sexual intercourse while away, they should make sure they get tested, Holowatz said. UHS gives free HIV tests that are confidential and anonymous.
"Many people have the perceived notion that all popular destinations, no matter where they are located, are completely safe from a health standpoint," said Badulak, "but this is not the case."
To find information on travel destinations, Badulak recommends browsing on Web sites such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He said doctors rely on this Web site to know what is happening around the world.
Even the most well known areas in the Caribbean can be risky, Badulak said. Costa Rica is an example of an area of heavy vegetation where malaria and Dengue fever --both transmitted through mosquitoes -- can be contracted, he said.
For protection from common mosquito-born illnesses, take DEET insect repellent and be sure to use it before sunrise and after sundown, said John Stern, a physician who specializes in infectious diseases and travel medicine at the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
"Once it hits 6 p.m., when you've got your piña colada in one hand, make sure you've got your DEET in the other," he said.
If vacationers decide to be adventurous and travel off the beaten path, Stern said to make sure that they have Hepatitis-A and Typhoid vaccines before they leave. Doctors should also prescribe malaria pills if travelers plan on going to an area where malaria alerts are present.
Another thing students should keep in mind if packing any prescription medication is to also pack the information that goes with it, said Holowatz. Students don't want to end up in a situation where they can't explain their medication, he said.
"When it comes to drugs of any kind, the police are getting to be like the Gestapo down there," Stern said. "They are always looking for a way to nail spring breakers."
Getting in touch with the U.S. consulate or embassy in the area can provide information about certain risks to American tourists and health information about how to make contact with a reputable health facility.
Traveler's health insurance is another simple way to cover your back, Christi Day, public relations coordinator for STA Travel, said.
"It's a great idea to invest in these kinds of packages, especially with spring break hot spots -- you never know what might happen," she said.
