Economy affects travel plans; students opting for closer spots
Walt Porter
Pessimists and optimists alike can agree on one thing: the semester is half over. Where does that leave college students who have four full weeks of a classless schedule?
All students will be free from Dec. 18 to Jan. 16. What will they do? Has the economy changed their plans or is the semester break a get out of town card that will be cashed in once finals are over?
Dianka Morton is from Conway, AR and used to go home all the time, but since the times have gotten harder she said she doesnt get to go back as much as she use to.
She is staying closer to Mesa by choosing to go to Las Vegas and Prescott but would usually venture further outside of those areas.
“I was smart, I saved money,” said Abraham Vargas, a dance major from Puerto Rico.
Vargas’ travel plans are unaffected by the economy and he is still able to travel home to Puerto Rico often.
This winter he is visiting New York City, where he was accepted to the Julliard School and will visit its campus.
For those interested in a colder climate, Arizona’s Snowbowl is a popular destination for snowboarding, sledding and skiing.
Located seven miles outside of Flagstaff, Snowbowl offers a total of 32 runs in beginner, intermediate and expert levels for snow enthusiasts.
There are designated areas outside of Snowbowl where visitors can tube, sled and build snowmen.
If more sun and a bit of water are preferred, there are popular destinations close to Arizona’s borders.
Krystal Waters, a mortuary science major from Arizona described herself as, “A little kid. I love Disneyland, Vegas is fun, and Laughlin. We go there a lot.”
Laughlin, Nev., is approximately 215 miles from Phoenix, across the Colorado River from Bullhead City.
It is a miniature Las Vegas offering casinos, nightlife, boating and golf year-round.
Although each student on campus has their own story, the consensus among this group was the economy has made little impact on their plans.
