Airfare Expert: Cheap flights to spring break spots

— -- Spring Break — it's not just for cavorting college students anymore! We all want to get away, and here are some tips on getting flights to mid-winter getaways for less.

Where should I go for a relatively cheap spring break?

Depends who you are and what you want to do. Some suggestions:

Florida beaches: Frommer's has called Florida's Gulf Coast "drastically unappreciated" and it's nicely recovered from the oil spill that marred the summer of 2010. Look for pretty beaches plus a wide array of hotels including plenty geared to budget-conscious travelers. The near-new airport serving Panama City features flights on Southwest and Delta.

Skiers: Denver is also relatively cheap, thanks to heavy airline competition (and ultra-low cost carrier Spirit joins the mix in May). Skiers and boarders will find plenty of world-class resorts within driving distance of Denver International which is served primarily by United, Southwest and Frontier. And remember, legacy airlines like United are more and more like low-cost airlines these days and will compete vigorously on pricing.

Families: Boston is a relative bargain thanks to some recent increases in capacity by JetBlue. Relive history there by walking the Freedom Trail or explore one of its excellent museums like the Peabody or the Boston Children's Museum and don't miss the JFK Library. For those determined to walk on a beach, Cape Cod is close but cold this time of year.

When should I buy my airline tickets?

If your spring break occurs in March, buy now. If you are looking at an April departure, you have until the end of February to buy your tickets and still get a decent deal. Of course, airlines have decades-worth of information on our spring-break travel habits, so they will always be trying to garner a premium price for airfare.

What will I pay?

Expect to pay in the mid to high $200's for trips less than 1,500 miles (about halfway across the U.S.) and in the $300-$400 range for longer flights.

Sun-worshipper tip: Prices to Florida beaches are running 50% below airfare to the Caribbean, and about 25% less than airfare to beaches in Mexico. Ticket prices to Los Angeles and San Diego are just slightly higher than Florida.

What's the latest on travel to Mexico?

The U.S. State Department recently updated its Travel Warning on Mexico to point out popular tourist destinations that are not covered by the warning (as of this writing). These include the three C's - Cabo, Cancun and Cozumel - as well as other resort areas. The government's Travel.State.Gov website is an excellent resource and I urge anyone traveling outside the U.S. to check out its 'country specific' information.

Anything else I should know?

Yes. Airlines know we want to bug out on a Saturday or Sunday for the start and end of our Spring Break, and they are charging a 20-40% premium for that 'privilege'. However, the prices drop dramatically if you can depart on a Monday or Tuesday and return Saturday. You might have to sacrifice a couple of vacation days but the savings may be worth it.

FareCompareCEO Rick Seaney is an airline industry insider and top media air travel resource. Follow Rick ( @rickseaney) and never overpay for airfare again.