Best Spring Break Locations
Not sure whether to hit the raging nightlife in Cancun or reggae the days and nights away in Jamaica? We've dug up dirt on five of the best Spring Break locations to give you the lowdown on beach conditions, party scenes, and main attractions. Get educated here, then grab the phone and book your flight.

Cancun, Mexico
It's party central in Cancun, with its concentration of super-resorts, powdery beaches and over-the-top nightlife. If you're looking for something exotic, look elsewhere-everyone speaks English, American dollars are accepted, and there are plenty of restaurants and shopping malls to make you feel right at home. Those who are willing to leave the comforts of their all-inclusive hotels (or more accurately, those who are able to tear themselves away) will find ancient Mayan ruins to explore, jungles to hack through, dolphins to swim with, and stellar snorkeling.

But you really want to know about the nightlife. Theme nights, drink specials and endless debauchery abounds. There's the Hotel Zone, which is a long stretch of-you guessed it-hotels and resorts, or you can head to downtown Cancun and its glut of bars, discos and restaurants. Party areas include Forum By the Sea, Centro Comercial Maya Fair and La Isla Village. Wherever you chose to go, you're guaranteed a night full of shameless hedonism that ends only when the sun comes up.

South Padre Island, Texas
Looking to spend some quality time in the water? Fishing, sailing and windsurfing are huge draws on this island, as is bird-watching for egrets and herons. But we're guessing you won't be scoping out any creatures of flight on this trip….The high-quality beaches are public, and the gulf waters are shallow and warm. Much of the nightlife centers around resort hotels, and there's plenty of live music to be heard everywhere. Spring Break is really when the party scene comes alive, when South Padre allows the outrageousness to take over for eight weeks.

Jamaica
Delicious food, a laid-back attitude, and miles of pristine beach are what make Jamaica a consistently popular Spring Break destination. Though crime and racial tension are problems on the island, stick to the resort areas of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, and you'll be just fine. There's fabulous diving, beautiful mountains for hiking, and world-class golfing. Jamaica's art and music scenes are thriving as well-and of course, it just wouldn't be Jamaica without the ubiquitous reggae.

Each location has its own charms, whether it's the nude beaches at Negril or the four championship golf courses in Montego Bay, so it's best to do your homework before deciding where to stay. The most active nightlife focuses on the major resort hotels, with dance clubs and bars packed with carefree partiers.

The Bahamas
This group of more than 700 islands offers Spring Breakers plenty of options, from pink-sand beaches for sun worshippers to glitzy casinos for all you high rollers. The most popular places include Nassau, Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama Island, and despite the high number of tourists, there's plenty of traditional British charm to go around. Golf, sailing, snorkeling and fishing are all pleasant ways to pass the time-that is, if you can drag yourself out of bed after staying up all night at one of the flashy resorts or casinos. As in Jamaica, each island's main attractions varies, so do some investigating and choose wisely.

Panama City Beach, Florida
Seems like the Sunshine State will always be a Spring Break destination of choice. With 800 miles of quality beach to choose from, it's no wonder. Hordes of Spring Breakers descend on Panama City each year to lounge and party on 27 miles of sand (yes, it's legal to drink on the beach), located on the Gulf of Mexico. Though there are tons of beachfront hotels on the main strip, the party destination of choice is The Boardwalk Beach resort. Or you can get your groove on in the biggest nightclub in the U.S., Club La Vela. On the off chance that you get tired of the endless partying, there's deep-sea fishing, diving and golfing aplenty.