“For spring break specifically, usually people just want to get out of Michigan and get out of the snow,” Hewlett said.

Hewlett said spring break was one of the travel agency’s biggest seasons, at least where the student population is concerned.

“We have a lot of students who don’t tend to book other things that come in during this time to get away,” Hewlett said.

One popular pre-spring break activity for some students is tanning. Julie Hancock, owner of The Tanning Company, LLC, 423 Albert Ave., said the number of students interested in tanning for spring break vacations picks up in early January and continues for the next couple months.

She said her tanning company typically has extended hours and some specials to accommodate for the increased student customer base around spring break season.

“There’s only so many tanning places around here, and with the thousands of students we’ve got, they’re all going to be busy,” Hancock said.

Nicole Brillantes, membership services manager at the Michigan Athletic Club, or MAC, 2900 Hannah Blvd., said students who are headed somewhere special are more motivated to work out with the promise of spring break vacations coming up.

Brillantes said the idea of hanging out with friends in a stress-free vacation fashion could move them to go to the gym in preparation, and then maybe continue the trend of working out.

“(Some students) have that buddy system — if they all are going on the same vacation, it really helps keeps them motivated,” Brillantes said.

Helen Herbert, a psychology freshman, said she likely is going to Florida for spring break. She said she would not be outwardly preparing for spring break in terms of tanning or working out, but many of her friends were.

“I’m a poor student, but I know a lot of people are going tanning lately,” Herbert said.

Staff writer Josh Mansour contributed to this report.