Daytona Beach, the Florida Keys and South Beach have followed similar strategies. Though not all actively discourage students, they focus on a different crowd.

"There are always going to be students on the beach -- just not several hundred thousand at one time like in late '80s and early '90s," says Tangela Boyd, spokeswoman for the Daytona Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, which stopped marketing to students about five years ago. Student Spring Break conveyed an image that kept families away; now the families are back. More upscale lodging options -- with more expensive room rates -- are helping shift the tide.

In Panama City Beach, though, students are still welcome -- and wooed with $475,000 of marketing. "We looked at the economic benefits, and we decided that if we're going to have Spring Break, we wanted it to be the best it could be," says Bob Warren, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. Breakers bring about $60 million in a 40-day period.

'BREAK FRIENDLY'

About 6,000 of the area's 25,000 lodgings are "Spring-Break friendly," he says, and students are steered to them. Corporate sponsors host live entertainment, games and contests. Local businesses offer student discounts. Tourism officials encourage students to "Celebrate Safely." Local police bump up staffing to help deliver the message.

It all adds up to this: Florida is still where the Breakers are -- whoever they might be.

WHERE'S JANE TODAY? For the next six days, Travel editor Jane Wooldridge will visit Florida Spring Break haunts. Her daily reports will be published on page 4A of The Miami Herald and online at www.Miami Herald.com/travel, where you can post your own comments, suggestions and memories.

TOP SPOTS FOR 2007

1. Miami

2. Cancun

3. Daytona

4. San Jose del Cabo, Mex.

5. Bahamas

6. Key West

7. Jamaica

8. Acapulco

9. Panama City

10. South Padre Island, Texas

Source: CheapTickets.com

PLANNING A SPRING BREAK TRIP

For public school students in Miami-Dade and Broward schools, Spring Break falls April 2-6.

Haven't made plans yet? Don't panic. Many northern schools have finished with Spring Break by the time ours rolls around. And while your favorite Florida beach hangout just might be full, plenty of options remain. Here are a few:

* Snow's up: Given recent weather, many slopes are reporting robust snowfall. Ski.com has spring deals available. One option: $546 per person, quad occupancy, buys four nights lodging in a two-bedroom unit, a three-day lift pass and roundtrip transfers from Eagle airport at Vail Racquet Club during the Spring Back to Vail celebration, April 1-15.

* Florida Dude Ranch: For $199, you can get a two-night package for two adults and two children at Westgate River Ranch, between Tampa and Orlando. Included are lodging, a hayride, Saturday night rodeo, visit to the petting zoo and other family activities. Catch: to get this rate, you have to listen to a timeshare presentation; if you want to pass on that, check on other rates. www.westgateriverranch.com.

* Hotelrooms365.com: Deals on hotels in Orlando and elsewhere. One choice: Rooms at the Legacy Grand Resort start at $42.

* Rentalo.com: This website offers family-friendly and reasonably-priced vacation rentals in Florida, Mexico and many other locations. One Orlando choice: A four-bedroom, three-bath home with screened heated pool and full kitchen in a gated community 10 minutes from Disney rents for $985 per week during South Florida's Spring Break.

* Site59: This last-minute travel website offers trips two weeks in advance of travel. If you see a deal you want, jump on it; they go quickly.

* easyCruise: The people who brought you the European low-cost airline, easyJet, also have a no-frills cruise line, easyCruise. The cheapest cabins are gone, but outside cabins with window for a three-night trip from St. Maarten cost $191.25 per person, double occupancy, departing March 30. European trips are also available. www.easycruise.com.

* Other cruises: Decent rates are still available on other cruises leaving from South Florida during Spring Break. For instance, Carnival offers $649 for the first two passengers, $539 for the next two passengers in a four-person inside cabin the first week of April. www.carnival.com.

S.C. Luxury: The acclaimed Inn at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina's Low Country offers a "Can You Dig It?" family archeology program focusing on its native American and plantation sites on Thursday mornings during March and April. The program is free but participation is limited. Other family activities are offered; rooms include upscale family-friendly cottages and suites. April rates start at $625 per night for a cottage, $900 for a two-bedroom home. www.palmettobluffresort.com.

-- JANE WOOLDRIDGE

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