Image via Complex Original
March is here, and winter is finally starting to break. That's right, after the Winter of the Polar Vortex, the end is finally in sight, and this year, the vernal equinox is March 20, which will officially signal the beginning of spring. Though, as we all know, the snow will likely stick around for awhile after.
However, you don't need to be confined to your winter prison for too long. Why? Because along with March comes spring break, debauchery's official holiday, a week of bliss allowing you to travel to warmer, more relaxing locales.
But, obviously, before you get your much needed R&R, the planning aspects of your break can be a little stressful. And even when you get there, figuring out what to do and where to go can feel like more trouble than it's worth. Thankfully, that's where technology comes in to save today. With the help of these 15 Apps That Will Make Your Spring Break Even Better, you can enjoy your vacation with little to no stress, and plenty of fun. Read through the list and start downloading. It's time to do your spring break the right way.
Mint
Platforms: iOS, Android; FREE
Do you want to know the worst part about spring break? All the money you're about to spend. However, it doesn't have to be so painful if you're just smart about budgeting and are aware of the status of your bank account at all times. Avoid the dread that comes with glancing at your bank account and assessing the damage at the end of the week. Instead, Mint will help set up spending limits and notify you when you're starting to approach or go over those marks. Unfortunately, it can't stop you from spending altogether; some self-control on your part is necessary.
Vocre
Platforms: iOS, Android; $4.99 (iOS), $0.99 (Android)
You say you're going to spend your spring break in Barcelona? Exciting, yes, but isn't it frustrating to lose your ability to speak when you're in a foreign country? Fret no longer, because Vocre is here to bridge the language gap. Download the app, speak into your phone, and it will translate your speech into the language of your choosing. With 66 available tongues, Vocre is a Rosetta Stone in your hands, enabling you to converse with everyone around the world in real-time. Or, you can just rely on a standard set of phrases to get by. Traveler's tip: "cerveza" means "beer" in Spanish.
If you're traveling abroad and are looking for an easy way to stay in contact with friends and family, WhatsApp remains one of the best options available for free text and video messaging overseas. Why waste your money on an international data plan when you're only going to be gone for a week anyway? Just tell your friends to download WhatsApp, and you guys will be able to keep in contact as necessary.
Drinking Games
Platforms: iOS, Android; FREE
Having a few standby drinking games to play when you're at a party is good, but the problem is that so many of us often revert to the same choices. Over break, maybe it's fun to play beer pong or Kings for the first couple nights, but after awhile, they start to get stale. Thankfully, Drinking Games is here to offer more than a few suggestions. It's a fairly rudimentary app that simply lists off all your options for creative alcohol consumption. When the party starts to get a little flat, Drinking Games is what you'll want to use to bring the energy levels back up.
TripColor
Platforms: iOS; FREE
It's likely a given that you already have Instagram at the ready to document all of your debauchery and adventures during break, but what about if you're trying to make a fun, cohesive collection out of all these photos during your vacation? For such purposes, try out TripColor, an album-creation app that lets you put together your photos in a portfolio, add captions and location details, and even create an interactive map so that your friends can follow along on your trip. And isn't making your friends jealous of your travels the point of using social media on spring break?
Mr. Number
Platforms: Android; FREE
It's spring break, and you're probably going to have a few drinks at some point. It's probably wise to just accept that fact, right? Don't worry, no one is judging you here. However, if you decide to use your intoxication as an excuse to start drunk-dialing ex-significant others, then it might be a different story. Don't ruin your spring break by sobbing into your cellphone like you're trying to recreate "Marvin's Room." Use Mr. Number, an Android app that lets you enter numbers in before you start drinking and automatically blocks any communications with them for the evening. For iPhone users, we suggest Designated Dialer.
Viator
When you're on break, you should allocate time to do more things than just hitting the bars and spending the day at the pool. If you're in a new city, use the opportunity to see the local tourist attractions or frequent the local hang-outs. With the help of Viator, you can find the cheapest way to book and take advantage of all the options available in your destination of choice. User reviews, deal notifications and more offer quick and simple ways to make the most of any city.
SceneTap
Platforms: iOS, Android; FREE
SceneTap is only available in select cities, but if you happen to be travelling to any of its subscribing locations during your break, the app is a superb way to get a pulse of the nightlife in the city. With SceneTap, you're able to get a sense of the average age currently inhabiting any given bar, along with gender ratios and crowd density. If you're smart, SceneTap can make your barhopping a more strategic endeavor than wandering down the street from place to place. If you need to take a cab or subway to get somewhere, then this app is especially useful. Is there anything worse than getting out of a taxi and seeing that the line is out the door and down the block? Cut down waiting times like that with SceneTap.
Airbnb
You probably have Airbnb downloaded on your phone already, but make sure you consider its network when deciding where you're going to stay during your travels. Airbnb can often serve as a cheaper, more comfortable option to your average motel or Holiday Inn. It's a homier vibe, and if you're sharing the space with the actual resident, then you may make a new friend out of the arrangement as well! If you have a decent group of people, finding a comfortable location can be as cheap as $15 a night depending on the city. In any case, it beats sleeping on some questionable sheets in a dirty roadside motel, right?
Heads Up!
Platforms: iOS, Android; $0.99
Heads Up! is a fun, co-operative game that has you put your phone on your forehead while your teammates try and clue you in about what's on the screen. Essentially, it's word charades, and if you're looking for an easy game to get people laughing and energetic for the night ahead, Heads Up! is as good an option as any. Also, if you want game that can be quickly converted to add a drinking element, then Heads Up! can serve that purpose. Drink every time you fail to guess a word, losing team has to finish a beer, etc. Nothing gets the spirits up like a little competition.
djay 2
Platforms: iOS; $9.99
Having the perfect party playlist is key to making a memorable night, and djay 2 is here to put the power in your hands. Made for the iPad, the app allows you to mix songs together right from your tablet, equipped with sliders, drum machines and more to make the music experience as close to the club as possible. If you and your friends are trying to keep the party at your hotel, then hook your iPad up to some speakers, and get it started. You may want to take a few practice spins before you start handling DJ duties for the entire party, but for the most part, the app is fairly intuitive, making an enjoyable experience for beginners and experts alike.
Karaoke Anywhere
Platforms: iOS; FREE
As cheesy as it is, karaoke can be a good way to loosen people up, acquaint yourself with strangers, and get some positive vibes in the air. Karaoke Anywhere's purpose is exactly in its name. With the app, you can perform karaoke anywhere you'd like, whether you and your friends are drunkenly stumbling through the streets or waiting in line to get into the next bar. Are you looking for a way to make some new friends, or add a different element to the night? If you're feeling bold and are confident in your singing voice, then Karaoke Anywhere is the perfect choice.
Alcohoot
Breathalyzer apps have become the modern-day party trick. Are they immature? Yes. Are they possibly dangerous because of the drinking competitions they could inspire? Yes, but you're smarter than that, right? There's no need to go overboard with Alcohoot; it's just a useful tool for measuring drunkenness if the need to drive arises at some point in the night. Could you use it as a scorekeeper of sorts? No one is stopping you, but just remember that this isn't the arcade. A high score doesn't always mean that you win.
Liquor Run Mobile
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows; FREE
One of the most frustrating things about entering a new city is not knowing where to go when you need to get the party started. Thankfully, Liquor Run Mobile is here to help you, offering a comprehensive list of liquor and beer stores within your immediate zip code. Now, you don't have to aimlessly walk around looking for the right place to grab your favorite drinks! Let Liquor Run Mobile do all the work for you so that you can get in, get out, and get the night going.
Mixology
Platforms: iOS, Android; $0.99 (iOS), $1.49 (Android)
What's the best drink you can make with some leftover soda, terrible whiskey, and the assorted goods you've collected in your hotel room? I have no idea, but Mixology could definitely help you out. There's no reason to suffer through the endless process of handle pulls and chasing from a plastic two-liter. On top of that, don't just settle for boring, generally awful jungle juice. Get creative with your beverages! It's vacation, which means one thing and thing only: treat yo'self.
