Are planning a trip to Key West, Florida for your college break? This guide will show you how to enjoy spring break in Key West by highlighting important FL vacation tips, and some of the most important things to keep in mind when planning your Key West Spring Break vacation. It also provides information and resources for finding the best Key West hotels, condos, cottages and vacation rentals. It will also help guide you to hot spots, bars, nightclubs, parties, bikini contests and other exciting things to do during your trip. Key West, Florida is one of the most popular Spring Break destinations in the country. You can enjoy an exotic Key West vacation without leaving the country. During the time period of late February, 2010 through the first week of April, 2010, college students converge in Key West, FL to enjoy their time off from school. The city covers a small geographical area, but there is so much that you can do while you are there.

One of the first and most important things to do to ensure an enjoyable vacation is to plan ahead, plan early and avoid last minute reservation booking. The best accommodations will fill up quickly. If you reserve your room choices early, you will have a much better chance of not only getting the best pricing, but also getting all of your group in the same hotel, boarding house or cottage.

1. Review Key West Maps

• Key West is an island at the very southern end of the Florida Keys. It is connected to a string of islands from Key Largo all the way down to the end. The island is spread out, filled with keys, inlets, and rivers. Popular Key west hotels, vacation rentals, boarding houses, villas and cottages are spread across this popular exotic vacation destination, however the best spring break hotels can be found near the Southernmost Point where long beaches and the boulevard exist. Notably, the Sheraton Suites Key West is slightly out of the city.

2. Find out where everyone is staying

• Planning early and communicating with your friends and school groups is the best way to ensure that you book the "right" hotel to enjoy your spring break vacation. Staying in the same hotel or at least within a close distance to your friends is an important consideration for an enjoyable vacation.

3. Review Hotel amenities and book your Key West Hotel early

• Many hotels look nice in pictures and are well situated on a map. However, this doesn't always mean that these hotels have the best amenities. Some Key West hotels offer amenities such as all you can drink nights or are completely all-inclusive meaning that liquor is included with the base, upfront price of lodging and food. You want to consider booking through a tour operator in order to package everything together. Check out the hotel reviews on some of the travel websites.

1. Key West Transportation: Figure out the best way to get around Key West

• As with many U.S. locations, it's often easy to find a taxi cab in front of a hotel or club. However, when you fly into Key West, you'll likely see a large rack of brochures. Grab the phone number of a cab company from this rack so that if you're ever stranded, you'll be able to call for a pickup. Many Key West hotels sponsor shuttle busses that will currier you from hotel to hotel or club to club. Check with the front desk of your hotel for specific pickup information.

2. Key West Clubs and Nightlife: Find the best Key West clubs, bars and beaches

• 10best.com regularly maintains a current list of the best Key West nightlife spots. The highest rated Key West clubs include: Captain Tony's Saloon, Green Parrot Bar, Bull and Whistle Complex, Slopy Joes, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Cafe, Durty Harry's and Hog's Breath Saloon.http://www.10best.com/Key_West,FL/Nightlife/

3. Malls and Key West Shopping: Where to find deals shopping in Key West

• There are a number of open air shopping areas and traditional closed malls in and around Key West. Many hotels offer free shuttles that go from hotel-to-hotel picking up guests for free shopping tours. This is often the easiest and cheapest way to enjoy shopping in Keywest.

1. Review Key West weather patterns

• March and April are among the best months to visit Key West. Key West weather in March ranges from the upper 70's to the mid 80's with less than 2 inches of rain.http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/KeyWestandFloridaKeysFL/articles/KeyWestWeatherInformation.cfm Check the extended weather forecast just before leaving on your trip. Pack a couple of swimsuits for a quick change during the day, a couple of casual outfits for night time parties. Here, most everyone is very casual, so shorts, shirt and flip flops are the norm.

2. Make Backup Copies

• It is important to make copies of all of your important papers before going on your trip. Make sure you copy your reservation confirmation numbers and your credit cards.

3. Consider Using a Phone Card

• Many hotels may charge a high rate for long distance phone calls, whereas, phone cards typically use local access numbers which can save you money. Check with with your cell phone company, but cell phone roaming fees can be costly.

4. Be Careful

• It is an issue that should not have to be said, but invariably, we have all heard news stories about college students on break jumping off balconies, off roofs and other not so smart moves.

5. Be Save

• This area of the Florida Keys is generally safe, but just to make sure, never venture out alone. Always go the beach, parties or to the bars with a friend or a group of people.