Lifestyle

A beautiful country with a long and painful history, Uganda has been ravaged by strife and war for years; corrupt government regimes have left it one of the poorest countries in Africa. Now that colonial and civil wars have subsided, travelers can enjoy a relatively peaceful journey, but visitors are cautioned to avoid some northern regions and villages still affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. But overall, the people of Uganda are very friendly to foreigners, and travel is remarkably affordable. ...

If you’re sick of La Jolla sand and sun and looking for a change in scenery, consider Denali National Park in Alaska. Stay at a hostel just outside the park, where fellow explorers are aplenty. Believe me: You’ll appreciate the company while heading off into a wilderness filled with real-life grizzly bears and wolves by the motherload, helping ensure your trip doesn’t end like Christopher McCandless’ journey “Into the Wild.” ...

Once your classical tropical locales get old and you need a break from Hawaii or Mexico, think a little farther south. I’m talking about Jamaica — the tropical paradise where every smiling face is excited to make you a member of the laid-back island family. ...

Think of a magical place. One where you step outside and a mango smoothie is pushed into your hand. Where a whiskey and coke comes $2 by the bucket, and counterfeit designer clothing paves the streets. You, my friend, are entering a tropical slice of college-student paradise called Thailand. ...

After spending this quarter confined in the suffocatingly sterile walls of Geisel Library, spring break on the vomit-lined streets of Las Vegas is exactly what every repressed UCSD student needs to blow off finals like a rock star. ...

It’s the oldest story in the book: You’re a travel-buggin’ college student, with big dreams and an empty wallet. When it comes to convincing your parents that a three-month trip to Europe could double as a fiscally responsible choice, however, it helps if you can spin it as a summer job — which is where the term “au pair” comes into play. ...

La Jolla Shores is an eyeful, but it’s got nothing on the beaches of St. Thomas — a star member of the Virgin Islands, off the eastern edge of Puerto Rico. Think shell-strewn white sand that melts into a bath of warm turquoise water, a hammock tied between two gently swaying palm trees and the occasional wandering iguana. ...

Let’s face it: Your liver can’t tell the difference between spring break and the week following your last midterm. But you can. Which leaves no excuse for spending the former Jagerbombing yourself barfless in Costa Verde. “Flights to Puerto Rico” should already be in your search bar. ...

In recent years, the overbuilt city of Dubai has redefined the idea of opulence. Wealthy beyond belief from its convenient location atop a bubbling pot o’ oil, the average family income in Dubai exceeds $180,000 per year. ...

If you’re searching for an all-inclusive break that won’t involve much thought or travel time, look no further than the port of San Diego. Taking a three- to five-day Carnival Cruise to Mexico will make all dreams of cheap boozing, random hookups and constant grubbing come true. ...