BY SANDRA GUY

College students must take care against COVID’s contagion and variants, but as mask rules ease, the temptation to enjoy a true sun-and-fun Spring break reigns supreme.

So now the question: How do students on tight budgets enjoy a week or so (some colleges and universities give students only three weeks between Winter and Spring terms) taking it easy without blowing their budgets or their health?

It won’t be easy.

Prepare for eye-popping airfares and vacation rental prices.

Domestic airline tickets for the Feb. 15-March 31 period are 20 percent higher than the same time last year, at $292 roundtrip on average, according to booking app Hopper.

A vacation rental in Central Florida costs 22 percent more than the Spring break of a year ago, or $257 on average, says Hostaway, a vacation rental platform.

And on top of that, federal health officials on Feb. 14 warned travelers to avoid more than 135 destinations due to COVID-19.

The warnings are based on COVID-19 transmission rates of more than 500 new cases per 100,000 people over the past 28 days.

What’s safe? 

Think outdoors, new adventures: Horseback riding, anyone? Cactuses (cacti) instead of beach views. That could be Scottsdale, Arizona.

Or how about magnificent mountain views and hiking? You might pick Asheville, North Carolina and a tour of the historic Biltmore Estate, followed by a side trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

More walking and history can capture your imagination in Savannah, Georgia. And if you must see water, try less crowded alternatives such as Flagler Beach, Florida; Munising, Michigan; Petoskey, Michigan, or Bayfield, Wisconsin.

After all, most of the fun is in the exploration.