Spring Breakers are coming to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, one of the nation’s hot spots for the annual spring ritual that sees college students head for bikini-weather coasts in search of paradise.
And Fort Lauderdale will be ready for them, city officials said Wednesday.
Unlike Miami Beach, where local leaders have made it clear for the second year in a row that they are “breaking up” with Spring Break, Fort Lauderdale is embracing the Spring Break crowds.
“We open our doors to everybody,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said Wednesday. “We welcome all tourists.”
The mayor told the South Florida Sun Sentinel he doesn’t see Fort Lauderdale ever ghosting Spring Break.
“We did that once — in the ’80s,” he said. “We changed the dynamic. It’s no longer a free-for-all. Kids were spending $100 a week to stay in a hotel. They’d bunch up four or five people in a room. Now we have a much more upscale presence here on Fort Lauderdale beach. We see a different type of person coming here for Spring Break.”
With Miami Beach giving Spring Break the cold shoulder, some are wondering whether more partiers will head to Fort Lauderdale.
The mayor doesn’t think so.
“The typical person who goes to Miami Beach doesn’t always come here,” he said. “I don’t know if we have the same cool factor. When they shut down Spring Break last year, a lot of those people headed to Wynwood, not Fort Lauderdale. We draw a different crowd.”
Trantalis led a news conference Wednesday at Las Olas Oceanside Park near the corner at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A, with sand, sea and towering palm trees in the background.
“This year we welcome our Spring Breakers,” Trantalis said. “We had a very successful year last year. This is a great time in which Fort Lauderdale shines. It’s a safe place for kids from all over to get away from 20-degree weather. Of course, there are some rules that we need to follow here.”
The mayor quickly listed the rules.
— Fort Lauderdale prohibits camping and sleeping overnight on the beach.
— You can’t drink alcohol on the sand unless you’re a guest at a hotel with a permit to serve patrons on the beach.
— The city doesn’t allow tents, tables or coolers on the sand.
— Scooters are also prohibited, along with live and amplified music.
Police Chief Bill Schultz shared tips on how Spring Breakers can stay safe during their visit.
“While you’re in town, make sure to save the address or the name of the hotel where you’re staying so that you have that in your phone at all times, should you get separated from the group you’re with,” he said.
If you’re taking an Uber, make sure to share your trip with your family or friends so they can track the trip in real time. Share the driver’s name, photo, car make and model, license plate and location. Riders should always confirm that information before getting into the car.
Spring Breakers should also keep an eye on their drink, the chief said.
“Never leave it unattended,” he said. “Don’t accept any drinks from strangers. Be aware of your surroundings. If you don’t feel comfortable, leave the situation. Keep your cellphone charged and keep it with you at all times.”
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s Bar Watch program is there to help if you feel like you need it, the chief said.
“That’s a network of people, including bar staff and our officers, who know how to identify and quickly address any potentially troubling situations,” Schultz said. “Always remember to travel with a group of friends. Don’t be isolated. And make sure you leave together at the end of an evening. Trust your instincts. If a situation does not feel safe it likely may not be.”
Be aware of pickpockets when you’re in a crowd, the chief said.
“Keep your purse and your wallet close,” he said. “Never leave anything unattended lying on a bar. Keep the pockets of your purses zipped. And keep the strap short so it’s always close to your body. Keep everything you can in your front pockets. When you go out, only take the bare minimum of cash and credit cards.”
If you see anything suspicious, tell a cop.
“We will be out in force,” the chief said. “You will see us everywhere.”
Schultz declined to say exactly how many officers will be out on patrol during Spring Break, but he did share that it will be three times the number of officers you normally see.
“We will have a marked police enforcement presence throughout Spring Break,” Schultz said. “You’ll see that on the beach and also downtown in our entertainment district.”
Fire Chief Steve Gollan also shared advice on how to stay alive and well.
Some Spring Breakers might not be used to the heat, he noted.
“Please stay hydrated,” he said. “Please know that in this type of heat, the alcohol consumption can get to individuals relatively quickly and is a recipe for disaster.”
Spring Breakers who take a charter boat out to a sandbar should listen to the boat captain to avoid a diving accident, Gollan said.
Never dive in shallow water. Always enter the water using your feet first.
Never swim alone. Don’t swim intoxicated. And if you head out for a paddle, make sure to wear a life jacket.
Even if you’re a strong swimmer, rip currents or other circumstances beyond your control can occur.
If you do get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until free from the current, then swim diagonally toward shore.
Digging holes deeper than 12 inches is prohibited. Sand can easily collapse and lead to injury.
Stay hydrated and take breaks from the sun and heat.
If you feel the symptoms of heat stroke — fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea and cramps — head to a lifeguard tower for medical attention.
“Fort Lauderdale is known for its beautiful beaches and hotels and all that we have to offer, but we want everyone to go home back to their school, back to their city, back to their parents,” Gollan said. “Follow the safety rules we have in place so you can return home safely.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan