Lia Mele was lying on the beach tanning when she heard a deep voice from behind her saying, “Hey baby, you’re lookin’ sizzling.” Mele took one glance at the man and rolled back over.

For Mele, Miami sophomore, failed pick-up attempts like this are nothing unusual. She says that Miami is the flirt capital of the world and every day is like spring break. “Someone is always yelling at you to pull your car over. Once a guy even asked me to try on some shorts for him,” Mele says.

Flirting is only natural, and without it life would be a bore. But mix flirting with a beach, alcohol, whip cream and Usher’s “Yeah” and you get spring break. David Weiss, Olathe senior, says that spring break is the easiest time to flirt because of the warm weather and the multitude of bikinis. Being with friends also helps, he says, because they can help convince a girl to hang out.

Spring break is the one time of year when inhibitions are left behind. But before you take the plunge and board a plane to Mexico, understand the difference between flirting and seducing.

Innocent fun

Flirting has been around since the beginning of time, says Susan Rabin, co-author of How to Attract Anyone, Anytime, Anyplace: The Smart Guide to Flirting. It can be dated back to Shakespearean times when women used to drop their handkerchiefs to gain the attention of men.

Since then, the art of flirting has changed. Despite what many may think, flirting is not about getting someone to jump in the sack — that’s called seduction. “Flirting should be natural, and it’s best when it happens unexpectedly,” Rabin says. “It has nothing to do with sex.”

When Hillary Stroda, Chapman senior, went to Acapulco last year, she didn’t intend to meet someone or have a spring break fling. Intoxicated guys wanted to hook up but she passed on their offers, she says. When she spotted a group of older men who were not trying to seduce her, she was relieved.

“It was refreshing. They weren’t trying to grope us or take us home,” Stroda says. She began talking to one of the guys but never expected anything to come of the conversation — he was from California and Stroda from Kansas. She says they continued to run into each other on the trip and now, a year later, they are dating.

Having good conversational skills and a warm smile are the best ways to flirt, Rabin says. Both qualities are subtle, not too aggressive and can lead to long-term relationships.

The fine art of seduction

But before heading off to your spring break destination, think about the motive behind your smile: Are you trying to seduce or to flirt?

If you plan on going with a motive to seduce, you should think of the consequences. There are conditions to be aware of before you make your move, says Omri Gillath, assistant professor of psychology. First, know your personality: Are you very liberal? Do you have a lot of sexual experience? Second, evaluate the environment you’re in. If you have a lot of sexual experience and are on spring break, you might come on too strong and wake up next to someone you don’t know, he says. “If you shouldn’t drink and drive, then maybe you shouldn’t drink and flirt,” Gillath says.

Before putting your game face on, think about the message you want to send. A simple smile can go a long way, but if you want to take someone to bed with you there’s no need to flirt, Rabin says. “All you need to do is lean over in your bikini.”