TRAVEL

CO-EDITOR ELISE DIXON

Over Pack or Under Pack?

BBY ELISE DIXON

As you see by the title, is it better to overpack or underpack? Both have their advantages and disadvantages, as with anything in the world. But let’s talk about overpacking first… Overpacking can be great, as you can make sure you have everything you need to hand, even if you don’t particularly use everything when you go away from home or abroad. However, you’ll never let yourself be left short of anything. With extra clothes packed for example, if there are any disasters with bad weather that ruins clothes or falling in mud or any situation similar that requires a clean set of clothes, you’re in luck if you overpack. Though, the downsides to overpacking are when you buy gifts for family, buy clothes of your own and any purchases… it ends up not fitting in the bag or suitcase. Making it a very stressful journey on the way home, attempting to fit all your belongings in a few bags. When we look at underpacking, the disadvantage of overpacking then becomes the benefit of underpacking. When you have less belongings, travelling and carrying around your bag or suitcase is a lot less physically demanding and can make the journey a lot easier and less tiring. It also becomes less belongings to worry about, making your journey more stress free! Underpacking also comes with its disadvantages, such as accidentally not packing enough clothes in case of emergencies, not having many belongings that are likely to be used as well. Though with underpacking, it seems there are more benefits as with making travelling easier as well as being able to have room for your purchases you buy when away from home. As long as you are strategic with what you pack and the necessities, underpacking is probably the better option of the two!

How soon will you travel after the Pandemic?

BY ANONYMOUS

With the world turned upside down, the outside world seems a lot scarier than it did before. Travelling has always come with risks, though never as severe as a deadly global pandemic being a risk of travelling abroad. There are laws surrounding a disease that’s barely been in existence and essentially controls our lives currently. Personally, for me, when I think of travelling abroad I am finding it quite nerve-racking… The fear of the unknown is one fear many people will be able to relate to as life is changing and evolving before our eyes. With the possibility of vaccine passports, needing documents to say we have had the vaccine with questions like how long will this have to be the case? Will this be the new social norm? We get flu jabs and see it as routine and normal, though will we see this happen with covid-19? For me, I am nervous to start travelling again, realistically we’re in a time that its main threats are seen as diseases. With the neglect of healthcare systems all over the world, it was inevitable to have a disease to take the world by storm like it has. There’s a desperate need for countries to cooperate closer together in order to be upfront with new diseases and alerting nations. We have been forced as a world, to evaluate our systems, and there needs to be a change. But that’s just my opinion!