VACAY OR STAYCAY?

“I hope that less people travel this year due to COVID, but I won’t be surprised if a lot of people’s families take them somewhere.” freshman Brianna Guthrie

By Molly Hotek Design by Abinaya Ganesan

Families frantically shove the last bit of luggage into the car and speed off to the airport, or hit the highway for a long road trip. People flee to warm sunny beaches or take to the mountains for hiking and skiing. This is your typical picturesque spring vacation, and this year will be no different, right?

Think again, because this is the year of the Staycation, otherwise known as the Quarantrip.

Freshman Brianna Guthrie admits that, while her family didn’t normally take big trips, her Spring Break will still be different.

“Although my family doesn’t normally do trips for Spring Break, we’ll definitely be more confined to our house and do a lot less shopping or going to the movie theater,” Guthrie said, “If you don’t travel, you have less of a risk of getting COVID or spreading it.”

Kate Russell, a sophomore who usually travels to Bonita Springs, Florida, explains that some families might seek alternative means of transportation.

“Some people may be staying away from others at their destinations and will be cautious about wearing masks in the airport or where they venture during vacation,” Russell said, “Others might choose to drive instead of fly to avoid contact.”

Despite the ever-looming threat of the pandemic, it is likely that many families will still choose to go somewhere because they want to get away.

“The drawbacks of not traveling are missing the feeling of being somewhere, or feeling bored with only being in your house,” Guthrie said.

Russell said that traveling can provide a much needed break from everyday life.

“If you don’t travel, then you may never be relieved from stressors at home and if you do travel you become more susceptible to exposure to the virus,” Russell said.

While she hoped people would reconsider traveling, Guthrie said that there were still precautions they could take if they chose to take a vacation.

“Though the vaccine isn’t available to everyone, people can definitely still take precautions if they do travel. They can wear masks, socially distance, and stay quarantined after traveling,” Guthrie said.

Russell agrees and offers a different outlook.

“Traveling can help build up your immune system and vacationing can reduce stress. However if you don’t travel you don’t risk catching the virus,” Russell said.

But perhaps a safer alternative is to just stay home. It might not seem like it, but there are plenty of things to do locally in lieu of hopping on a plane.

“You can spend time with your family! A lot of people travel to spend time with family, but you can spend time with the people in your house without going anywhere,” Guthrie said.

Despite this year’s differences, a common theme is the hope that things will be better next year.

“I hope that, by next year, the COVID vaccine will be more easily accessible, and people will be able to travel more safely!” Guthrie said.

Russell expresses similar sentiments.

“I hope that we don’t have to worry about if we should or shouldn’t travel because of the ongoing pandemic,” Russell said, “I think that it is important to begin to return to a form of normal. It is a family’s decision if they want to risk traveling or not.”