We know that 2020 hasn’t gone to plan, as COVID-19 took hold and shattered pretty much all of our travel plans. Yes, lockdown hit hard, flights were cancelled, and planes were grounded for the foreseeable – and for the most part, we’re still in the dark about how long it will all last.

That said, while the light at the end of the tunnel may be small, there is still a light, and we know that the pandemic will, at some point, come to an end. It’s for this exact reason that we encourage you to not give up hope! Dreaming of your next trip is not a crime, neither is starting to make initial plans for it.

With this in mind, here are some of our thoughts on why it’s ok to start thinking of your next trip, even if you can’t yet pin a date on it.

Use Lockdown for Research

Even though you can’t book flights and start getting excited about going to the airport, what you can do, is research. Initial planning and research from the comfort of your living room. Why not make the most of lockdown and use your time being productive? Not only is this a great use of time, it’s good for your state of mind, as you are giving yourself a little inspiration and thinking positively about life after lockdown.

Get online and research some of your favourite countries, discover new places, get onto some travel forums and chat to people who are also thinking along the same lines. Overall this is a very positive move, and think of how well educated and well-equipped you will be when you are finally able to jet away!

Get your equipment sorted

Another good thing about having more time on your hands is being able to take your time buying the stuff you need. We’re in the age of online shopping, so being stuck at home doesn’t restrict you from at least looking around for the gear you need. Bookmark those pages and build yourself a checklist for your travels, from the obvious things such as suitcases or backpacks to the things you might not think of straight away.

One of the main ones, surprisingly, is custom cut foam which you can use to keep your valuables safe when you travel. Musicians carrying musical instruments use foam to keep their prize possessions in pristine condition, despite all the travelling, but this is just one example. Perhaps you’ll buy something while you’re away, a gift which is fragile or valuable? Packing with foam is the ultimate safety item.

It may seem like it’s too early to get organised with travel equipment, but it could actually be the best time ever!

Stay positive!

Perhaps a term you’ve heard over and over again during the crisis, but for good reason. Keeping a positive mental attitude towards travelling is important at the moment. If you tend to travel with friends, remember to keep their spirits up too, reminding them that they will travel once again. The points mentioned above are just as important as ever, if only for the purpose of keeping you in the right mindset while we get through the rest of the pandemic.

Until then, stay safe.

Your hairstyle is your crowning glory on your wedding day, and above all else, it needs to compliment your dress. The style of dress you’ve chosen should be used as a guideline to what type of hairstyle you want to go with on the big day. Consider the neckline, the sleeve length and the length of the dress and whether it would make more sense for your hair to be in an up-do or flowing free. To help get you set on the right path, we’ve taken the most popular dress styles from JJsHouse and explored the best hairstyles for brides with long hair to go with them.

A-Line, Trumpet and Mermaid Styles

These simple styles look best with slicked-back hair or hair worn in a sleek blow-out. Since A-line, trumpet and mermaid dresses all come with various types of necklines and sleeve lengths, pay close attention to the style of dress you’ve chosen and consider whether your hair would look best up or down.

If there’s intricate detailing on the chest or neckline of the dress, wear your hair in a slicked-back up-do to show off those beautiful aspects. Dresses with sleeves also look best with hair pulled back to keep the overall look from getting too busy. Sleeveless or off-the-shoulder dresses look beautiful with hair worn down in a sleek blow-out.

Luxury Dresses and Ball-Gowns

Luxury dresses and ball-gowns always look best with hair in a dramatic up-do to match the drama of the dress. Fortunately, if you’re a bride with long hair, there are hundreds of dramatic up-dos out there that you can choose to go with your gown. Consider what makes you most comfortable as well as the shape of your face and your personality.

Go with a classic chignon or a French twist and bun combo. Create an element of Old Hollywood glamour with a low bun and finger waves in front. Get a more ethereal look with a fishtail that mimics the look of a crown or tiara. Other styles include a high braided bun or a modern updo with embellishments like sparkles or pearls sprinkled throughout.

Colorful Dresses

If you’re opting for a colorful dress, you probably have an outgoing, unconventional personality. A colorful dress combined with a unique style offers a great opportunity to use a matching headpiece or colorful flowers in your hair to compliment the dress. Consider your hair type and find an effective way to attach the headpiece so you don’t have to fumble with it halfway through the ceremony. For thinner hair, use fine-tooth combs. For wavy or curly hair, use barrettes, bobby pins or combs.

No matter what hairstyle you choose, one of the most important things is to make sure that it shines. There are many tricks you can use to help create some super shine for your hair, such as applying a moisturizing conditioner before you start to style it and then using a shine serum once it’s complete to add a nice layer of gloss. With a shiny ‘do styled using the tips above, your wedding look will be absolutely perfect on your special day.

As regular readers know, we are a couple who loves to travel together. But we wanted to do this article to reach out a little bit and include people among our readership who have been asking about an article on travelling alone.

Some people may feel some trepidation about the whole thing, and be reluctant to go abroad as a single traveller, but really it’s a very viable option. Let’s analyze this a bit more deeply.

Types of Solo Travelling:

The Solo Tourist- You just bounce around the planet at will taking it all in, perhaps without even an itinerary. This experience can vary greatly depending on your budget levels.

The Working Traveller-  This is when you are obliged to go somewhere for work-related reasons, but you take advantage of such and take in as much as you can of the local culture, flora and fauna.

The Visitor- The solo traveller who hangs out with friends wherever he or she goes, visiting them in series. This is a great way to connect with people who otherwise would just stay at the margins of your existence. Of course, it’s not as flexible as the first option, so there’s your tradeoff.

The Singles Event Traveller- This person travels to singles’ events abroad, whether it be quick getaways, extended cruises or stays at resorts, etc. This traveller is usually hoping to meet a potential SO on these voyages.

Pros And Cons of Travelling Solo:

Pros:

-You get to keep your own schedule, or even avoid having one entirely. This is ideal for people who are either very early risers or very late risers.

-You don’t have to take into account anybody else’s tastes or prefereneces but your own.

-You get a mental reset by being away from everybody with whom you normally interact.

-You are much more likely to make friends abroad when travelling alone.

Cons:

–The loneliness can set in, and it is very real. Try to limit the length of your solo trips, or go for options like singles’ events or visiting friends to mitigate this. Be realistic; you may be surprised how much greater your need for company and non-superficial relationships is than you may have previously thought.

-Sometimes your fellow travellers will have the best ideas that you may never would have thought of by yourself.

-Some things, let’s face it, are best done in good company. For example, a great meal at an amazing restaurant is just that much better when shared with one or more people whom you esteem greatly.