I came across a new word today – flashpacker! You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the word flashpacker comes from the word backpacker, and refers to someone who used to go backpacking back in their poverty stricken youth, but now goes backpacking with a bit more cash to spare. The flashpacker fell in love with the experience of being on the road with a pack on their back, and doesn’t want to give up this distinctive travel experience. With a more comfortable budget than the traditional backpacker, the flashpacker can afford to splash out on a comfy hotel and good meals when s/he feels the need, though equally s/he can rough it with the best of them in search of an authentic experience.
Being a flashpacker is also decidedly associated with being tech-savvy, and the good flashpacker will naturally travel equipped with mobile phone, laptop, digital camera and iPod. The flashpacker will seek out WiFi internet access wherever s/he can find it, and will no doubt be posting an on-the-road travel blog giving a day-by-day account of her/his experiences. Cool!
The flashpacker is most likely travelling independently, and not part of any organised tour, seeking out the spots off the beaten track that were once the preserve of the hardened long-term backpacker. The flashpacker may well be taking a break from a relatively well-paid career to do a bit of travelling.
Related to the rise of the flashpacker is the concomitant rise of the boutique hostel, such as Mama Shelter in Paris and Miss Sophie’s Hostel in Prague. Where once hostels offered cheap communal dorms with iron beds and the smell of socks, today’s boutique hostel has moved upmarket, offering individual rooms, chic contemporary design and furniture, while still retaining the feel of a friendly communal sort of place where dedicated travellers can come together to share stories and trade tips.
As the first backpacking generation comes of age, new technology adds an extra dimension to travel, and more and more people are wanting to explore the world around them, the flashpacker is no doubt here to stay.
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