What’s a Flashpacker? 10 Traits That Separate Flashpackers From Backpackers

As promised, listed below are what I see as a few of the defining components of flashpacking. (Please excuse the HUGE generalizations. It’s all in enjoyable!) These generalizations come from my studying expertise and about 10 flashpackers I’ve met in SE Asia to date (which is to say I don’t know too many, so I’m to listen to from extra of you!). Most flashpackers I’ve are available in contact with has been by means of the blogosphere.

1. Flashpackers are NOT a sub-set of backpackers. Backpackers being outlined right here as those that journey on a strict budgets, use backpacks, and like touring experiences over touring experiences (a distinction that’s like the issue of evil dialogue in philosophy, combine two beers and you would go at all of it night time lengthy). In my expertise, the totally different attunements to cash make the 2 basically several types of vacationers. Flashpackers will, for instance, keep in an excellent finances resort, however splurge on the well-known restaurant on the town. Subsequently the basic credo of the backpacker may be to hunt out finances experiences which are “domestically genuine” (in one of the best instances), whereas the credo of the flashpacker could be to hunt out excessive worth experiences which are personally fascinating.

2. Flashpackers have cellular revenue or extra finances then they might count on to spend throughout their allotted journey time. That is maybe probably the most vital difference-flashpackers have been outlined earlier than as merely backpackers with cash, and the cash aspect is what is usually the driving the important thing variations between flashpackers and their backpacking counterparts.

3. Flashpackers search out excessive worth experiences and providers. Whereas a vacationer would possibly search excessive comfort, or extremely clear expertise (comprehensible or pre-arranged) and the backpacker seeks finances experience-whatever is cheaper. Flashpackers search a excessive worth for his or her {dollars}. Yesterday I shared half-hour of my morning stroll with a backpacker (simply off the bus with two big luggage, should have been over 50 lbs of stuff, this appears to be concerning the common for backpackers) on the SE Asia circuit in search of a resort room-she should have spent an additional 2 hours making an attempt to avoid wasting 2 {dollars} (or 1 pound for her) on lodging. The flashpacker, with a extra versatile finances, would have traded 1 greenback for two additional hours of exploration. The flashpacker may even keep at a luxurious resort if it’s worth and an fascinating experience-whereas backpackers would possibly eschew this expertise as in-authentic.

4. Flashpackers have enterprise or profession expertise. Generally, this appears true. Two issues appear to fall out from this-most flashpackers I’ve meet are trolling up 1,000,000 enterprise concepts, international lands are an excellent place to cross fertilize enterprise concepts and create excessive worth outcomes and partnerships. Additionally, flashpackers are typically extra expert negotiators-backpackers will trudge round city all day trying to save a dollar-a flashpackers will discover ways to save 25% off their resort through the use of the appropriate technique.

5. Flashpackers are extra skilled. Most flashpackers are former backpackers who caught the bug, turned it right into a science, and managed to create a life-style out of fixed touring. A typical mildew for flashpackers is basically former backpackers who now have some cash.

6. Flashpackers carry 50 {dollars} as a substitute of fifty kilos (of bags). Two days from now I get on a airplane to fly to Hanoi, the place the winter season is beginning. My first order of enterprise will probably be to get a heat jacket and hat.

7. Flashpackers are involved concerning the time worth of their cash. As a result of they’ve extra freedom with their finances, flashpackers usually tend to hire vehicles or use finances airways than take extra time consuming journey choices.

8. Flashpackers are sometimes on profession breaks. In the event that they haven’t but managed to have cellular streams of revenue by means of corporations, many flashpackers live off of quantity of financial savings and have a tendency to have not less than some small property.

9. Flashpackers journey with toys. Laptop computer, cellphone, MP3 participant, video digital camera, SLR digital camera, you title it. Flashpackers are digitized and related to the world.

10. Flashpackers are FAST and FLEXIBLE– a as a rule, LIGHT. Their flexibility with finances, and effectivity with digital communications, permits them to make use of “GIT” or “get it there” strategies to maintain their packs mild and environment friendly. If the common pack weight for a backpacker is 40-50lbs, flashpackers are would common about 20lbs.