What is Flashpacking?

Flashpacking is a new phenomenon in the budget travel sector. Born of those hostel-going backpackers that lived on peanuts on their early journeys and have now become successful, the movement is a mix of technology and frugality. The typical flashpacker is in their mid-to-late 20s or early 30s, and is a young professional worker. They often have a passion for travel having been many places while younger, but now would like more amenities to go with their newfound success.  

To address this new travel niche, new hostels and services have sprung up which offer an experience more refined than a budget hostel but cheaper than chain hotels. Boutique hostels with decorated rooms, local artwork, and amenities that include free wifi, private rooms, and private bathrooms. Pricing grades for flashpackers are usually above that of true budget hostels, but they want to spend their money on experiences rather than overpriced hotel rooms that are only used for resting besides. This new breed of hostel focuses on raising the accommodations beyond a bed and bed sheets, but retains the frugal ways that flashpackers crave.  

Another very important aspect of flashpackers is that their are close to the best money can buy. Bootstrapping trips in the past has led to an appreciation for well-made clothes and equipment, and flashpackers are at a point in their careers where they can afford to spend on the best choices in gear. Some of the gear that might show up in a flashpacker’s backpack

• The iPod Touch is an excellent .mp3 player as well as being a fully-functional PDA, and being able to surf the Internet from anywhere on Earth equipped with wifi is a coup for the flashpacker.
• A Macbook or netbook will always be within reach for a flashpacker. Compact, powerful, and portable, these laptop computers allow the traveler to stay in touch with family and friends as well as work if need be, while not weighing down their pack.
• A Canon EOS 40D or similar Nikon model; SLR cameras that are too expensive for younger travelers to afford. Flashpackers will take the time needed and the money needed to take amazing pictures.
• An unlocked, quad-band cell phone. These cell phones allow flashpackers to plug in a working SIM card almost anywhere in the world, guaranteeing phone service wherever they are.

These savvy travelers are poised to grow exponentially in number, as people look for the best value in their travel money during the economic downturn. They are willing to spend money on their trips, but they use their due diligence before committing to anything. No one is quite sure where the term “flashpacker” came from, but literally it means to backpack with “flash,” or style. Flashpackers can also be used to describe those career folks that want to escape back to their backpacking roots. And while people cannot seem to agree on exactly what the term means or where exactly it came from, it is here to stay.