As promised, listed here are what I see as a number of the defining parts of flashpacking. (Please excuse the HUGE generalizations. It is all in enjoyable!) These generalizations come from my studying expertise and about 10 flashpackers I’ve met in SE Asia up to now (which is to say I do not know too many, so I am to listen to from extra of you!). Most flashpackers I’ve are available contact with has been by way 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 possibly can go at all of it night time lengthy). In my expertise, the completely different attunements to cash make the 2 essentially various kinds of vacationers. Flashpackers will, for instance, keep in a brilliant finances resort, however splurge on the well-known restaurant on the town. Subsequently the elemental credo of the backpacker is likely to be to hunt out finances experiences which might be “domestically genuine” (in one of the best instances), whereas the credo of the flashpacker could be to hunt out excessive worth experiences which might be personally attention-grabbing.
2. Flashpackers have cell earnings or extra finances then they may anticipate to spend throughout their allotted journey time. That is maybe probably the most essential difference-flashpackers have been outlined earlier than as merely backpackers with cash, and the cash ingredient is what is usually the driving the important thing variations between flashpackers and their backpacking counterparts.
3. Flashpackers hunt down excessive worth experiences and companies. 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 baggage, should have been over 50 lbs of stuff, this appears to be concerning the common for backpackers) on the SE Asia circuit searching for a resort room-she should have spent an additional 2 hours making an attempt to save lots of 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 also keep at a luxurious resort if it is a good worth and an attention-grabbing experience-whereas backpackers would possibly eschew this expertise as in-authentic.
4. Flashpackers have enterprise or profession expertise. Normally, this appears true. Two issues appear to fall out from this-most flashpackers I’ve meet are trolling up one million enterprise concepts, overseas lands are a great place to cross fertilize enterprise concepts and create excessive worth outcomes and partnerships. Additionally, flashpackers are usually extra expert negotiators-backpackers will trudge round city all day seeking to save a dollar-a flashpackers will learn to save 25% off their resort through the use of the proper 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 way of life out of fixed touring. A typical mildew for flashpackers is basically former backpackers who now have some cash.
6. Flashpackers carry 50 {dollars} as an alternative of fifty kilos (of baggage). 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 likely 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 have not but managed to have cell streams of earnings by way of firms, many flashpackers live off of a very good quantity of financial savings and have a tendency to have at the least some small belongings.
9. Flashpackers journey with toys. Laptop computer, telephone, MP3 participant, video digital camera, SLR digital camera, you title it. Flashpackers are digitized and linked to the world.
10. Flashpackers are FAST and FLEXIBLE– a most of the time, 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 gentle and environment friendly. If the common pack weight for a backpacker is 40-50lbs, flashpackers are would common about 20lbs.