Traditional backpacking, where you’d take two spare changes of clothes and barely have contact with the outside world, appears to be dying out.
- FlashpackingWanderingtheWorld (www.LostManProject.com) / Foter / CC BY-NC
Sweeping it aside is the new trend of flashpacking, where those travelling have a considerably larger budget than their more traditional counterparts. This allows them to upscale their travels, as they can enjoy better standards of accommodation, as well as eating out more often and trying out more than a handful of new experiences.
The new way of travelling involves more technology too, as mobile phones, tablets and even computers are starting to make the journey as well. Not only is it possible to take hundreds of photos of the experience, but you can share it with friends and family despite being on the other side of the globe.
People are staying digitally connected and continue to build their networks while away, with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter all the rage.
Gone is the feeling of grubbiness associated with a backpacker holiday, as the days of cold showers and barely-washed hair have long since disappeared. Now it’s all about hair straighteners, hairdryers, lots of shampoo and a bag full of designer clothes, as it’s fair to say backpackers are moving up in the world.
Hostels and hotels are responding to the trend too, with more locations now providing access to the internet and computers. As technology evolves; it is spreading into this once tranquil aspect of travelling, but the key now is to ensure people don’t overlook why they went visiting in the first place.
While technology can enhance your network and improve connectivity between people, experiencing the unique aspects of any location should not be forgotten.
Of course, with all the technology comes another added issue, protecting your belongings should anything go wrong.
Making sure you are covered is therefore vital, with travel insurance providing an ideal solution for those that are scared their beloved items might not make the long trip back home.
There’s still plenty of the world left to experience and embracing flashpacking is set to enhance that to a greater extent than ever before – it just costs more for the privilege!
