| As promised, here are what I see as some of the | | | | with a more flexible budget, would have traded 1 dollar |
| defining elements of flashpacking. (Please excuse the | | | | for 2 extra hours of exploration. The flashpacker will |
| HUGE generalizations. It's all in fun!) These | | | | also stay at a luxury resort if it's a good value and an |
| generalizations come from my reading experience and | | | | interesting experience-whereas backpackers might |
| about 10 flashpackers I've met in SE Asia so far | | | | eschew this experience as in-authentic. |
| (which is to say I don't know too many, so I'm | | | | 4. Flashpackers have business or career experience. In |
| interested to hear from more of you!). Most | | | | general, this seems true. Two things seem to fall out |
| flashpackers I've come in contact with has been | | | | from this-most flashpackers I've meet are trolling up a |
| through the blogosphere. | | | | million business ideas, foreign lands are an ideal place |
| 1. Flashpackers are NOT a sub-set of backpackers. | | | | to cross fertilize business ideas and create high value |
| Backpackers being defined here as those who travel | | | | outcomes and partnerships. Also, flashpackers tend to |
| on a strict budgets, use backpacks, and prefer | | | | be more skilled negotiators-backpackers will trudge |
| traveling experiences over touring experiences (a | | | | around town all day looking to save a dollar-a |
| distinction that is like the problem of evil discussion in | | | | flashpackers will learn how to save 25% off their hotel |
| philosophy, mix two beers and you could go at it all | | | | by using the right strategy. |
| night long). In my experience, the different attunements | | | | 5. Flashpackers are more experienced. Most |
| to money make the two fundamentally different types | | | | flashpackers are former backpackers who caught the |
| of travelers. Flashpackers will, for example, stay in a | | | | bug, turned it into a science, and managed to create a |
| super budget hotel, but splurge on the famous | | | | lifestyle out of constant traveling. A standard mold for |
| restaurant in town. Therefore the fundamental credo | | | | flashpackers is essentially former backpackers who |
| of the backpacker might be to seek out budget | | | | now have some money. |
| experiences that are "locally authentic" (in the best | | | | 6. Flashpackers carry 50 dollars instead of 50 pounds |
| cases), whereas the credo of the flashpacker would | | | | (of luggage). Two days from now I get on a plane to |
| be to seek out high value experiences that are | | | | fly to Hanoi, where the winter season is starting. My |
| personally interesting. | | | | first order of business will be to get a warm jacket |
| 2. Flashpackers have mobile income or more budget | | | | and hat. |
| then they could expect to spend during their allotted | | | | 7. Flashpackers are concerned about the time value of |
| travel time. This is perhaps the most critical | | | | their money. Because they have more freedom with |
| difference-flashpackers have been defined before as | | | | their budget, flashpackers are more likely to rent cars |
| merely backpackers with money, and the money | | | | or use budget airlines than take more time consuming |
| element is what is generally the driving the key | | | | travel options. |
| differences between flashpackers and their | | | | 8. Flashpackers are often on career breaks. If they |
| backpacking counterparts. | | | | haven't yet managed to have mobile streams of |
| 3. Flashpackers seek out high value experiences and | | | | income through companies, many flashpackers are |
| services. Whereas a tourist might seek high | | | | living off of a good amount of savings and tend to |
| convenience, or highly transparent experience | | | | have at least some small assets. |
| (understandable or pre-arranged) and the backpacker | | | | 9. Flashpackers travel with toys. Laptop, phone, MP3 |
| seeks budget experience-whatever is cheaper. | | | | player, video camera, SLR camera, you name it. |
| Flashpackers seek a high value for their dollars. | | | | Flashpackers are digitized and connected to the world. |
| Yesterday I shared 30 minutes of my morning walk | | | | 10. Flashpackers are FAST and FLEXIBLE-- a more |
| with a backpacker (just off the bus with two huge | | | | often than not, LIGHT. Their flexibility with budget, and |
| bags, must have been over 50 lbs of stuff, this seems | | | | efficiency with digital communications, allows them to |
| to be about the average for backpackers) on the SE | | | | use "GIT" or "get it there" techniques to keep their |
| Asia circuit looking for a hotel room-she must have | | | | packs light and efficient. If the average pack weight for |
| spent an extra 2 hours trying to save 2 dollars (or 1 | | | | a backpacker is 40-50lbs, flashpackers are would |
| pound for her) on accommodation. The flashpacker, | | | | average about 20lbs. |