In this day and age, it's no surprise that everyone around you has travelled far and wide. From countries, to regions, across the oceans, covering continents. Thanks to technology we're able to explore the world within a few clicks. IMHO, it pretty much seems like technology has made traveling a luxury hobby (your friends on Facebook are posting photos of their jump-in-the-air poses from Pisa to the Grand Canyon, so are mine..). We all know how desirable being in queue to the Eiffel can be (Instagram checked). The longest flight journey you took was to Hong Kong from Singapore. As much as you'd like that 4-star hotel stay that you had in Bangkok, the accommodation you can possibly afford with benefits of a strong home currency, it's not entirely a similar experience if you decide to tour Europe. You're considering backpacking from Italy to Prague, London to Amsterdam, but it's the uncertainty of the level of comfort that tops your anxiety list. So, why not get the budget and comfort you wish for and go flashpacking!
Photography is just one of the activities that flashpackers do. Fancy cameras or smartphones are a must-have! Make sure these memories get onto your Instagram and Facebook feed.
Woo! So, what is flashpacking? It is 2013. No one really does backpacking like it was during our parents' era. Drop the backpacks, pick up the iPad, travel like a pro. Look around the internet for the best airfare deals, helpful information from travel bloggers, and you're good to go. It sounds as easy as it rhymes. Flashpacking takes a lot of effort to make sure you're maximising your budget, planning your financial expenses well, and being sure that you'll enjoy every bit of the travel experience. It is more upscale than backpacking. But it certainly isn't as fancy as luxury travel with no limits on the credit cards. Flashpacking doesn't mean you have to CouchSurf or share a hostel room with 3 other strangers. In fact, enjoy all that privacy when you share a 2-star hotel room with a friend. If you do your homework well, you'll find yourself making reservations on Booking.com or even Agoda.com. What is so good about these sites? You can make your bookings instantly and make changes to your reservations at anytime before the stipulated date! It's amazing how these become so part and parcel prior to booking my flights and planning itineraries. I can adjust my itinerary at anytime and allow myself to make last minute changes which (most of the time) do not interfere with the activities planned.
Consider myself a flashpacker, working within my tight budgets, travelling through countries with a large suitcase, enjoying good breakfasts at every Italian motel or B&B. With all that expenses tightened to the minimal, it's savings for splurges! Sale on leather goods, macarons at Pierre Hermes, souvenirs and picnics. I'm a proud lady whose Europe travel expenses (excluding shopping) totaled to about S$4,200 (US$3,360) for 3 weeks through France & Italy. Yes, I eat.
I know you're wondering, these photos were taken in Amalfi Coast, Italy. Gotta love a good little town with gelatos, limoncellos, and sweet local Italians.
Need a tip? Just drop us with an email or a comment and we'd love to help! If the above was what you had already known, way to go!
Happy planning!
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