The Tux in the Backpack

Whether you class ‘flashpackers’ as tech-savvy backpackers, high-flyers on a career break, or independent travelers wishing to see the world in style, they have all led to the same thing – the unstoppable rise of the ‘boutique hostel’, where private rooms, stylish interiors and cool bars come as standard.

These hostels are the last word in cutting-edge chic, springing up in the hippest cities and along the well-trodden backpacker trail. Sleep in style with this selection of hostels for flashpackers that boast top-rated guest reviews alongside the designer furniture.

Stay Hostel, Los Angeles, USA

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Popularity: 58% [?]

Gadgets and accessories are indeed vital for a Flashpacker. It’s not surprising then to see many articles on the web about what are the must-have Flashpacking accessories.

Flashpacking though is not simply travelling with a huge amount of tech gadgets. I believe a Flashpacker is defined by the travelling style; even if accessories are a big help, the ideal Flashpacker is not the one with the most gadgets in the backpack. At the contrary, Flashpacking is also travelling in a comfortable (read: light) way.

The gadgets you need depends mainly on what is your “basic package” of accessories following you on your travels. For example if you have a big laptop with lot of memory you don’t necessarily need an external hard drive, or if you have an iPod you don’t necessarily need an iPhone too.

Here’s a list of gadgets that, depending on what you bring with you, you might not necessarily need.

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Popularity: 41% [?]

A while ago TimesOnline published a list of Europe Top 10 Boutique Hostels. The list is based on ratings on HostelBookers.com.

Few ratings may have changed meanwhile, but here’s the list as of last June:

Lisbon Lounge, Lisbon

Red Nest Hostel, Valencia

Miss Sophie’s Hostel, Prague

Mandragora Hostel, Budapest

Mleczarnia Hostel, Wroclaw

Greg Tom Hostel, Krakow

La Controra Flashpackers Hostel, Naples

Langholmen Hostel, Stockholm

St Christopher’s, Berlin

Centric Point Hostel, Barcelona

Mleczarnia Hostel, Wroclaw

The first thing to notice is that more and more hostels are catering for flashapackers. The one in Naples has the word “Flashpackers” even in the name. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 31% [?]

As many new visitors are familiarising themselves with the concept of Flashpacking, and as the buzz keeps growing on the internet with more and more websites, stories and blogs, I’d like to provide a little list of the best Flashpackers blogs out there.

These are not blogs about Flashpacking, like the Tux In Backpack here, but rather the Flashpackers’ tales from around the world. They’ll save you time from searching online and separate the fresh and relevant stories from the wannabe Flashpackers, and most importantly they will give up a good idea of what it is like to be a Flashpacker around the world.

Here are then (in no particular order) 7 Great Flashpackers Blogs out there. Enjoy!

TheFlashpacker.com

Entertaining tales from various destinations, combined with excellent tips. Bennet The Flashpacker will observe what happens around him, investigate and study more about it, and finally share the learnings with the audience in excellent posts. The very last one about bedbugs is an example. Memorable the post on creating your own flash environment despite all kind of conditions around you, Luxe among the cockroaches, also reviewed here under Extreme Flashpacking Tips. Truly Flashpacking at its best: not simply money or gadgets, but style!

FlashpackingLife

If the Flashpacking phenomenon is getting so popular is also thanks to this excellent blog. Curtis was recently interviewed by CanadianPress, and the result was a huge attention to his travels and to the Flashpacking phenomenon. From that interview and original article sprung dozens of press articles, from Canadian press mainly. Curtis is also thinking of writing a book about Flashpacking. A true Flashpacking ambassador.

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Popularity: 16% [?]

Internet has indeed replaced travel guidebooks. While before you had to carry with you as many guidebooks as the number of countries you were planning to visit, now you can replace that weight with quality books, and access more up to date and more varied travel info with a laptop or just finding an internet cafe.

Here are the top 10 Online resources currently available to Flashpackers.

1. Wikitravel
Wikipedia little sister specialised in Travel info.
If I had to decide in two minutes whether to go to a certain location or not, and could use only one website, I would just go to Wikitravel. Compiled by fellow travellers it might not have exhaustive info if you’re searching for a tiny location, but still you can find enough info on many off the beaten path destinations. The focus is definitely on how it is to travel to a certain place, and it’s easy to get the info you need as every article uses the same topics (Understand, Get in, Get Around, Do, See, Buy, Eat, Drink, Sleep, Stay Safe, etc). Being a wiki you can replace some info yourself, in case in the meanwhile that nice restaurant has shut down.

2. Tripadvisor
Reviews and info about hotels AND hostels. From big chains to boutique ones, to small family run ones if you want to be a Fair Flashpacker and support local communities. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 16% [?]