Am I a flashpacker?

Who knew there were different forms of backpackers? Armed with an oversized pack, wearing the same unwashed pair of jeans for weeks on end with a Rambo-style ambition to find the cheapest hostel or bargain the lowest price – is that not a backpacker? Not necessarily it would seem.

I had heard of the ‘flashpacking’ phenomenon before but thought the mere taking of my laptop traveling couldn’t possibly mean I was one of them. An ‘affluent’ backpacker. However, over the past few days, I think I’ve overstepped the mark. Crossed the line. Become a…flashpacker.

The girls and I decided we’d head to the Iguazu Falls and of course, a backpacker doesn’t fly (only flashpackers would consider this sort of thing, right?) So we decided to ‘rough it’ on an 18 hour bus ride. Roughing it turned into traveling on the ‘oh it’s just a bit more expensive’ first-class bus in ‘super-cama’ seats (basically seats that extend to 180 degrees – think first-class flying). We even had our own televisions, entrée, main and dessert, wine and…champagne before bed!! I think I could get used to this.

Concerned that I’d lost all backpacking dignity, my legal training led me to check the facts so I headed to the ultra-reliable source that is wikipedia, to see if I had any similarities with these so-called flashpackers. Well I was quite shocked to see just the variety of backpackers that apparently are out there. Not only do you have your regular backpacker, and of course flashpackers, but you also have ‘gap-packers’ and ‘megalopers’! I’m sure there’s more.

While our first-class bus did hit a protest (or ‘road works’ as informed by the bus driver) on the way, which created a 6 hour delay (how very backpacker), we did book the first class option back to BA. And, since then, we’ve also travelled to Uruguay first-class on a ferry (champagne on arrival)! But I put that one down to the economy class tickets being sold out.


I wonder, is it Jules’ high-life yacht sailing influence? Have I let the champagne get to my head? Is it because South America is so damn cheap? Whatever the reason I do plan to quash my recent flashpacking tendencies and return to the realm of the humble backpacker…soon.