Most people have heard of backpacking: slinging an oversized bag across your shoulders, filled with seemingly all the clothes they own, a bunch of extraneous gear, and who the hell knows what else. Backpackers skew younger, they’re generally extremely price-sensitive, and so they exchange saving money for their time - sometimes traveling for months on end. And there’s nothing wrong with that kind of travel! I’ve done it myself.

But flashpacking is a twist on that style of travel: it’s for people for whom time is valuable, and they’re willing to pay a bit more to speed things up. They’re a little bit older. They’re not traveling for as long. They’re bringing their laptops so they can stay connected. Maybe they stay at hostels, but probably only if there’s a private room available - they value their sleep. They’ve still got a rough budget, but they’re price-conscious, not price-sensitive.

Ultimately, they’re traveling to experience as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and they’ll pay a little extra if it’s worth it or if that’s just what it takes. They want to see unique sights, eat authentic food, and at least feel like they did some cool local things that were a little off the usual tourist beaten path.

This guide is for them.