We’re well and truly crunched here – fed up with the credit crunch, that is! But no matter how many times the recession is re-hashed in the media, the truth is we are all looking to cut back, especially when it comes to our holidays.

Luckily, with the rise of  the ‘flashpacker’ and fancier kinds of hostel popping up all over the place, you really don’t have to slum it nowadays if you want a low-cost holiday. This week, guest blogger (and experienced Flashpacker) Andrea Di Tonto gives an introduction to backpacking with a little extra ‘flash’.

Nowadays everyone can be a Flashpacker. You don’t need a huge wodge of cash - just a will to travel, a spirit of adventure and the know-how to find good deals…

When I first started traveling, I complained to my fellow travelers that although I was traveling the world on my own and on a limited budget, I didn’t want to spend my nights in overcrowded hostel dorms and my mornings queueing for a spartan shower. So I often ended up booking an en-suite single room, but to remain within budget I would search online for good deals in ’special’ hostels.

To which my traveler friends replied, “You’re a Flashpacker! Look at you, you even bring a laptop with you!” A quick search online for ‘Flashpacking’ revealed how there are a lot of people out there with my same needs, enough to actually create a new travel phenomenon…

There are usually two main definitions of a Flashpacker. The first one is a ‘Backpacker who travels with a lot of high-tech gadgets and toys, like a laptop, digital camera, iPhone, etc.’ The second describes the Flashpacker as ‘a Backpacker with a more disposable income, able to afford better accommodation, meals and transportation.’

These two definitions, however, tend to reduce the concept of Flashpacking to having gadgets, lots of cash, or both….

The good news is that thanks to constant innovation and the power of the internet, prices are getting lower for both gadgets and good accommodation. While before a laptop would be expensive enough to decide not to risk bringing it with you on your trip, the new generation of netbooks are now not only extremely cheap, but also very easy to carry due to their small size and weight.

And hostels are no longer just cheap dormitories. They are constantly adapting to the latest Flashpacking needs, offering not only comfort but, in many cases, pure luxury. Prices are still a lot more affordable compared to the ones offered by hotels. The internet makes it super-easy to find luxurious accommodation at very affordable prices. To get you started, check out the pick of
Flashpacking hostels here.

So, are you ready to Flashpack around the world?

Andrea Di Tonto is a passionate Flashpacker and Blogger. He looks after The Tux in the Backpack, a blog all about Flashpacking!