For those who are wondering who is a flash packer, he/she is someone, unusually in their mid 20s to early 30s, who travels like a backpacker but has more disposal income as well as electronics such as a camera or laptop. Flashpackers also expect better hostels and services.

Neither fully backpacker nor tourist, flashpackers are newly recognized category of travelers. Flashpackers sleep in hostels, use a backpack, and want cheap transportation but are willing to spend their money on meals, beer, tours, and parties. They usually aren't as casual about dress and mannerism as typical backpackers are. With the number of flashpackers increasing every year, many hostels are up scaling to accommodate the increasing wants and desires of flashpackers. Flashpackers still have no fixed journey and the luxury of time but don't pinch every penny.

Backpacking is not about a look, it's a lifestyle. To those who contend that flashpackers aren't real backpackers, i'd say it all comes down to what makes a backpacker a backpacker – spirit or the desire to explore new places and experience new people. Backpacking is about opening your mind to new things and developing a new world perspective. It's not about the stuff you carry.

If you are still not convinced, you might want to dwell on the rising numbers of flashpackers.

Think about your last holiday- how many travelers did you see with cameras? iPods? Laptops? The truth is we all travel with costly electronics now. We check our email and Skype our friends. We all have a camera and most of us have an iPod. All these electronics allows us to stay better connected with our friends, our family, and helps us better record our travels. The key is to once in awhile to put down the camera, turn off the computer, and soak in the local culture.

The backpacker who set off with 1 shirt, a small pack, is getting hard to find. Many of us have a little more money and want a little more but we still carry the backpacker spirit. We still see enjoy traveling to exotic locales and exploring the world. The difference is that now we also want a place to plug in our camera, check our e-mail, and take a hot shower.