4 THINGS THAT DEFINE MY TRAVEL STYLE

A typical question that I always get from people is "what's your travel style?" Usually, I don't like labels, but I've been asked this question more times than I can count (mostly when I'm staying in hostels), that I thought about it and could identify myself as a FLASHPACKER. There are various definitions out there of this term that has been floating around since 2010 - at least that's when I first encountered the term in Nomadic Matt's website.

Urban Dictionary defines "flashpacker" as:

1. A geeky backpacker - youngsters who always carry around a backpack stuffed with 'indispensable' gadgetry: laptop, pda, gps etc.

2. It also refers to a backpacker with better budget - independent travelers with money to spend.

I go with definition #2 as I'm not one of those travelers who have more than 5 gadgets in their luggage at any given time. Add to that, flashpackers are more often than not - more mature and discerning travelers. Mind you, we don't turn their noses at bare-bones accommodations, but we also have the spending power to spend a week at more luxurious accommodations.

Beyond the definition above, here are four common questions that I get when referring to myself as a flashpacker:

1. WHERE I SLEEP

I like staying in hostels because the vibe is more social than hotels; plus, they're way cheaper, especially when traveling for an extended period. I've even converted many non-believer friends to the hostel lifestyle. :)

But since I started traveling solo in 2009, my travel preferences have evolved. I think it also comes with age.

I've had my share of sleeping in 20-bed coed dorm rooms with nasty shared toilets, and on airport benches; but nowadays, I prefer having a private room in a hostel instead... preferably with an ensuite bathroom! Depending on the nature of the travel, I also do love staying in hotels, B&Bs, boutique establishments, and villas (I LOOOVE VILLAS!) - you know, mainstream accommodations that hardcore backpackers might scoff at. :)

Now that I'm older, I like to come home from a long day of sightseeing to a nice, private space. Still, I'm not beyond hostel-living and would jump at the opportunity to stay in cheaper digs. Or take a bus vs. a plane if it's more economical.

​2. HOW I ROLL

Solo, of course! I LOVE traveling solo because travel is my break from everything and everyone familiar. It's liberating being alone in a sea of strangers in a foreign land where no one knows you're name. I find comfort in the unknown. I feel like I am the best version of myself when I'm traveling solo. I dance to my own beat. I feel at peace with myself. Traveling solo is IMHO, one of the best methods for self-discovery.

I'm also not averse to taking group tours, but the rights ones, with people of similar age (not the retirees type of tours, hehe) - especially if it helps me do everything I want in my itinerary and gives value for money, like Contiki - I've been on it three times and loved every moment of it! I usually go with Contiki for 1-2 weeks then continue on with the rest of my itinerary on my own. I also go on city and day tours because they're good strategies for getting to know a new destination on my first day - and meet like-minded travelers, too! It's good to be part of a pack sometimes. :)

When I first started going on my own, I was asked if I felt sad that I was in a beautiful destination on my own. Au contraire! I revel in the experience! And funnily, I never really am truly alone during solo travels because I meet so many amazing strangers-turned-friends on the road.

3. SLOW OR FAST TRAVEL?

Both. A lot of flashpackers have full time jobs, so we try to fit key sights in a destination within the alloted time. Personally, I love taking off on weekends to Bali or some other Asian country that's conviniently located from Singapore. It's not rare for me to spend just 12 hours in a destination, especially if it's a business trip, or if I just want a quick break from Merlion City. Flashpackers take time off as well - beyond the normal yearly vacation leaves - one or two months or years, depending on how much time off we want to take. We understand the value of slow travel, but we revel in fast travel as well - I mean, some destinations merit just a one day trip no?, i.e. Gibraltar or Eze Village, for example.

4. TOURIST OR TRAVELER?

I don't discriminate between the two. If the myriad of posts against tourists out there are to be followed to the letter, then you'd be missing out on all the popular sights! I mean, what's Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower? Or Peru without taking in the views of Machu Picchu? Or Singapore without doing a water-in-mouth selfie with the Merlion? ;)

Of course, traveling would be so much more enriching if you stray to offbeat locations, skip the hop-on / hop-off, and basically get out of your comfort zone. After all, travel is all about experiencing, relishing, and learning from the unfamiliar so you can (hopefully!) emerge wiser, more worldly, and truly call yourself a global citizen. :)

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

#listicles