| Backpacking is a term used to denote a form | | | | |
| of low-cost independent international travel, | | | | Hostels and other budget accommodations in |
| differentiating it from other forms of | | | | the 'developed' world tend to be communal to |
| tourism notably by the following typical | | | | some degree, and thus backpacker culture is |
| attributes: minimal budget use, longer | | | | often highly social and emphasizes the |
| duration traveling, use of public transport | | | | camaraderie of communal life, such as the |
| and multipliable destinations/countries. The | | | | shared kitchens common in many hostels. When |
| origin of the name comes from the backpacks | | | | backpackers stay in one place for a while, |
| that budget travelers generally carry in the | | | | they often seek a house-share with numerous |
| interests of mobility and flexibility. | | | | other backpackers and are likely to share a |
| | | | room to keep the costs down. In the |
| Many commentators see backpacking as | | | | 'developing' world accommodation is normally |
| descriptive, not only of low-cost travel, but | | | | found in cheap hotels, pensions or |
| of the culture and philosophy often | | | | guesthouses. |
| associated with it, especially anti or | | | | |
| trans-nationalism as well as a | | | | The common language of backpackers is |
| romanticization of wanderlust and a desire | | | | overwhelmingly English in varying levels of |
| for "authentic" contact with local culture. | | | | fluency while German is arguably the second |
| | | | most common language encountered due to the |
| The term backpacking is said to have | | | | large presence of backpackers from Germany or |
| originated in the early 1970s with the advent | | | | Switzerland. (However, German-speakers will |
| of low-cost jet airplane fares. During this | | | | usually only speak German informally amongst |
| era it became common for young Westerners, to | | | | one another, and will otherwise speak English |
| follow the hippie trail into India and | | | | in most other situations). Britons, |
| Southeast Asia. This period also gave birth | | | | Australians, Canadians and Germans typically |
| to the first budget guidebooks (see Tony and | | | | form among the most common backpacker |
| Maureen Wheeler) and began to change the way | | | | nationalities in the world, in addition to |
| that many people looked at the possibilities | | | | Israelis, New Zealanders and numerous other |
| and opportunities of travel. | | | | Western European nations such as Switzerland |
| | | | or The Netherlands. Backpackers from Spain |
| More recently, backpacking has become | | | | are very common in Latin America, where there |
| something of a rite of passage in the popular | | | | is little or no language barriers and the |
| culture of some countries, most notably | | | | cost of travel and living expenses is often |
| Australia, Israel and New Zealand where after | | | | very favorable for the Spanish. The same is |
| finishing high school, university or a period | | | | true of French in West Africa. Per head of |
| in the army they take several months to two | | | | population, Australia is thought to have the |
| year's break in Europe (some of whom work in | | | | highest representation of backpackers, |
| this region), Asia or the Americas. This can | | | | although there is no data available to |
| be put down to the light population and | | | | demonstrate this empirically. |
| geographic isolation of these two countries | | | | |
| from much of the world's population and | | | | Backpacker culture is perhaps typified by the |
| history, the fact that Australia and New | | | | Lonely Planet (Australian) series of |
| Zealand are both affluent English-speaking | | | | guidebooks, which caters to budget travelers |
| countries where the majority of their | | | | both in its regular guides as well as, more |
| citizens can afford overseas travel, and that | | | | specifically, the "On a Shoestring" regional |
| both countries have a tradition of students | | | | compilations. The Rough Guide (UK) and Let's |
| attending university in the home city rather | | | | Go (USA) series of guidebooks are also |
| than moving away for college. A substantial | | | | popular. In France, the traditional |
| amount of young adults from Israel also | | | | backpacker's guidebook is the Guide du |
| undertake long-term backpacking trips, | | | | routard. |
| particularly after they finish their | | | | |
| mandatory military service. Travel of a | | | | Traditionally, backpackers do not travel with |
| backpacking nature is also extremely popular | | | | expensive electronic equipment such as laptop |
| with Northern Europeans, particularly the | | | | computers and PDAs due to concerns about |
| Dutch and British and with small sections of | | | | theft, damage, and additional luggage weight. |
| North Americans and Japaneses. | | | | However, the desire to stay connected coupled |
| | | | with trends in lightweight electronics have |
| Low-cost options are popular: such as sharing | | | | given rise to the flashpacking trend. Some |
| lifts, budget flights, rail/bus passes (or if | | | | backpackers take a high resolution digital |
| the backpacking trip is circumglobal, a | | | | camera and/or high capacity MP3 Player with |
| relatively cheap round-the-world air ticket | | | | them on their travels. Blogging from various |
| which permits numerous stops), youth hostels, | | | | Internet cafes around the world is also a |
| free hospitality services and buying food at | | | | growing phenomenon, offering a more |
| supermarkets abroad instead of going to | | | | convenient way to relay information to |
| restaurants. | | | | interested friends and family at home. |