Travelling to Europe is an activity that many people do or desire. However, travelling there is quite expensive. Consider the costs of the things that you need—an airplane ticket, supplies, several days stay in the hotel, clothes, car rentals. All of that adds up to thousands of dollars that can discourage would-be travellers.

But now, there is a cheaper way to travel to that enchanting continent. It would cost you but not as much as your travel agency’s packaged tours. Furthermore, this way of travelling lets you experience Europe’s diverse culture more intimately and allow you to discover the place closely.

This is called backpacking in Europe. Backpacking in Europe is a word used to refer to a kind of low-cost independent and international travel to the said continent. Other words such as independent travel or budget travel usually refer to backpacking.

As it word implies, backpackers typically use a backpack to put their things in. They use public transportation as a means of travel, check in youth hostels instead of going booking in traditional hotels, camp when there is an ideal campsite, have a free hand in the length of their trips, and have an interest in meeting the locals and seeing beautiful European sights.

Backpacking in Europe has become both a lifestyle and a business that has grown immensely in the twenty-first century due to the advent of low-cost airlines, hostels, budget accommodation, and tourist-friendly programs. Furthermore, better communication and resources such as internet booking has made planning, executing, and continuing a long term backpacking trip so much easier than before.

Today, the advancement of technology and other improvements have made considerable changes in

backpacking. The traveller backpacking in Europe can now travel with expensive electronic equipment such as digital cameras and personal data assistants to keep track and communicate to the world. Also, the advancement of disposables such as disposable underwear and meals-ready-to-eat have made travelling on foot much easier and more comfortable than before.

Due to these factors, there is another offshoot of backpacking in Europe. This is called flashpacking. This is similar to backpacking; a flashpacker goes out with a sense of independence, without a fixed itinerary and schedule, carries a backpack, and rides on public transportation.

However, flashpacking is done by travellers with more disposable income than an average backpacker. They go to places that are more expensive than those visited by backpackers. For example, flashpackers may stay in more affluent pension houses or motels than youth hostels. They have adventurous travel by day but books an expensive dinner and a comfortable stay at night. Flashpackers are also known to be tech-savvy as they usually carry around laptops, iPods, cell phones, and other high tech devices. The term flaspacker itself denotes one who “flashes” his stuff. In the end of it all, however, they all fit into the cadre of backpackers.

One of the best advantages of backpacking in Europe is that backpackers often meet other backpackers, giving them a sense of community. The fact that many backpackers stay in the same dormitory of hostel, cater and share their own food, watch TV in the TV room together, or share rides with other travellers is a testament of a wholesome, friendly experience. The camaraderie enables backpackers to learn from one another and save money at the same time. 

Aside from camaraderie, backpackers experience the authentic lifestyle in Europe. In contrast to packaged tours where destinations are selected and the trips are preset, backpackers experience the “real” Europe. They get to see and experience the bad side, the good side, and the secrets of the continent.

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