The arrival of the internet caused many changes to how people live their lives. Information about anything is now instantly available and many kids have never heard of the Dewey Decimal System. In addition, computers are becoming smaller and more portable so even traveling has changed completely. Backpacking as a rite of passage for young people is very different now that they can do their travel research online as they go along.
It used to be that backpackers were the easiest people to spot in a budget restaurant in some exotic location. They would be the scruffy-looking, slightly smelly individuals playing solitaire with a deck of cards, writing postcards to their mom or making notes in a tattered travel diary. Now they're the scruffy-looking, slightly smelly people surfing the internet, Skyping their mom or updating their Facebook status.
In the past, few backpackers would start their journey without a guidebook. Nowadays, fewer and fewer travelers carry a guidebook in their backpack and those who do, use the books only for the maps. Some deliberately stay away from guide books so that they can avoid the crowded backpacker's trails. Besides, they have their trusty laptops or tablets to guide them.
The way that backpackers' behavior has changed has meant that hostels had to change too. In the past they had to make sure they were clean and had comfortable mattresses. Now they need to make sure they are clean and have fast and reliable internet, free Wi-Fi and electricity outlets in all the communal areas so that their guests can plug in and log on.
The great thing about traveling with your computer and being able to go online almost anywhere is that it makes research about your destination so much easier. You can find and book a hostel, a flight and a bus ticket with only a few clicks. You can check the weather and look at pictures and satellite images of the place. You may even do background research on the destination's history or learn some phrases in the local language.
The type of person who goes backpacking has also changed. In the past, most backpackers had recently graduated or were retired from their jobs. Now you don't have to quit your job to travel but can take it with you instead, so more working professionals go backpacking. They even support themselves during their trip by working online.
As useful as the internet is to travelers, it also has several disadvantages. One of the most important is that the information you'll find in cyberspace isn't always the most reliable. Those so-called independent, impartial reviews are often paid for by the establishment or have been written by the owner's friends, if not the owner himself. Competitors use fake negative reviews of an establishment to steal its customers too.
The best way to make sure that you won't be disappointed with an establishment is to use a variety of resources. By all means, do the bulk of your travel research online but also consult guidebooks. Even better, talk to fellow travelers about the places they've been to and use their recommendations.
It used to be that backpackers were the easiest people to spot in a budget restaurant in some exotic location. They would be the scruffy-looking, slightly smelly individuals playing solitaire with a deck of cards, writing postcards to their mom or making notes in a tattered travel diary. Now they're the scruffy-looking, slightly smelly people surfing the internet, Skyping their mom or updating their Facebook status.
In the past, few backpackers would start their journey without a guidebook. Nowadays, fewer and fewer travelers carry a guidebook in their backpack and those who do, use the books only for the maps. Some deliberately stay away from guide books so that they can avoid the crowded backpacker's trails. Besides, they have their trusty laptops or tablets to guide them.
The way that backpackers' behavior has changed has meant that hostels had to change too. In the past they had to make sure they were clean and had comfortable mattresses. Now they need to make sure they are clean and have fast and reliable internet, free Wi-Fi and electricity outlets in all the communal areas so that their guests can plug in and log on.
The great thing about traveling with your computer and being able to go online almost anywhere is that it makes research about your destination so much easier. You can find and book a hostel, a flight and a bus ticket with only a few clicks. You can check the weather and look at pictures and satellite images of the place. You may even do background research on the destination's history or learn some phrases in the local language.
The type of person who goes backpacking has also changed. In the past, most backpackers had recently graduated or were retired from their jobs. Now you don't have to quit your job to travel but can take it with you instead, so more working professionals go backpacking. They even support themselves during their trip by working online.
As useful as the internet is to travelers, it also has several disadvantages. One of the most important is that the information you'll find in cyberspace isn't always the most reliable. Those so-called independent, impartial reviews are often paid for by the establishment or have been written by the owner's friends, if not the owner himself. Competitors use fake negative reviews of an establishment to steal its customers too.
The best way to make sure that you won't be disappointed with an establishment is to use a variety of resources. By all means, do the bulk of your travel research online but also consult guidebooks. Even better, talk to fellow travelers about the places they've been to and use their recommendations.
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