Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, IHG Platinum, Accor Silver, Choice Privileges Gold
Posts: 2,070
The problem when you paint with too broad a brush
As a former (and perhaps future) backpacker, I'd say backpackers generally see more things off the beaten track than better-healed travelers do. But there can be a group mentality at times. There are plenty of exceptions in both backpacker and non-backpacker group of course. I think the stereotype that the OP's book was referring to was that backpackers are *generally* younger, more budget-minded, louder, more likely to imbibe to excess, etc. But they're often more likely to engage the "real" people in developing countries. Altho there is certainly some behavior the world could do w/o, I'd have to say 3 cheers for backpackers. jib