For Lucy Bradlow, backpacking through South America was as easy as click, snap, send. From Peru to Brazil, Mexico to Argentina, the 22 year old student spent two months soaking up the sights, all the while firing home digital updates on her adventures.
“I emailed about every two days, sent text messages every couple of days and calls about twice a week.” Lucy says.
Rewind a couple of decades to a very different story. When Lucy’s father Hugh did his student travels through Europe, keeping in touch was limited to letters, and the occasional, “very infrequent” phone call.
“Phone calls were very expensive and letters took 1 to 2 weeks each way. It’s hard to imagine nowadays…I actually wonder how we did it!”
"With no email, no internet cafes, no SMS or fax machines, I can also recall getting my exam results from Uni sent to me by my parents via telegram!” Hugh says. “Telegram was the only instantaneous form of communication (other than the phone) for consumers.”
These days, Lucy just logs onto the university portal to get her results - whether she's at home or at an internet café half-way around the world.
The internet gives the 21st century backpacker a helping hand in the tricky business of organising travel. Lucy planned much of her trip via the web, sometimes getting a sneak-preview of what was in store.
“Being able to book stuff over the internet, and sometimes even check out virtual tours, is really helpful.” Lucy says.
It’s a far cry from Hugh’s days when almost everything was organised by physically, going in and booking things face-to-face.
“I remember arriving at Oslo train station at about 6am on a freezing cold winter’s morning and walking around the town looking for a hostel. This was after a night on the train and the previous night on a ferry from Newcastle to Bergen during a North Sea storm! Not an experience one forgets or wants to repeat.”
“I marvel at the way my kids float about the world, and simply book their next stop by wandering into an internet café and finding accommodation online.” Hugh says.
“Keeping in contact with friends and family means I feel safe and secure.” says Lucy.
“I guess though you learn to rely on it so much, it can be very frustrating and even scary when it doesn’t work out.”
But for the most part, web-enabled backpacking certainly makes life simpler. It’s kinder to the shoestring budget, making things relatively stress-free - for the traveller and the parent.