Backpacker Stereotypes

Obsessive Backpacker in Haad Rin, Koh Phangan, Thailand

The Obsessive

The Obsessive - Exclusively female, this backpacking-type has her oversea travels planned with all the precision and organization of a military campaign. Likely to throw a major tantrum if her schedule is interrupted or in any way changed, this is a girl on a mission. She is usually found itemizing her laundry, maintaining a type-written itinerary or having a shouting match with her submissive friend.
Look for: The submissive friend traipsing along several paces behind wishing she had never agreed to leave home.
Rudeboy Backpackers Thailand

The Rudeboy

The Rudeboy - No, unfortunately he isn't confined to naff resorts on Spanish or Greek islands. This “Chav on Tour” is usually British and nearly always male, although genetically he bears closer resemblance to our simian ancestors.
Usually observed traveling in groups of other Rudeboys (so all intellectual conversation can be avoided), he is treating his year abroad as if he were spending a week in Magaluf: pissing his savings up a wall in Sydney within hours of arriving in Australia. He is always broke yet mysteriously always able to find some way to get totally drunk and throw up in public. This UK ambassador is doing his best to ruin traveler/local relations.
Look for: he's a mouth-breather and knuckle-dragger, wearing football shirts, bling-bling jewellery, prison-white trainers and sporting a really bad sunburn.
The Scandic Stunner in Koh Phangan, Thailand

The Scandic Stunner

The Scandic Stunner - Not necessarily Scandinavian, this backpacking-type is all the proof you need that sunshine, fresh air, exercise and a healthy sex-life do more good for physical beauty than any given diet plan. Tanned and pneumatically-chested, this backpacker always looks heart-shatteringly sexy, even after 16 hours cramped on a long-haul bus journey. She can be found at any given backpacker destination and hostel, and will probably be enjoying regular, energetic sex with anyone but you. Typical!!
Look for: Come on, do you seriously need any clarification here?!?
The Girlie Girl Backpacker in Koh Phangan

The Girlie-Girl

The Girlie-Girl - This backpacking type can be found at any given destination. She is typically female, although there have been unconfirmed rumours of the occasional male Girlie-Girl spotted while traveling. She is pink, cute, giggly and talks in a high voice with effected US TV-style “question-mark” intonation and use of, like similies, like, all the time. Unless she is American, then she talks like this anyway.
She loves her teddy bear and her boyfriend, is prone to tantrums and crying fits and is fussy about food, hostels and local customs. She resents walking great distances (she is always wearing impractical, but “very pretty” footwear), hates spiders and creepy-crawlies and cannot exist without all the comforts of home.
For this reason she has brought half a ton of make-up, and industrial-size hairdryer, curling tongs, several gallons of shower gel, shampoo, hair care products, moisturizing cream and enough footwear and clothing to successfully run the wardrobe department of a Hollywood chick-flick. She'll also have one of those weird shower-puff things that girl always leave in hostel dorms and shower and forget to take with them.
Look for: A rucksack/suitcase so heavy even the SAS would baulk at carrying it. Nevertheless, she has used her charm (and probably tears) to can same poor sucker into dragging it along for her!
The Stoner Backpacker in Thailand

The Stoner

The Stoner - This backpacking-type could look deceptively unremarkable, but is actually single-handedly keeping the economies of several small South American countries afloat with an eyeball-popping, mind-blowing pot habit. This backpacker is never afraid to experiment with new substances, is always able to locate a supplier wherever he may be and yet is magically able to avoid investigation by the police and immigration. The Stoner tends to be a popular character in most youth hostel dorms.
Look for: Bloodshot eyes focused on the middle distance, inane grin and busy hands, constantly rolling joints or rummaging amongst clear plastic bags and items wrapped in silver foil.
The North American Backpacking Thailand

The North American

The North American - “For real, dude! He's Canadian! You thought he's American? NO WAY, dude!! Like, check out the sweet-ass flags on the backpack, dude! This, like, so totally rocks!!”