What happened to people sending postcards when they travel? I know that they still exist because I see them for sale at any popular tourist destination and even some unpopular ones. Somebody must be buying them otherwise they would not still be making them. Where are all these postcards that people are buying going?
London England Postcard
I used to love receiving postcards from friends and family when they traveled. I say “used to” because I can not remember when the last time I received a postcard. I have a nice collection of postcards that have been sent to me or family members over the years. They are great to have because they show pictures of exotic destinations and they also contain a history of what was going on in the senders life at the time.
Amsterdam Postcard
One of the most prolific postcard senders was one of my Aunts. When she lived in France and Europe, postcards and letters were how she stayed in touch with the family. Most of the pictures on this page were postcards sent from her. I still have a bunch of these and like to pull them out and look at them every so often.
Schilthorn in Switzerland
I also have postcards that I sent to my parents when I was young and in camp or when I got older and was traveling. These are the most interesting because I get to read about my adventures and what I was thinking at that time.
I have to admit that it has been a long time since I have sent a postcard. I think it is because that email and facebook posts are just easier and I do not have to spend time hunting down the correct postage. I still buy them on occasion but never seem to get around to sending one.
Moulin Rouge
Does anyone ever send you postcards anymore? Do you ever send postcards to anyone?
If you are traveling and would like to send a postcard to me and tell me about your adventures, I would love to add it to my collection and feature it on this site. Just contact me through the Contact Form.
Click on the link to see some of my Postcard Collection.
Andrew says
July 28, 2012 at 12:06 PMYup, we are big postcard people. Each trip I send a few to random friends and relatives around the world. There is still a sense of postcards as being special. Especially in the day of digital communication, a hand written piece is nice.
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Jeff says
July 28, 2012 at 2:56 PMThat’s great that you still send them. They are much more personal than email.
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Terence Chang says
July 30, 2012 at 8:47 PMWell. I just got my brother’s postcard sent from Turkey 4 weeks ago. He is already back to Taiwan and keep sending me email asking me if I got the postcard or not. 😉
The postcard is taking too long to deliver, but I love the photos on the other side of the postcard!
Spencer says
August 6, 2012 at 9:24 PMI prefer email, purely because you can send the pictures to multiple people at the same time and also write as much as you want. Sometimes you can’t fit all you want to say in a postcard!
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Jeff says
August 7, 2012 at 9:19 AMEmail is definitely easier but it is not as permanent as a postcard.
Jeff recently posted..The Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland
Jaime says
August 7, 2012 at 7:58 PMIt’s sad that not many people send postcards anymore. I sadly don’t receive many because it’s normally me that does the traveling, but I know I send so many home. I have been sending many home often to my family and friends. Like I mentioned on my update of the 3 reasons why I love sending them home.
Jaime recently posted..Why you should visit the “OTHER” pyramids in Egypt & how.
Stephanie - The Travel Chica says
September 6, 2012 at 6:07 PMEmail has killed so many things…. productivity, attention spans, the ability (or desire) to interact with humans via the phone or in person 🙂
Jeff says
September 6, 2012 at 6:09 PMEmail started the downfall but Facebook and twitter pushed us over the edge.
Jeff recently posted..Ten Days in Ireland – Trip Itinerary
Molly says
September 8, 2012 at 1:02 AMI love postcards. It feels alot more real to send or recieve a postcard than sending an email or adding a photo and comment on facebook. I still send postcards to my friends and family when I travel. Not always but when I am somewhere notable, interesting or far flung. I have a huge postcard collection from the 1980´s which I am hoping to recover soon (it´s back home) and write blog posts about. (A destination in 1970´s and what it is like now in 2012…)
Jeff says
September 11, 2013 at 4:13 PMThat sounds like a good story comparing the 70’s to today. Keep sending them because everyone like receiving them.
World Traveller says
September 20, 2012 at 4:11 AMThere is still a sense of postcards being special – it takes more time & effort to buy, write, buy a stamp & send a postcard and I think by sending a postcard to friends & loved ones it shows you’ve gone the extra mile.
I got out of the habit of sending them about 10 years ago – I really should make the effort next time I travel because I know how much I like receiving them.
“I know that they still exist because I see them for sale at any popular tourist destination and even some unpopular ones” – I’ve noticed recently in some cities that there’s quite a few somewhat dated postcards available to buy. I wonder if postcard manufacturers haven’t been updating their offering due to declining sales?
World Traveller recently posted..Strut Your Funky Stuff At The New Orleans Mardi Gras
Amanda says
September 21, 2012 at 11:41 AMI still send postcards! Usually just to my family back home, and occasionally to friends who ask for them.
I also BUY a lot of postcards. When I travel, my favorite souvenirs are postcards and magnets – small, cheap, and perfect for remembering where you’ve been.
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Ele says
September 21, 2012 at 12:24 PMI know a person whose family sends them postcards. They have a pin up board for them and use it to decorate their place and to remember all those places they went to. I used to buy cards myself when I travelled as if it was my last travel to this country but I stopped after buying a camera. Would love to send you a card from my next trip to warsaw next month, though.
John says
March 1, 2013 at 5:08 PMThank you all so much for still sending postcards to your family & friends. People still love to receive a postcard as they know that the person sending is thinking of them in a special way. It is also nice to collect postcards as a record of your holiday or trip. Sometimes the weather is not so good that you are able to take a photograph of the place you wish to remember. “Never be to busy working that you never have time to make a life.” Send a postcard to someone you love NOW!!
Getaway Brigade says
September 4, 2013 at 10:12 AMWe still send postcards occasionally, but it is sadly a lost art. But perhaps we can bring it back as travel bloggers with a travel postcard network.
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Jeff says
September 8, 2013 at 5:23 PMThat sounds like a good idea.
fotoeins says
September 4, 2013 at 3:01 PMAnyone can send an email. But It takes some time and effort away from the e-devices, to sit down somewhere comfortable, and write out a note to friends and family.
As long as there are bulletin boards and magnetized doors to fridges, there will always be room for postcards. I’ve made it a habit to send postcards to people to let them know I’m well, to wish they were there with me, and to tell them I’m thinking about them.
I rarely get postcards in return, but wishing or demanding them my way would be missing the point entirely.
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Grant says
September 8, 2013 at 4:28 AMWe’re on a careerbreak at the moment and I go for the half way option and use one of those companies you upload a photo and message to and then they convert it into a postcard back in the UK and post it. Normally reaches my family or friends within a couple of days
Grant recently posted..7 Days of Peruvian Dentistry, Combis and Some Seriously Good Food
Jeff says
September 8, 2013 at 5:25 PMThat is better than nothing. I have seen those services but have not tried them out yet.
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Grant says
September 8, 2013 at 6:39 PMI’m using ByPost but there are loads of them about. It’s cheaper than doing local postcards too. And this way my 82yr old mum gets lots of pictures of me standing in famous places!!
Grant recently posted..7 Days of Peruvian Dentistry, Combis and Some Seriously Good Food
Jeff says
September 8, 2013 at 7:00 PMI will have to try them out. It is much easier than tracking down stamps when you are in a foreign country.
eva says
September 8, 2013 at 8:19 PMi love that you shared this, and that so many others have commented that they still send postcards! it is such a joy to receive one, and i like to send one home to myself, too. plus, the photos on the cards are usually way better than one i could take myself. i recently wrote a post on this, too – good luck with getting more in the future!
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Tamara says
March 28, 2014 at 9:25 AMMy daughter always likes to buy postcards. Some she sends to friends and teachers, others she keeps as souvenirs. I don’t send as many as I used to … sometimes it is just too hard to buy stamps and find a place to post them (especially when staying in apartments vs hotels). I’ve also started using the Touchnote app on my phone to create a postcard from one of my pictures and then add the message and address. I like it because they take care of sending the printed card and I don’t need to worry about finding stamps and a post office.
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Jeff says
March 28, 2014 at 9:30 AMI don’t send many either. I have tried the apps but always forget about them when I am traveling.
Julia of See Julia Go says
March 28, 2014 at 10:28 AMMy mom sends them out each trip she goes on. There is also a website called PostCrossing, where you can send and receive postcards from all over the world!
Julia
Jeff says
March 28, 2014 at 10:32 AMI will check out that website. Thanks for the info.
Adelina | PackMeTo says
March 28, 2014 at 10:44 AMYES! I still send postcards. Always one home to the family / myself so I can track my own adventures later and a couple to friends around the world. I love receiving them too when I’m not traveling. I can pretend I’m on some adventure while sitting at my desk at work.
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Jeff says
March 28, 2014 at 10:50 AMKeep sending them. People like receiving them and it is a good way to remember your trip.
Phoebe (Short Road to Happy) says
March 28, 2014 at 10:57 AMI LOVE postcards but never send or receive them anymore. I don’t think anyone would really know where to find me haha! I am going to make more of an effort to start sending them again!
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Tim says
March 28, 2014 at 2:16 PMEmail has killed letters, postcards, and any sense that the traveler has fallen off the face of the earth. What happened to the post restante? I miss those days. Tim
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Jeff says
March 28, 2014 at 7:56 PMThat’s true. It is pretty hard to disappear these days.