Writing postcards from a vacation and sending them to friends or family is a time honored tradition in many parts of the world. Many people like to collect postcards from different countries, and who doesn’t love to receive post that isn’t an advertisement or bill for once?
You can send a postcard to let someone know you are thinking of them, to share thoughts about where you have been and what you have been doing, to make someone jealous (or at least wish they’d have come with you!), or a combination of the three!
Once you’ve decided on what to write, check out MyPostcard app to send your personalized postcard. You can add your own photos, messages and choose from thousands of designs. We print and ship worldwide at no extra cost! Plus, we have tons of pre-written quotes in the app available for free for you to past and edit as you like.
Summary – what to write on a vacation postcard
Before you start your travel postcard, make sure to include the following things:
- A greeting
- A sign-off
- Something abut where you are
- And last but not least, the correct address
Below are my tips on what to write on your vacation postcard, beyond the above essentials. start reading or skip to:
- Write about where you are
- Make a joking comparison
- Talk about something that happened
- Talk about something that surprised you
#1 Write about where you are
This can be a general description of the city you are visiting, for example, or a very specific account of the precise place you are as you write. Personally, I prefer these specific accounts as they are more personal. It helps you give the reader a real snapshot into what exactly it’s like where you are at the time of writing. Be sure to include not only details of what the place looks like, but involve all the senses for a really vivid scene. That means the scent of coffee floating through the air, the chatter of the children on the street, the sweet and buttery taste of a freshly baked croissant… I’m making myself drool just thinking about it! Here are some examples of how to write about where you are:
“The soothing sound of the waves lapping the shore is so relaxing. In the distance, I can see children clambering onto an anchored sailboat and taking it in turns to jump off and into the ocean, shouting and laughing and trying to make the biggest splash.”
“This city is bustling. Walking down the streets, I’ve become entangled in so many massive groups of tourists wearing matching colored t-shirts. Like me, they’re all eagerly following their tour guides who are describing the many famous monuments into a megaphone in a multitude of different languages.”
“This is without a doubt the most delicious pesto pasta I’ve EVER eaten. We’re in a small cliff top restaurant overlooking a small bay close to La Spezia, the smell of fresh basil wafting from the kitchen is an absolute delight.”
#2 Make a joking comparison
Sending your postcard to a friend or family member that you often joke with? A little teasing about where you are compared to where you live at home, or compared to where you know they are, can be a funny thing to write in a postcard from your vacation. Here are some examples of how to do it:
“As I lie here in my hammock, the waves lapping the shore and the sun peeking at me through the leaves of the palm trees, I can’t help but think of you on your sofa, in a jumper and slippers with the heating on :P”
“The coffee here is ridiculous, so intense and smooth at the same time, and so CHEAP compared to back home! I had a full brunch today with eggs benedict, a tropical fruit salad, orange juice, and a cappuccino for less than $2! How much was your prepackaged sandwich today?”
“It’s hard to believe that just one week ago I was sat grumpily in the office in the gray with the rain pouring down outside and now I’m here in this sunny paradise. How are you guys surviving without me?!”
#3 Talk about something that happened
This could be something you did, something you planned, or a random occurrence that you want to share with the recipient of your postcard. See these examples for ideas on how to write about it –
“I visited the national gallery yesterday, it was even more beautiful than I’d imagined. I know we spoke about the artwork that was on display, but I hadn’t anticipated how amazing the building itself was going to be. Definitely visit next time you’re here.”
“I went on the open-top bus tour yesterday and would absolutely recommend it. Seeing the city from the roof was a great way to get around, and you can hop on or off as you like, which is really useful because the famous sights and monuments are quite spaced out.”
“I met some amazing people in the hostel. A girl arrived last night, we spoke, and it turned out she was planning to go on the mountain trail today too, so we decided to go together and ended up having an awesome time!”
#4 Talk about something that surprised you
If you are writing to someone from the same culture as you, anything that you find surprising or different while on vacation is likely to also be of interest to them. This can be a cultural difference, a stereotype that turned out to be true/untrue, or anything else you experience while away –
“I went to the supermarket yesterday to look for snacks to take to the park, and can you believe they even had an “American” aisle there, selling Hershey’s and Reese’s Pieces! I was really tempted after being away for so long, but managed to resist… for now!”
“I went for dinner on Tuesday and learned that Italians never order cappuccino after midday! Which I learned the hard way when I went to order one and the waiter looked at me like I was crazy and tried to convince me I’d get sick drinking milk so late in the evening! Can you imagine?!”
Have a great vacation!
We hope you’ve got an idea of what to write in your postcard from vacation now! Need more travel inspiration? One of these articles might interest you!
1 Comment
Great article. I will be experiencing some of these issues
as well..