HELP I need tips for writing postcards....
 

I know this sounds a little crazy, but...

I usually travel on tours and find that I barely have enough time on these "rushed" tours to write postcards to all my freinds.
On my most recent trips I have written a one line postcard to my freinds. I simply write "been there, done that".

Can fodorites recommend other something else I can write on the postcards? I need a sentence or two that I can write in future. Thanks.

Miss you much,
Wish you were here,
Gotta run,
It's time for a beer.

Just kidding. You're doing better than I already as I never even manage to send postcards!!

I hate spending time writing postcards and have in fact, abandoned the entire production. This won't help with what to write to people, but when I used to write cards I would bring labels with me that had each person's address on them so I didn't have to hand address the cards. Saved a lot of time.

Try to write a sentence about what you're doing at the time...

I'm enjoying the view of xyz from my hotel in xyz. I'll tell you all about it when I get back.

or...

I had fun trying to speak french at the market when buying a croissant.. wish you were here to translate.

or...

Having a wonderful time, and you're not here. What a coincidence! (this one I actually wrote, and have been given grief about it for the past 15 years!)

Buy a bunch of appropriate cards on eBay and write them before you leave, or possibly on the long boring plane flight to get there, while you have plenty of time to write long, thoughtful messages. Then when you arrive, you just have to buy local stamps.

I second what JNN said. Don't give a blow-by-blow account of the trip, just a quick sentence or two about what you've seen or done that day. I don't send lots of post cards when I travel, but I do send one or two.

I usually write them during meals because I'm sitting and relaxed and have a moment to think. My rule is that it should be completed within 3 bites-2 for the message and 1 for the address.

You can also try using other "down" times like when you're on the bus or waiting in line.

Weather is here, wish you were hot.

or a simple:

Yada Yada Yada

I do what Margie and Anonymous do!!

Write the same thing to everyone - no one ever compares postcard messages.

Addressing postcards can be very time consuming. You have to look up the address and write it down. What I do is make address labels for everyone I want to send postcards to before I leave. I get the clear labels incase there's something on the postcard I don't want to cover up. It makes addressing them so fast and easy!

I guess you even type up some of the above mentioned messages including the name of places you will visit and just stick them on the postcards too!

Utahtea

As Jimmy Buffett says: "The weather is here, wish you were beautiful."

Seriously: I bring labels ready from home and just write a line or two about what's on the front of the card. example: "We toured the Alamo this morning. What an awe-inspiring place. Will be home Tuesday night. Love, (insert names here)." or "Having a great time in Arizona -- enjoying the scenery and food..."

And I always have my postcard stamps ready.

If you're gone for a week or less it doesn't matter, they won't get the cards until after you return home!

ttt.

"Being here, doing this"?

"You'd love this place."

"Can't wait to tell you...."

Hi retiredinflordia, I love what my friends in Italy do (an Italiam custom I guess). When any of them go on vacation they just sign their name and have anyone that is around them sign their name also. No message except for baci etc. It is too sweet.

I do not send postcards anymore. It just seems like more paperwork, which I have to much of at home. Lazy me, LOL, but I finally decided that when I am on vacation I don't want to feel like I have all the "have too's" that I have at home.

My faves:

"Wish you were beer".

"Wish you no fear".

"Fish, you, and beer".

My postcards are like letters. Each one is individual and might only be a sentence or two but there is no formula. I don't send them to everyone I know, just those I really want to share with.

If you feel the need to send a card but don't have the time or interest in writing, just send the card with your name on it, something like Love, Retiredinflorida..
at least the recipient will know that you did think of them.

or you could say,
Hug you, Kiss you,Love you, Miss you ((L))

I love sending postcards to my friends. It's a fun diversion especially when you're traveling solo. Doesn't matter what you say. I send 'em out from Hawaii with "aloha" only. The message doesn't matter but the photo/postcard and the stamp and post office cancellation make it great. From Mexico I write in my bad Spanish. I've seen posted where people write to themselves as a kind of travel journel.

I usually go all the way and end up running out of space..! Thanks for the concept of two-sentence cards. Yes, during a leisurely lunch is a good time to write. I suppose general impressions of a particular site are good; no itinerary rehash needed.