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Postcard Perfect: Top 5 Things To Capture On Camera In The Netherlands

by 25th April 2019

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The Netherlands is one of our favourite places in Europe. With gorgeous countryside, vibrant cities and of course, the iconic flower fields it’s a great place for a short break or a perfect stop on a European road trip. As The Netherlands is thriving in spring, we thought we’d introduce you to the top things to photograph while visiting this culture-filled country!

@amsterdamview

At PostSnap, we love sharing the wonderful places we’ve been! That’s why we have a postcard app, so you can send a postcard back home whilst on your travels. We’ve rounded up our must see sights in The Netherlands for you to photograph, turn into a postcard and send back home for all of your friends and family to see! These are our top choices for places to photograph while in the Netherlands for that perfect postcard!

1. The Flower Fields

@designlovefest

Tulips are as iconic to the Dutch as canals and clogs. Every spring, hundreds of fields bloom with tulips and other spring flora, turning the countryside into colourful strips of flowers. The Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse are the most famous, and opens for a short time to the public during the spring, but there are fields all over the country to see this pretty scenery. Whether you get up close to the flowers or stand back and take in the scenery, this spring activity is the top of our list for postcard perfect places in The Netherlands.

@designlovefest

2. Koningsdag

Credit: Antonio Olmedo

Spring also sees the National Holiday of Koningsdag (Kings Day); where the Dutch throw parties in the streets, hunt for the latest bargains at flea markets and drink a lot of beer. Wearing bright orange (their national colour) is optional, but highly encouraged. If you can brave the crowds in the cities, there’s all sorts of sights to see on this lively occasion, such as boat parties and bustling markets. The oldest flea market is located in Waterlooplein, Amsterdam which is a perfect spot for scouting out quirky finds, books, furniture; pretty much everything you could ever want to find. At present, Koningsdag is on the 27th of April, meaning you have two days to get in the party mood.

@waterlooplein

3. Botanical Gardens

@hortusamsterdam

Both Amsterdam and Leiden have botanical gardens that are open to the public, featuring beautiful and bizarre plants. They’re a perfect place for plant lovers to wander away from the hustle and bustle of the urban Netherlands. Amsterdam, while small offers a beautiful greenhouse and butterfly enclosure to marvel at, as well as a cafe, while Leiden’s is nestled in the university complex, home to a number of quirky and delightful museums. It’s also the oldest in the Netherlands, founded in 1590 with an impressive collection of Orchids and other endangered species!

@hortusleiden

Baarle-Nassau / Baarle-Hertog

Cross off two countries at once with the unique town of Baarle-Nassau. This town is divided across The Netherlands and Belgium and is a unique destination and the easiest way to cross off two countries on your bucket list. Thanks to the Schengen Area, the town is completely free to wander around despite the zig-zagging international border that’s clearly marked with crosses on the road (and in some cases, lines through the middle of shops). The town is a quirky coincidence that predates national borders and is something a little odd to see if you’re wanting to see something a little different from The Netherlands.

@amusingplanet

Hoge Veluwe National Park

webimage-C3B75471-F4E9-40C3-A0BB4658904DB22F

krollermuller,nl

We all know the iconic Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, but did you know there’s a museum with a substantial collection of his work in the middle of a National Park? Hoge Veluwe is The Netherland’s largest natural park, perfect for people who really want to avoid the hustle and bustle of Dutch city life. The park is not only filled with wildlife, but the Kröller-Müller Museum boasts a sculpture park and the second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world. The park also has free to use bikes, making it an ideal place for exploring!

@hogeveluwe

Let us know if there’s anywhere else in The Netherlands that is a must-see. PostSnap allows you to send your own photos as postcards, meaning you can stay in touch from anywhere in the world! You can download our iOS app for free on the App Store, or visit www.postsnap.com to make your own postcards today!

25th April 2019 0 comment

General

Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide

by 22nd March 2019

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Every Mother’s Day we’re always faced with the familiar question of “What do I get Mum this year?” If searching for the perfect Mother’s Day gift is adding to the everyday stresses of being an adult, we at PostSnap have come up with five ideas for the ideal Mother’s Day gift for your lovely Mum.

At PostSnap, we believe in making everyone’s day with our customisable greeting cards that will bring a smile to Mum’s face. Simply choose your card’s design, add a photo and write a personalised message for the ultimate Mother’s Day card. PostSnap has tons of new designs ready for Mother’s Day so when you’ve finished finding the perfect present, download the app (or visit our website at www.postsnap.com) to create the perfect Mother’s Day card!

FLOWERS

What Mum doesn’t love a bouquet of flowers? While there’s loads of flower companies on the market, our friends at PostaBloom are our pick for Mother’s Day flowers. With their letterbox bouquets, it’s really easy to order flowers in time for Mum’s big day: the flowers fit straight through the letterbox, meaning your Mum doesn’t even have to be in to receive her present!

PostaBloom bouquets start from £25, and there’s something for every Mum in their collection! You can visit their website here!

@postabloom

CANDLES

Candles make the perfect gift. There’s one for everyone and can be found at every price-point making them an easy, thoughtful and affordable gift for the Mum in your life. They’re also the kind of thing that somebody may not buy themselves, but make a perfect treat.

We like our candles scented, so pick a scent your Mum will love and add a little indulgence to her life. Our recommendations are the Flamingo Candles Cactus & Frangipani as part of their Frida Kahlo collection, or if you have money to splash on Mum, Diptyque offer a range of exquisite scents that will truly spoil her.

@skincarefreako

@flamingocandles

BOOKS

All Mums we know want an excuse to have time to themselves. We do believe that there is nothing better than settling down for “me time” with a gripping book that will keep you entertained for hours. You know your Mum’s reading habits better than we do, but if you’re really stuck, ShelterBox have launched a book club, so not only will Mum’s next read be a welcome break from the stress of normal life, but it will also be helping people in need!

You can find more information on the ShelterBox Book Club here!

STATIONARY

Know a Mum who simply must have everything organised? Does she need somewhere to scribble down shopping lists? Stationary can be a way of giving her something she’ll need, but also add a luxurious twist to the usual A5 notebook. Whether you make your own personalised notebook from our friends from AfterSnap, or buy these adorable birthstone and zodiac designs that we found at Urban Outfitters by Portico Designs , it’s a great present for the Mum in your life who is always on top of everything!

urbanoutfitters.com

PAMPER

All Mums deserve a little treat on Mother’s Day. Whether you just want to treat her to a luxurious bubble bath or a face mask, add something special to her evening routine so she can unwind and relax in style. We’re believers that everyone can appreciate one of LUSH’s bath ballistics and bubble bars, but face-masks and body butters will also do the trick.

@lushcosmetics

Remember that no matter what you get, you can always rely on PostSnap to provide customisable greeting card for Mother’s Day and any occasion you can think of. At PostSnap, we make it really easy to send a smile to someone’s face. Simple choose your card, upload photos and add a message and send to anywhere in the world: no stamps or searching for post boxes required, it’s all done from your iPhone or desktop!
Simply download our app from the App Store or visit our website at www.postsnap.com to start.

22nd March 2019 0 comment

General Postcard Info Travel

How To Send A PostCard From Your Cruise

by 26th February 2019

written by

How To Send A Postcard From Your Cruise

PostSnap is the easiest way to send personalised postcards from home or on the waves!

Photo Credit: newdarlings.com

Cruises can be the ultimate way to unwind and they’re a great way to see all sorts of wonderful places around the world. If you’re looking for an easy way to send postcard without the hassle of stamps and trawling across cities searching for a postbox, PostSnap allows you to send your own photos as real postcards from anywhere in the world! Whether on shore or on land, PostSnap: The Postcard App is the easiest way to send a smile from your seabound adventure!

1. Download PostSnap From The App Store

Before you leave, download the PostSnap app from the App Store! Our allows you to send postcards with your own photos from anywhere in the world, so before you leave, sign up and make sure everything is ready to go before your trip! The best thing is, it’s free to download and if you have Apple Pay, there’s no need to sign up! We also offer pre-pay packages so you can load up before you set off. Sounds pretty easy to us! Our wesbite is also optimised for mobile uses, so no matter what your device, there’s a way for everyone to easily make a postcard!

2. Take your photos!
This is the easy and most fun part. Whether you’re island hopping or soaking up city vibes, take all the photos you can. From skylines to selfies, when you’re exploring remember to take snaps to share with all your friends and family. Everyone loves to see holiday photos, whether on a postcard or on Instagram, so take as many snaps as possible to show everyone back home (and maybe make them a little jealous!).

NewDarlings-PrincessCruises-AtSea-07-1024x683

Photo Credit: newdarlings.com

Our tips for the best photos to send on postcards are:

The Basics
Blurry photos are never good, whether online or printed out! To ensure that your photos are the best they can be, hold the camera steady and take your time! If possible, make sure they are well lit; dark photos can be hard to fix, no matter how pretty the filter is. Also, if you’re taking photos of people, make sure eyes are open and there’s big smiles on faces. You are on holiday after all! Who wants to look miserable on holiday?
Get Inspired!
There’s no shame in seeing where the top locations and sights are in the city you’re stopping off at. Head online to places like Instagram or Pinterest for those picture-perfect locations that everyone wants to see or take a wander around the city to find the prettiest places to snap! If you’re on board, there’s all sorts to see and do while at sea, so remember to keep your camera on you at all times to capture all the excitement!

Keep It Interesting!
You’re travelling the world! Go tick off your bucket lists and have the photographic evidence to prove it. Snap things that only you can see in the place you’re in! Whether that’s a Singapore Skyline or Roman Ruins, no matter where you are, there’s always something you can show back home that you’ve never seen before.

(@haley_stutzman)

3. Make your postcard!

When you head back on board or wherever you go for your dose of wifi, remember to send a postcard! With PostSnap you can use photos from your camera roll but also use your Facebook and Instagram photos to create the perfect postcard!

thedcdarlings

Our postcards are fully customisable with the ability to add filters, text and borders so you can really make your postcards special. It’s so quick and easy, you can get back to exploring in an instant; no stamps and no letterboxes required! It’s especially easy for when you’re in the middle of the ocean with not a speck of land in sight. What’s even better, is that cards back home have free delivery, making it the easiest way to send snail mail.

Remember whether you’re home or away, PostSnap is the best and easiest way to send your own personalised postcards to your friends and family. Whether you end up on cruise or not, our free app makes it really easy to send snail mail. We’re also available via our website www.postsnap.com so you can use it on any of your devices.

Download PostSnap from the app store today to start sending personalised postcards now.

26th February 2019 0 comment

wish-you-were-here-postsnap- send a postcard

General Postcard Info

Size of a postcard – UK, Australia and USA

by 14th February 2017

written by

Picture postcards have been in existence since the 1800s, but the overall appearance of postcards has hardly changed.

What the size of a Postcard is

A traditional photo postcard comprises of a century-old postcard template of a photo on the front and a message and address on the back.

Once made of thin wood, these envelope-free messages are now made from thick, sturdy card. They are still a novel form of communication, and are often kept as souvenirs.

Weird fact: The study and collection of postcards is termed deltiology.

What size is a postcard?

The standard size of a postcard is 6 x 4. This is the sized postcards typically found at holiday resorts and sent home to friends and family. However there is a growing trend to send personalised postcards using the sender’s own photos. (I know I would prefer to send my own photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, rather than a boring stock photo.) It’s a grand example of old traditions being improved and updated to match today’s tech-savvy culture.

Send family a postcard from Postsnap app App-based personalised photo postcard services are an increasingly popular way to send personalised postcards home while travelling. Postsnap offers standard-sized A6 postcards and larger postcards, which are 210 x 148mm or 8 x 6 inches. These A5 sized postcards are gloss laminated to protect them in the post, and the photos are so vivid that they are often displayed in frames by recipients.

These postcard dimensions are equivalent to an A6 piece of paper, which is approximately one quarter of an A4 sheet of paper.

Mixing the old with the new, postcards are a medium that are particularly adaptable to modern culture, and will surely remain a special way to communicate with family and friends in years to come.

Whether they’re near or far, postcards are the perfect ‘thinking of you’ gesture.

Send a Postcard Download our Postcard App

14th February 2017 0 comment

Postsnap personalised Valentine's Day greeting card I'd always swipe right for you

General Postcard Info

Postcard postage rates for UK and beyond

by 9th February 2017

written by

We often get asked for the price of postcard stamps to and from popular destinations such as the UK, Canada, Australia and the USA. So here is a guide for rates for mailing cards.

Where to buy postcards
You can buy stamps at the Post Office or major super markets, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda. But the pricing generally stays the same.

The standard postcard rate
Sending a postcard within the UK is surprisingly good value using the UK’s Royal Mail. A standard 6 x 4 (148mm x 105mm) postcard is treated as a smaller letter and costs just 64p for the 1st class service or 55p if you choose 2nd class.*

The standard postcard design is classed as a smaller letter because they weigh less than 4 grams. Ours weigh closer to 7 grams because we use thicker card, with our large postcards weighing 13 grams – but with no extra postage charge.

Send a breathtaking personalised Postcard However, if you are sending postcards abroad from the UK, the postage rates increase substantially. It can set you back around £1.05 to send a postcard internationally. That’s expensive for postcard mailing, let alone the cost of the card.

Australia charges $1 (£0.62) for domestic postcards, and $2.75 (£1.71) for postcards sent beyond New Zealand or Asia.

USA charges $0.38 (£0.28) for postcards sent domestically, but $1.15 (£0.95) for everywhere else.

Using your phone to send a postcard
Being part of Generation Y, sending handwritten post is not something I am completely familiar with. I remember having to send my first postcard (without mum’s guidance) not that long ago.

The dumb-founded look on the Post Office clerk’s face as I waved a postcard in front of her, asking ‘what do I need to do to get this to New Zealand?’ was a tad embarrassing.

Having postage included on the card or postcard would certainly take the hassle (and embarrassment) out of posting. Therefore, creating and posting greeting cards and postcards online is becoming the best way to avoid standing in a Post Office line for half your lunch break.

Thankfully, using apps to send postcards is an easy solution for us Millennials and Gen-Ys. It’s much cheaper and doesn’t involve setting a foot in the local Post Office.

Postsnap for example enables you to make and send your postcard all in one go – without leaving the sofa or sun bed. With printers in England, West Coast of USA and in Australia’s New South Wales, no matter where your recipient is they will receive their cards quickly.

Our international postage prices never more than £0.50 or $o.50, with free postage within UK – making them cheap postcards in comparison.

With so many families and friends living overseas, keeping in touch isn’t always easy. But sending postcards with your own photos is a gesture that goes a long way without the fuss or stress.

I know my non-Facebook-using family in New Zealand enjoy seeing what I’m up to in the UK, and even keep my postcards to frame and display on the mantle piece.

*all prices as of March 8, 2017.

9th February 2017 2 comments

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