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Travel

Postcard Perfect: Our Guide To Miami

by ben 23rd May 2019

written by ben

With its effortlessly cool feel, vibrant culture and stunning architecture, it’s no surprise people are finally realising Miami is a contender in America’s great cities. At PostSnap, we’re big believers in there’s no better way to share your vacation photos than creating your own postcards with them. Our free app allows you to send your own postcards straight from your phone no matter where you are in the world. PostSnap means no stamps and no hunting for post boxes is needed so you can spend your time soaking up the city vibes.

We’ve rounded up the top five things to see on your vacation to Miami, and the absolute best shots to take for perfect postcards back home!

Everglades National Park

No trip to Miami is complete without a day trip to Everglades National Park. One of the most renowned locations for wildlife in the USA, the Everglades consists of 1.5 million acres of wetlands, marshes and mangrove forest. The entrance to the park at Homestead is an hour’s drive away and it’s only a short drive on to trails, lookouts and abundant wildlife. We recommend taking shots of walkways that stretch out into miles of greenery, views from observation towers (we recommend the Shark Valley Observation Tower) and of course the iconic airboats that are easily the best way to see the wildlife on offer. Bicycles can also be rented out: the flatness of the park makes it the perfect place for a bike ride.

Perfect For: Explorers & Wannabe David Attenbourghs

Wynwood Walls

Wynwood is one of Miami’s coolest neighbourhoods but it’s main attraction is the collection of street art and murals at Wynwood Walls. This outdoor art gallery showcases some of the best street art, and is the perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon admiring the art. Each wall has a unique design, and it’s a perfect spot for brightly coloured photos for your postcard. The gallery also has its own bar and kitchen, meaning it’s the perfect place to chill out and soak up the city vibes. The neighbourhood of Wynwood is also filled with cool food markets, eateries and art galleries, meaning there’s plenty to see and do. Send a postcard with shots of the street art for the perfect colourful message back home.

Perfect For: Hipsters and Art Enthusiasts.

South Beach

A classic and an essential. Palm trees, quirky lifeguard houses and perfect white sand make this one of the most well known beaches in the world. Take photos of the beach to make everyone at home wish they were on vacay with you. South Beach is also home to dreamy art deco architecture that dominates the seafront. Essential shots include the multicolour lifeguard towers which stretch for miles up South Beach and shots of the Art Deco District. South Beach is also home to Miami’s vibrant nightlife; take shots of the art deco buildings glowing with neon and all the hustle and bustle of the city’s most iconic neighbourhood.

Perfect For: Sunworshippers & Nightowls

Fairchild Tropical Gardens

Retreat to the quiet side of town by visiting the Fairchild Tropical Gardens. This expanse of tropical parkland is one of the best tropical gardens, complete with its own tram tours and a butterfly house. The collection of plants in this tropical garden is a beautiful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, and also offer an array of plants that make perfect postcards for gardeners back home and budding horticulturalists. Spend a morning here for a tropical retreat in nature not far away from the hub of the city.

Perfect For Plant Moms

Little Havana

Cuba and the US’s history is long and complicated, but nowhere do the two merge so wonderfully than Little Havana, east of the city centre. This neighbourhood is home to the large Cuban diaspora and exiles , and is the perfect blend of American cool and Cuba’s latina feel. Stroll along Calle Ocho, Miami’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame honouring Latina artists to see the area’s rich heritage or stop at the many food stalls and Restaurants for some of the best cuban food in the country. With the background of cigar smoke and latin music, this lively neighbourhood is a must see. Take photos of street food to make your family and friends’ mouth water or head to Domino Park for scenes of old men playing Dominos and smoking cigars.

Perfect for: Foodies and Budding Historians

Where are your favourite spots in Miami? Let us know and we’ll keep our eyes pealed. PostSnap is a free app, designed to turn your photos into lovely things that makes it easier to stay in touch. Whether you’re on the other side of the world and sending a postcard back home or you need a last minute birthday card, our easy to use app has got you covered. Download today from the app store or head to www.postsnap.com to make your first postcard!

23rd May 2019 0 comment

General Travel

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

by 25th April 2019

written by

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

Travel

10 Best Places For A Weekend Away!

by 13th March 2019

written by

Who doesn’t love exploring new places? While we love London, (who doesn’t) the place can be expensive and we’re always up for exploring the best of what the UK has to offer! Whether you need inspiration for your next day out or a long weekend away, we at PostSnap have scouted around for the UK’s best getaways! What’s more is that with PostSnap, we offer real postcards so you can use your own photos to keep in touch with your friends and family while on your travels and send a card back home from anywhere in the world!

BATH

instabritain

travels_to_dream

About 10 miles away from Bristol, the historic city of Bath is a beacon for all culture vultures. Whether it’s the Roman Baths or the American Museum and Gardens in Claverton, this Georgian spa town is perfect for anyone looking for a slice of history. The town is brimming with culture but also offers plenty for foodies and shoppers alike. The highlights obviously include the Roman Baths, The Circus and The Abbey, but plenty of independent shops, bars and cafes fill the Georgian streets. Visit in the festive season for the sprawling Bath Christmas Market, but all year around Bath is a breathtaking city to spend a weekend.

MARGATE

@joshuarumble

@lucybwithell

Seaside towns get a bad name, but none have pulled their socks up in recent years like Margate. While not as classy or elegant as the likes of Brighton, this Kent town two hours away from London has had a hipster makeover with the opening of many vintage shops in the town centre, craft ale bars and the re-opening of Dreamland, an amusement park that also showcases vintage funfair rides. The park is also a venue for gigs and DJ sets across the year. Margate is also home to the Turner Contemporary Gallery, a modern art museum, much of the catalyst of the town’s regeneration. While it may have a long way to go, we can’t wait to see how this seaside town staple grows!

OXFORD

@instabritain

Kamyar Adl

Home of one of the most prestigious universities in the world, it’s no wonder that Oxford is a great place to spend getting lost in museums. Whether it’s one of the many art galleries or the renowned Ashmolean Museum, Oxford is not just a place of learning for its students! There’s also the botanical gardens which date back to 1621, the oldest in the UK. A visit to Oxford would not be complete without stops at the world famous colleges and of course the Bodleian Library, the second largest library in the UK. Finish your day wondering through the city centre, soaking up the architecture or visiting one of the many cafes that house students all year around.

BIRMINGHAM

@helloems_

@heykeyt

Britain’s second city gets a bad reputation, however the city brims with surprising culture that means it has earnt a spot on our list. The city is currently undergoing extensive regeneration, and the city is now a hub for lively bars and hidden gems. The city has not one but two Botanical Gardens; the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses and then the hidden Winterbourne House and Garden next to the University. The University of Birmingham is also host to an impressive fossil collection at The Lapworth Museum of Geology, fine art at The Barber Institute and the tallest freestanding clock-tower in the world (for now!). The city centre has its own museum that has regularly rotating exhibitions and a growing number of fine dining options and bars. You will be surprised by what the second city has to offer. So why not spend a weekend exploring it.

CARDIFF

@tattunicorn

@lou.wt

The Welsh capital hides under the radar but Cardiff is one of our top picks at the office for a weekend getaway. The city centre arcades are home to coffee brewers, vintage shops and delicatessens, perfect for wandering through. An impressive castle in the middle of town sits guarding Bute Park & Arboretum, which hosts the RHA’s flower show in Cardiff. Head downtown to the bay for the iconic Millenium Centre, a cutesy Norwegian Church turned art gallery and plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you busy well into the night. The nearby suburb of Penarth also offers the perfect seaside break if you’re in need of some sunshine and of course, there’s Barry Island where everyone’s favourite sitcom, Gavin & Stacey was partly filmed.

PORTMEIRION

@visitwales

@hannahbullen_

If you’re in North Wales, for a day head down to the model village of Portmeirion three miles from Porthmadog. Built by Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis, this picturesque village was purposely built to resemble an idyllic Italian town. It was also the backdrop for the iconic cult classic TV show The Prisoner, a fact the village celebrates with it’s own convention each year and official merchandise that can be bought at one of the village shops. Even if you’re not a fan of 1960s TV, the town is painted in bright colours making it a perfect quirky day out to see something a bit different.

YORK

@yorkshire_pudding

York is a patchwork of history. From the Romans, to the Vikings to modern day, York boasts more things to see and do peer square mile than any other UK city. The National Railway Museum is just outside of the train station, a perfect place to keep the kids entertained for a while. There’s also plenty of ways to explore the town’s history, weather it’s the Viking Experience, the chocolate experience or a walk around the medieval walls. Of course there’s the iconic minster which dominates the city skyline in the middle of town. York is also filled with cobbled streets lined with shops and taverns serving real ale from across the country, so there’s something no matter what time of day to keep you occupied. Just watch out for the geese.

THE CAMEL ESTUARY

@daisypeat

@her.edition

Windswept beaches and cutesy fishing villages dominate the Cornish coastline, but arguably none are as dreamy as the towns at the mouth of the Camel River. The villages of Padstow, Port Isaac and Polzeath combine to make this beautiful section of Cornwall. Padstow, the largest of this become notorious for its association with Rick Stein, and tourists flock to this food lovers’ destination. The town boasts itself as an ideal place for watersports such as rock-pooling, bodyboarding and even surfing. The neighbouring town across the river of Rock is a popular spot for lunch and watersports, whilst Polzeath, a short drive away is a notorious surfspot, but is also perfect for beach lovers and summer walks along the South West Coastal Path.

THE LAKE DISTRICT

@haarkon

A cliched choice, but there’s a reason thousands of Britons flock to this destination in the north of England and here’s why you should too. First of all, the Lakes are some of the most stunning landscapes Britain has to offer, perfect for walking holidays and long road trips through the countryside. Other outdoor activities such as climbing also are right at home here amongst the dramatic natural landscape. For those less active, the regions has a number of small towns and historical attractions. Famous writers like William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter all made the Lake District their home and their houses are now open to the public. Towns like Keswick, Windermere and nearby Kendall offer picturesque hubs in the otherwise rural National Park.

EDINBURGH

edinburgh.org

thisisedinburgh

Scotland’s capital is a beautiful alternative to weekends away in London. On the edge of a dormant volcano, the city has sprawling neighbourhoods with plenty on offer for everyone. The old town is home to the medieval castle, a perfect place to start your walk down the legendary Royal Mile. The old town is also thought to be the inspiration for Harry Potter locations such as Diagon Alley, but the winding streets are perfect places to wander around. Edinburgh’s new town is equally as stunning, with Georgian neoclassical architecture. Alongside its history as a hub for Enlightenment philosophers, this architecture is what gave it its nickname “The Athens of The North”. Other neighbourhoods add a unique charm to the city, such as Deans Village and the waterside suburb of Leith has been named one of the world’s trendiest new neighbourhoods. It’s a perfect choice for explorers, shoppers and history nerds alike.

Wherever you go, why not send a real postcard to your friends and family back home to keep them updated on all the places you explore? PostSnap allows you to use your own photos to send real printed postcards to anyone in the world, meaning no matter where you are, there’s an easy and affordable way to stay in touch while out on your travels. No more searching cities for stamps and a postbox, so more time can be spent seeing the sights!

PostSnap is free to download and if you have Apple Pay there’s no need to sign up! You can also find us and our products at our website optimised for mobiles at www.postsnap.co.uk .

13th 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

General Travel

Travel Tuesday: Creative ways to remember your journey

by ben 22nd August 2017

written by ben

To travel is to live

Don’t just take happy snaps while you’re on holiday or travelling – get creative! Capture your experiences in every city/country/town by having a signature look, style or theme. For example, the roaming gnome who was photographed at every location.
Here are five ideas:

1. A selfie in every city
A selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower, a selfie by the Golden Gate Bridge… Get classy and treat yourself to a selfie-stick before you go!
Selfie on the beach

2. Take a photograph of a dog in every city
I personally tried to find a horse in every city – which was surprisingly easy to do across Europe! If I couldn’t find one, a photo of a horse statue sufficed.

3. Try a *enter your favourite food here* in every town
I went through a stage of trying an iced chocolate at every cafe we went to. I even went as far as taking photos of each one and rating it in a pocket notebook. Perfect idea for foodies who don’t have a large baggage allowance for heavy souvenirs.

4. Visit a film location in every country
Obsessed with movies? Find out where your favourite film was shot here.
Going away? Check what was filmed there and devise a travel itinerary to match.
I went to Bruges and marvelled at the tower where the movie In Bruges was filmed. It was a strange feeling.

5. Same pose in every place
This is a classic one shown below. Or, do a jig at every location – do you remember that YouTube guy who got famous by dancing poorly at every destination?

Get your holiday pics printed on postcards while travelling, and have them delivered to your home. When you get back, display your photo postcards around your bedroom mirror or in an album. ? (Download the free Postsnap app here.)

22nd August 2017 1 comment

General Travel

Fun websites for the bored traveller

by ben 24th May 2017

written by ben

Bored at the airport

Stuck at the airport waiting for your flight?
Tapping your nails on the desk until your next holiday?
Imagining what life is like on the other side of the world?

Well, be bored no more! For here are the five most addictive, interesting and entertaining websites across time and space for you to draw travel inspiration from (or just waste your time on):

Where in the world am I?
The website plonks you on a street somewhere in the world via Google Maps, and you have to pin-point your location on the adjacent world map. It is actually incredibly fun for someone who loves travelling. You could see every corner of the earth within your five rounds. The closer your location is to where you think you are, the more points you get! Play Geoguessr here.

Take the weather with you.
Experience the weather anywhere in the world with Dark Sky. It is an incredibly accurate weather forecaster, and shows you the weather anywhere in the world – future or past.

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads…
Pick a place and pick an era – we are going back in time with Radiooooo! It’s a super cool concept where you can listen to songs that were hits on the radio in the country and time of your choice.

Get inspired by reading historic postcards.
Read letters, postcards, memos and notes, from famous artists, writers, musicians and politicians from decades past. Some are inspirational, some are funny and some are shocking… Find them at Letters of Note.
(Make history by creating your own postcard with Postsnap!)

Create the world around you.
Travellers are adventurous by nature. Speaking of nature… Use the four elements of water, air, fire and earth to see what you can create on this website Little Alchemy! It’s incredibly addictive. Simply drag the elements and drop them on top of each other to combine them. You can mix and experiment for hours and you can create pretty much anything your creativity and scientific knowledge allows.

I hope these keep you occupied before you next go jet-setting. When you get there, be sure to send back some postcards. ?

24th May 2017 1 comment

General Travel

Best things about Melbourne, Australia

by ben 12th May 2017

written by ben

Having visited Melbourne recently, staying on the industrial South Bank, I have fond memories of the lively and colourful South coast city. It is truly the arty heart of Australia. Southbank Melbourne

Coffee culture
The coffee-drinking and brunch-eating culture is an important part of life here. You can’t go far without feeling the need to grab a medium trim latte with gluten-free, sour-dough bread topped with crushed avocado and cherry tomatoes with a side of a super grain salad.

Artistic hub
On every corner you’ll find a vinyl store, while down every alley you’ll find murals and graffiti art, and along the bricked streets you’ll find jazz musicians and street performers of every kind.

Craft beer brewers are boasted at pubs, married up with their homegrown, organic skewered burgers. It’s like a bohemian, creative hub that attracts street artists of every nature – whether it be food, drink, painting or music.

Markets
It won’t take long before you stumble across a market filled with tent after tent of clothes and food and coffee stands, all tucked between and around fire-breathing magicians, Mexican bands, 1920s-style musicians, and exotic pet shops (selling snakes and spiders).

Quirks
Back in central Melbourne, you’ll find the major shopping mall has a 50-metre-tall brick tower growing beneath the mall’s glass ceiling, which is known as Coop’s Shot Tower built in the 1880s.

With the likes of Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda, a beautiful beach, you will find Luna Park. Luna Park is a theme park that sports a wooden rollercoaster that celebrated its 100th year in 2012. It’s these quirks that makes Melbourne’s famous white-sand beaches so special.

Health and well-being
Possibly linked to the healthy brunch habits of ‘Melburnians’, I couldn’t help but notice their active lifestyle. I saw more people taking their dogs for a run along the beach than I did sun-worshippers. On every corner was a gym, and 100% fruit and veggie smoothies were available on tap.

Send a postcard from or to Melbourne, using the Postsnap App. ??

12th May 2017 1 comment

General Travel

Six tips for your coach-tour trip

by ben 25th April 2017

written by ben

Last summer, I spent 10 days on the road travelling through Europe via coach. I would highly recommend it – particularly if you have limited time and money, or if you’re travelling solo. It’s great if you’re nervous about travelling, because you’re in a big group and everything has already been organised for you.

There are many coach-tour companies to go with, but I happened to go with TopDeck.

If you do choose to go on a coach tour, here are a few tips to ensure you make the most of your time away from home:

Don’t pack your whole wardrobe
Over-packing and over-spending on your travels I can’t stress this enough. Sometimes the hostels you stay in have awkward spiral-staircases (I’m referring to castle accommodation we had in Germany’s Rhine Valley). Light, small suitcases will be ideal for the few outfits you’d need – especially since there are usually laundry facilities at the hostels.

My rule of thumb: Pack one clothing option for every weather possibility, and one formal outfit. Everything else needs to be comfy, conservative clothes for walking in – we walked 15 kilometres in Paris including the 600+ stairs up the Eiffel Tower, to give you an idea.

Look out the window, not at the mirror
Travelling to Paris eiffel tower on a coach tour Please don’t be concerned by how you look. Be natural and don’t spend two hours in your room stressing over what to wear for dinner. Get going – there’s food downstairs, people to talk to and a fantastic country you’ve never been to outside your door!

What’s a ‘comfort zone’? Try everything – go for bike tours in Amsterdam, climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, hike through the mountains of the Swiss Alps, stroke the horses in Bruges who trip-trop through the city, eat that Italian pizza and pasta, eat those French garlic snails! This is not the time to watch your waistline.

Above all, send your postcards
Take your selfies for sending postcards while travelling Most hostels and some coaches have WiFi, so instead of saving up your photos to upload to Facebook, send them back to friends and family with Postsnap. Upload your selfie from Venice, write a message and send! We have printers all over the world, so no matter where your recipient is they’ll receive your postcard within days. They make great keep-sakes and souvenirs that you don’t have to carry around with you – they’ll be waiting on your doorstep upon your return home, ready for reminiscing.

Shower in the evenings, not in the mornings
Go on an adventure while travelling Mornings can be hectic! So have your shower in the evening without worrying about the line of impatient, sleepy people outside. You’ll have more privacy and less stress in the evenings, but more importantly, a lie-in during the morning.

Early birds: Going on a coach tour means a strict schedule needs to be stuck to, and this usually includes early-morning departures. It can be fast-paced – one day we had breakfast in Italy, lunch in Austria, and dinner in Germany!

Hangovers are not fun when on a the road
Drinking while travelling After our night in Italy, I remember looking around at my fellow travellers on the coach the next morning and not feeling the slightest tinge of regret in staying [more-or-less] sober the night before. “Sleeping it off on the coach” is not as practical as it sounds, and motion-sickness appears to be much worse when hung-over.

Top tip: Spend your money on experiences, not alcohol. I’m sure you’ve already experienced the feeling of drinking too much, so spend your time staying alert and experience Paris at sunset or early mornings in Switzerland instead!

‘Hello, let’s be friends. Best friends.’
Finding best friends on your travels On my trip, there were more than 40 people from every corner of the world, including a woman who lived literally around the corner from me back home! (What!?) You’ll make life-long friends, and you’ll have plenty of offers for free accommodation for future trips to Australia, Canada, Mexico, USA…

Everyone is in the same boat as you, everyone wants to have fun and be kind, so don’t be shy – book your epic road trip and remember it with personalised Postsnap postcards. ?

25th April 2017 1 comment

Travel destinations that need to be on your bucket list

General Travel

Five must-visit travel destinations for your bucket list

by ben 20th April 2017

written by ben

If you’re starting to think about all the amazing and wonderful places you’d love to visit and send postcards from, make sure you include these top five places!

1. Send a postcard from Iceland

Iceland should be on your bucket list of places to visit

Icelandic ponies

If you enjoy the great outdoors, epic scenery, hotdogs, peace, quiet and horses, then a road trip around Iceland has to be on your bucket list! You can’t ever predict the weather in Iceland – a tiny island in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean is prone to serious cold snaps and rather windy weather.

But as a guide, if you go in the summer you will miss the snow and be confronted with lush fields between the mountains where wild horses graze, but beware of the midges at this time of year. If winter looks too cold for you, I suggest autumn (Aug-Oct). The crisp, cool air can still sting but you may just be lucky to catch the northern lights providing the clouds stay away.

Top tip: The best way to see Iceland is by van as you will likely get bored (and broke) staying in the city. Happy Campers are a great van rental company to use.

2. Send a postcard from New Zealand

Hobbiton in New Zealand should be on your bucket list

Hobbiton (Lord of the Rings movie set), Matamata

But the big question is: North Island or South Island?
North Island is full of tourist hot spots like the hot water beaches of the Coromandel, the luge in Rotorua, 90 Mile Beach, and Hobbiton (Lord of the Rings set). You also have the two major cities of Auckland and Wellington, if you fancy a spot of shopping.

Whereas in the South Island you have about a million people spread out on an island the size of England and Wales combined!* Vast open roads that link pleasant rural and skiing towns such as Arrowtown, Queenstown and the Edinburgh-esk city of Dunedin. If you love the countryside, mountains, lakes and a place to ski (or walk in the summer), then rent a camper van and get going!

*England and Wales is populated by about 56 million people on 151,040km² of land, and the South Island is populated by one million on 151,215 km² of land!

3. Send a postcard from Dorset

Dorset should be on your travel bucket list

Durdle Door, Dorset

If you’re coming to England, I suggest skipping London and coming straight to Dorset! Home of the Jurassic Coast, and the cliffs made famous by Broadchurch. Plus, the beautiful beaches of the Purbecks, the shopping district of Bournemouth and the grand New Forest. There is so much to do here! Just be aware that Dorset is far from being an undiscovered holiday destination, so it may be best to come outside of the school holidays to avoid enjoying the view from inside a stationary vehicle on a gridlocked road.

4. Send a postcard from Paris

Moulin Rouge in Paris should be on your travel bucket list

The famous Moulin Rouge, Paris

Stereotypical, I know, but Paris is a place of expression and stunning sites. Parisians are as brusque and confident as they are elegant and indulgent. Guilt from eating good food doesn’t seem to be common place here as it is in the UK, and quite frankly, I loved this attitude! Eat good food, get inspired by the architecture and art, wear elegant clothes, walk, talk and express yourself confidently. If you go to Paris, get ready to immerse yourself into the culture of simply enjoying life at a slower pace without the guilt.

5. Send a postcard from Melbourne

Graffiti lane in Melbourne should be on your travel bucket list

Hosier Lane (AKA Graffiti Lane), Melbourne

The arty heart of Australia found on the Southern coastline. A broad city of trams and cafes, with streets populated by painters, graffiti artists, performers and musicians. Melbourne is colourful, vibrant and youthful with a distinct character fuelled by independent companies that sell vinyl records and skewered burgers. The coffee-drinking and brunch-eating culture is an important part of life here – a perfect place to shop or to sit in a brick-walled, back-alley cafe and write that zombie romance novel you always meant to.

20th April 2017 2 comments

Download these must-have travel apps on your phone

General Travel

Five smart apps to have when travelling

by ben 1st February 2017

written by ben

There may be times when you need to put your phone away while travelling. But your phone can also become the handiest travelling buddy you can have.

Here are the top five apps every traveller should have on their phone while on the go:

AirBnb
Perfect for the impromptu traveller. With the AirBnb app, it is easy to book accommodation at short notice – particularly helpful for long-term stays. Something I didn’t know, was that you can use this app to book guided local experiences and excursions, for a Sunday afternoon or a mini-break.

Trip Advisor
This is my go-to for finding places to eat when in a new, strange city. Wanting to find a close-by coffee shop to experience the local culture and cuisine, while avoiding the likes of Starbucks and Costa? The Trip Advisor app will conveniently list numerous places that fit your dietary requirements and criteria, including independent reviews from previous customers to base your choice upon.

Trip Advisor also offers millions of reviews and information on accommodation and destinations.

Whatsapp
The instant messaging app that allows you to easily keep in touch with friends and family for free. It has overtaken the likes of text messaging, which may incur extra charges while overseas. Whatsapp, similar to Facebook Messenger and Viber, allows group chats as well as photo, video and file sharing, enabling you to keep in touch and share your experiences easily with the people who matter most.

Google Translate
A rather handy tool to ensure you’re always able to communicate with people around you without a language barrier. Just like the desktop-based Google Translate, you can copy and paste text for immediate translation. But a particularly smart feature of this app includes the ability to point your device’s camera at a sign or text, and the app will translate it for you in real time. Handy when you need to know which is the men’s and women’s toilets!

Postsnap App
Postcards are coming back. Personalise your own postcard with your own text, and your own photo of the Golden Gate Bridge or Sydney Opera House to send back to friends and family in physical form. Use the Postsnap App for a personal card while you’re so far away from home.

There’s also no excuse to miss birthdays or anniversaries while away anymore, either. Postsnap also provides personalised Greeting Cards that are sent in envelopes.

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As long as you have WiFi and battery on your iPhone, you are set for travelling. Sometimes your phone is the best travelling tool you can have.

1st February 2017 0 comment

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