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Postcard from my friend Anna.
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all. Cut off communication 100% from those not directly around you and just clear your head. But in this increasingly digital world, sometimes you want to share your photos, videos, snippets of adventure with those you care about most. Here are five great ways to do just that.
Ways to Keep in Touch While Traveling
- Postcards: Nothing beats getting a postcard from far away, worn at the edges from passing through so many hands, often with a foreign stamp in the corner and a beautiful image on the front, an excited note scrawled on the back. Many places sell these in packs, so you don’t have to spend much time hunting for them and can usually get stamps from the same location. Make sure you put the right amount of postage or your friends won’t get your awesome note! Tip: print labels beforehand with names and addresses of everyone you want to send a postcard to. That way you won’t forget anyone later and it saves you from having to write it out by hand. Physical postcards make neat souvenirs for those back home, but there are also several companies which you can send digital ones through, often using your own photo! Or ones,like Postagram, that will send a physical card using your photo.
- Email and letters: Good old fashioned written communication! Letters give that nice handwritten feel without the length restrictions of a postcard. Email is useful for when you have a list of people you want to update at once. Both are ideal for when you’re on longer trips (several weeks or months) rather than a short vacation. You can also use email to text people without incurring overseas charges, see how here.
- Skype/video calls: While there are many services you can use to video chat with friends or family, Skype is the most well known. Sometimes you need to see a friendly face or hear someone’s voice and this is a great way to do that, provided you have a decent internet connection and a camera/mic.
- Messaging apps: Apps such as WhatsApp or Kik can be used as a substitute for an international texting plan. Many such apps include features such as video or photos and can be much cheaper than international texting. However, many also need an Internet connection or data to use.
- Social Media: Whether it be through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or one of the other countless social networking sites, there are a variety of ways to share your travels in real time. Uploading photos for friends and family to view at their leisure and then comment on is easy for both parties. Just don’t get caught up in checking your notifications when you could be enjoying priceless works of art!
Sharing your adventures with those you care about is easy in today’s connected world. Even if you can’t, or don’t want to, find internet to use you can still send written notes, it just takes a little longer. What medium do you prefer to use to stay in touch when traveling?
Hi, I'm Heather! By age 17, I had visited all seven continents and fully developed an obsession with traveling. I feel most alive when I'm learning about other countries and cultures, meeting locals, and discovering beautiful places. My goal of this site is to help you get the most out of your adventures!
Hi! How about international simcards? I use it, when I travel abroad, and it helps me to stay in touch with my lovely friends, sisters, mom, dad and my elderly grandparents. And absolutely excludes big roaming bills.
Hi Sarah! Yes, those can be very useful! But some people aren’t gone long enough to justify the purchase of one or else don’t want to spend the money. Great suggestion!
Agree with Sarah about roaming simcards! I personally used the one named TravelSim and I use it every time I travel, even if it’s just a short visit. Really cheap rates