Despite computers, iPads and mobile phones, the humble postcard is managing to hold its own as a form of vacation and holiday correspondence, a survey of 505 people by Generator Hostels, a European hostel chain reports. More than a quarter (28 percent) of international visitors at Generator Hostels still send a postcard to friends and family when traveling abroad.
While some vacationers are sending postcards back to their friends and family, unsurprisingly the most favored method of contact while abroad is Facebook, with 73 percent of those surveyed using it to contact family and friends back home, the company reports.
Despite the rising popularity of social networks, it seems the personal touch has not lost favor, with many young travelers phoning (60 percent) and texting (60 percent) their closest friends and family while abroad.
Video calls were a surprisingly popular method of contact, with 33 per cent choosing it to contact their friends and family at home while traveling. This highlights the popularity of applications such as Skype, the survey notes.
“It is great to see that young travelers are still sending postcards in this era of mobile technology. Postcards have always been the traditional way of telling everyone at home what a great time you’re having on holiday,” said Julia Luker at Generator Hostels.
“However, it's not surprising to see that video and Facebook are some of the most popular modes of contact, especially with so many hostels and hotels providing internet access free of charge. We regularly see guests sharing their location at our hostels on Facebook, and using the free internet in the social areas to Skype their families at home,” Luker says.
Generator Hostels has hostels in Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hamburg, London and Venice, with over 4,500 beds in Europe and attracts over 1.2 million visitors from around the world each year. It will add hostels in Barcelona and Berlin in 2013.
Visit www.GeneratorHostels.com.