Wsh u wr here: Brits send holiday texts, not postcards

You're settling in to your holiday and having the time of your life.  So you'll want to drop a postcard home to share your experience with the folks back home.  Right?

Well, wrong.  If recent research by AA Travel Insurance is anything to go by, the nation is losing the art of penning a postcard with only a third (37%) saying they'll take the time to use this traditional way of saying ‘wish you were here'.

But that doesn't mean to say holidaymakers don't tell family and friends about their holiday: indeed, only 3% of those surveyed said they don't send any kind of message home.  Instead, travellers are much more likely to use electronic communications.

The most popular way to express holiday happiness to those back home is to send a text (48%).  Others will send emailed pictures of where they are (17%) while another 15% will update their Facebook page.  With the advent of ever more versatile communications devices, some (7%) send a multi-media clip.

Mark Huggins, director of AA Travel Insurance, laments the passing of the traditional post-card.  "This really is the most personal way to send a message home - from choosing the image to composing a compelling summary of your thoughts in your own handwriting. And, of course, pens don't need a left-at-home charger to work, while losing a ballpoint in the sand won't result in an insurance claim! Most people enjoy receiving a postcard through their letterbox, too."

He does agree, though, that postcards aren't instant with a card often arriving long after the holiday is over.

While postcards may be falling out of favour, another type of holiday card is becoming more popular.  "Currency cards are rapidly becoming the most convenient and secure way to take care of your holiday money," Mark Huggins says.

"For example, the AA's new Travel Currency Cards can be pre-loaded with your travel money and then used in the same way as a debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs overseas, 24 hours a day.  It removes the need to change travellers' cheques or carry large sums of foreign currency. The cards come with no usage charges; offer competitive exchange rates and can be used at any MasterCard outlet.

"You could even use it to buy your postcards!"

For more information, visit theaa.com.