Facebook texts in, postcard messages passe for holidaymakers

According to the study, the rise of the smartphones means holidaymakers can tweet or text about their fun in the sun rather than putting pen to paper, with many dismissing postcards as 'too slow'.

The research showed that just one in six holidaymakers now send postcards to friends and family when they go abroad.

Nearly half of the 2,000 people surveyed said they had never sent a postcard rather preferring to text, call or use Facebook to keep in touch with home, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

The figure increases to more than half of young people aged under 24, many of whom take their social life abroad with them by posting envy-inducing photos of their adventures online for their friends back home.

Many holidaymakers choose to keep in regular touch with home, with others continuing to use the internet to check the news as well as maps and guidebooks.

Over all 46 per cent of those surveyed admitted to keeping in constant touch with friends and family at home when they go abroad.

According to the study, sending text messages is the biggest cause of the decline of the postcard, with more than half of people (60 per cent) surveyed using texts as a way to keep friends and family updated.

Phoning home is the second most popular way to stay in touch, while a third of holidaymakers (34 per cent) use Facebook and 29 per cent choose to e-mail loved ones about their travels.

Almost four in 10 people surveyed dismissed postcards as too slow, while more than a third (36 per cent) felt that finding a stamp or a postbox was too difficult. Nearly one in 10 (8 per cent) were worried about the postman reading their holiday news.