I searched for the above topic and could not find anything similar.
Many people love sending postcards and letters from abroad when touring different countries. However, finding a post office abroad is not only time consuming, but aggravating and daunting. On a recent trip to Roatan, Honduras I was told to buy a 25 Lempira stamp (US $1) for US $3! I did not send a postcard from Honduras.
I have decided to be prepared and take my own foreign postage stamps on my trips abroad. Case in point: I was in Canada recently and took with me several Canadian stamps to frank my letters and postcards. It worked like a charm. I did the same thing in Alaska: I purchased retired Alaska themed stamps on eBay and used them on my postcards with my regular stamps I carried. The postcards look great!
I am in need of current, mint, postage stamps from GREECE, TURKEY, ITALY, VATICAN, MONACO, FRANCE. The values: GREECE: 0,90 €, TURKEY: 2,50 TRY, ITALY, VATICAN: 2 €, FRANCE, MONACO: 0,90 OR 1 €.
I have seen on eBay a few Greece postage stamps, current 2014 issues, at excellent prices.
re: Buying foreign stamps before going on a trip abroad
Hi Robert
When we go on trips abroad I always Google the country and the places we will be visiting find the post offices and print off the maps. Couldn't be easier.
Brian
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 24 Sep 2014 09:47:24pm
re: Buying foreign stamps before going on a trip abroad
Robert
It couldn't hurt to copy and paste this same message in the "Wanted to Buy" topic (HERE). Be sure and add that all responses should be via email or PM.
Bobby
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 25 Sep 2014 04:23:48pm
re: Buying foreign stamps before going on a trip abroad
There is one flaw in that plan if you are going further than Canada or the UK. Postage rates change and sometime certain stamps are devalued.
In some places even the currency is occasionally devalued. I like the map idea and always enjoyed roaming around looking for a post office.
I can imagine some clever devil using eBay to unload worthless Zimbabwe $10,000 notes or:
Don't bother that's 100 Trillion Zimbabwe dollars. It is likely not worth the match you'd use to set it afire.
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 28 Sep 2014 12:16:28pm
re: Buying foreign stamps before going on a trip abroad
Or if I? send one to Washington it can b my contribution to pay off the next useless war.
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
re: Buying foreign stamps before going on a trip abroad
Thank you for the suggestions. I do get maps and do research, but, truthfully, trying to find a post-office or a tobacconist, or a kiosk, or a person who sells stamps in a tourist location is absolutely a waste of time:
--In Provence, a postal clerk did not really appear to want to help me at all, but he did sell me some stamps after much hassle;
--in Tangier, Morocco I bought great stamps from a street vendor selling from off a little table in an allley, but I almost got lost in the KASBA!;
--in Italy, Florence--the worst--a post office lady clerk refused to sell me any postage stamps because I went to the wrong window; at a "tobacconist", run by a young Russian and his girl friend, I bought six Euros of special private stamps not valid postally, they were labels from a private mail delivery company: lost my postcards and money... bummer;
--Gibraltar was OK. I bought some stamps at the top of the Rock: the ugly Queen's Jubilee issue, and expensive;
--Rome was wonderful: but they sell 2 Euro stamps for postcards (that's about $3 US!!!) at a gift shop outside St. Peter's Square;
--The only places where I have found pleasant, courteous, and helpful post office clerks have been in Cadiz, Montreal, Quebec and Vancouver, and in Turks and Caicos. Turks and Caicos, a really tiny island, promotes philately and has a post office branch right at the pier, near Margaritaville, with a sign written in pencil on a piece of cardboard from an old box--I was there a year ago. It was precious. Service was great and personalized, and with a great stock of stamps. I took my time looking at stamps, listening to steel drum music coming from Margaritaville! I bought a bunch of stamps even though I do not collect T&C. My postcards arrived on time and are beautiful. Sweet! Go figure...
To make a long story short (LOL), whenever possible, I will bring MNH current foreign stamps with me on my trips. I'll research the current postal rates and I'll mail postcards and letters without a problem. I will pay a premium for these stamps here in the US, but I will avoid all the hassles and aggravation and make my visit a truly pleasant one. YOLO.
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