Traveller Letters: Fantastic, cheap airline deserves access to Australia

Ireland is the only country in the world where you’ll be standing at a bus stop and someone will come up to you and say, “Is that yourself there now?”
David Dumble, Chelsea, Vic

Free speech

Sorry, Patricia Reid (Traveller Letters, September 23), why should it be the airline’s responsibility (Qatar Airways or otherwise) to “keep a free seat next to you”? It is unfortunate that you had an injured shoulder, but you (or your travel agent) should have reserved a suitable seat. Even if it came at a cost. “Forcibly arguing” with airline staff is probably counter-productive. Better luck, no, better planning, next time.
Gerhard Engleitner, Hurstville, NSW

Hey presto

The power of Traveller letters never ceases to amaze. A week after publishing my letter on the paucity of Qantas Frequent Flyer seats, the airline’s new chief executive, Vanessa Hudson, issues her “I am sorry” broadcast and claims that Qantas will improve, including by offering more Frequent Flyer seats.
Maurice Critchley, Mangrove Mountain, NSW

Room self-service

I enjoyed Lee Tulloch’s thrifty tips (Traveller, September 16) and have also found bidets to be perfect wash troughs. However, a dinner of chocolate bar and chips sounded frightful. I revel in travel frugality, so a box of essential condiments combined with local fresh fruit, veg and bread always ensures a creative, nourishing hotel room dinner. In Australia, we pack our trusty Sunbeam sandwich press which we use to fry eggplant, capsicum, asparagus, broccoli, tofu and eggs and you can even make a toastie. For a special wedding anniversary we booked the Hydro Majestic hotel in NSW’s Blue Mountains where we popped vintage Veuve Clicquot to accompany a picnic dinner in our luxurious private suite. Perfect.
A.L. Matheson, Gordon, NSW

Ronald not Donald

For travellers interested in US Presidential libraries (Traveller, September 23), I would highly recommend the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. It is easily accessible from Los Angeles and is very much in his Hollywood-era style with Air Force One, Marine One and limousines to explore. My kids (ages nine and 11) greatly enjoyed it and are now trivia experts on the 40th US president.
Stuart Barrie, Manly, NSW
Editor’s note: You can find out more about Ronald Reagan’s library in our feature article about it here.

To provoke is no joke

I was surprised to read in your Arnhem Land article (Traveller, September 16) the reference to the Outback Spirit guide seemingly provoking buffaloes. Having travelled to many wilderness environments (Arctic, Botswana, Galapagos, Amazon), where the local guides take their stewardship of the environments seriously and with commitment, I found it shocking and disappointing. It’s not what I want to see or do. I want to learn in a way that is respectful and to do so with as light a touch as possible.
Sue Harper, Brunswick, Vic

Go slow

I really appreciated Nina Karnikowski’s insightful essay about mindful travel (Traveller, September 23). As Karnikowski explains, travel is responsible for 8 per cent of global emissions and degrades both wilderness and local cultures. Travel, however, also accounts for 10 per cent of all the world’s jobs and offers invaluable opportunities for learning and experience. To balance these two realities, reducing the frequency and speed of our travelling by embracing the increasingly popular concept of slow travel is a must-do.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Zip it

I always remove my bangles and zip them safely inside my handbag before going through security (Traveller Letters, September 16), to remove the chance of me leaving them in the security tray.
Michele Davis, Point Lonsdale, Vic

Tip of the week: Every twitch way

Two weeks in the Northern Territory were a joy with the Virgin flights on time and no quarantine or passport issues. I had a delightful few days exploring Darwin and the Tiwi Islands but the highlight was a fantastic seven-day tour with the extremely knowledgeable Luke Paterson of NT Bird Specialists (ntbirdspecialists.com.au) which included a tour to Katherine, Pine Creek and Yellow Waters, where we drifted along watching the brolgas delving into the mud and jacanas delicately balanced on water lily pads.
Sue Robertson, Cheltenham, Vic

Flagging support

When hiring a car in Italy (Traveller Letters, September 23) the first mistake is to try to drop off your rental car in the middle of Rome as it is better to return it somewhere like the airport and then get the train into the city. We know that now. But if you find yourself, like my family did, stressed to the max, driving around in circles, in horrendous traffic and Google Maps seems to be sending you to nothing but dead end streets, here’s what my clever husband did. We pulled over and flagged a taxi. I jumped in the taxi and told the driver where to go and my husband followed. We were there in less than five minutes.
Lisa Del Vecchio, South Coogee, NSW

Sensory overload

I first visited India four years ago with a desire long held to visit this country of wonders. I found my senses taken over by the colour, sights and sounds, and its people, wherever I went. At every turn, life happened and every moment filled my heart, and left a desire to return. So I head back in five weeks, to see, learn and be a part of this amazing country and to enjoy encounters with these beautiful people again. To have experienced Varanasi just once will stay with me forever as new destinations await me.
Cheralyn Brown, Daleys Point, NSW

Valletta to the letter

While I agree with unofficial tour guide Joanna’s selection of places to visit in Malta (Traveller, September 27), even with only two days available the Hypogeum is not to be missed. On the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is a unique prehistoric monument more than 5000 years old.
Fairlie Nassau, Glen Iris, Vic

When third is first

I’ve just returned from our trip of a lifetime - Nice, Monte Carlo, Antibes, Cannes, Lisbon and Madrid - with the only mishap being an entertainment malfunction on flight. We caught taxis, trams, buses, walked a lot and hung out at the “third places” - squares, boulevards, parks, beach restaurants, small neighbourhood bars. We engaged with locals in a few words of their language, and they were delighted to hear we were from Sydney. We were treated to complimentary drinks and upgrades just for being friendly Aussies. On our return to Dubai, we enjoyed three nights at a luxury resort and hung out at the highest infinity pool in the world with the beautiful people.
Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW

What’s the damage?

If you are soon to travel overseas, it behoves you to check the condition of your passport, as well as the validity. Two acquaintances have, in the last three months, been denied exit from Australian airports. It appears that their passports had slight “damage”. As I was booked to fly on October 2, I took a good look at my passport which is eight years old. All looked fine to my eyes, but to be sure I visited the passport office in Sydney on Monday, September 25, to have it checked. Four days later I collected my new passport.
Sandy Watson, Artarmon, NSW

The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com