LETTER OF THE WEEK
THINGS THAT GO BUMP
In October final 12 months, I flew Perth-Brisbane-Perth with Virgin Australia with solely hand baggage. The return flight was delayed for an hour due to “paperwork that must be mounted”. Then an announcement was made that the delay meant that headwinds can be encountered and thus a number of passengers can be offloaded. I used to be certainly one of them. I inquired as to why I used to be chosen and was knowledgeable that it was as a result of I did not have checked-in baggage. I requested what would occur if I refused and was informed I might be eliminated. Aged in my 70s, this notion was terrifying so I meekly complied however burst into tears. I used to be “consoled” by being parked within the enterprise lounge until the subsequent flight 5 hours later and suggested to use for compensation. I used to be provided $100 credit score to fly with them once more. As if. However I might like to know the way offloading eight passengers was calculated to offset robust headwinds?
Catherine Corridor, Kalamunda WA
LIGHTEN UP
Bemused, I listened in on a dialog between two travelling {couples} final week. One complained about flights entering into (insert capital metropolis) at midnight, the opposite complained about (insert finances airline) being half means from X to Y and having to show again because the pilot had exceeded his flight hours quota. We realized, a very long time in the past, to journey with Qantas and get by with hand baggage, not checked baggage. Although Qantas airfares could also be costlier, the airline has by no means left us stranded. Hand baggage permits us to pivot rapidly if flights are modified, and it is simply prudent to guide a resort which presents visitor laundry services or is situated close to a laundromat so we are able to journey with just some days’ value of garments.
Belinda Coombs, Ermington NSW
INSTANT RECALL
Due to Ben Groundwater (Traveller, December 10) for getting my reminiscences of Japan moving into his Savvy Traveller article. It has been some time however I recall the same international trade fee in 2010. We nonetheless regarded to chop bills by becoming a member of as much as Toyoko Inns, buying scrumptious bento bins at prepare stations, consuming on the Yoshinoya restaurant chain and the numerous noodle outlets the place you checked out an image, selected your meal, then put your cash within the machine which then gave you a ticket to go to the counter along with your order. “Fortunate dip meals”, as I known as them, and at all times scrumptious and so low-cost. That meant extra money to place in the direction of beautiful kaiseki and soften within the mouth wagyu hibachi meals as a splurge which completely have to be executed. And staying in ryokans, particularly within the countryside is a must-do.
Vicki Copping, Oatley, NSW
COLD CASE
My suitcase was broken on a Singapore Airways flight in early September final 12 months and my small declare for compensation remains to be unresolved. Its Baggage Companies division is not possible to contact, as is its consultant Swissport at Melbourne Airport. Even elevating 5 formal complaints has achieved nothing, so beware in case your bag is misplaced or broken by this airline. Or use an previous bag simply in case
Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill, Vic
BARE FACTS
Footwear on or off in flight (Traveller, January 3)? In my expertise the actual culprits are hikers’ socks which have been worn on an overland trek in addition to runners that do not breathe except taken off. Naked ft are lovely.
John Swanton, Coogee, NSW
REX VEX
Grant Taylor’s letter (Traveller Letters, December 4) about Rex Airways doubling the fare with the intention to merely change a date is typical of most airways. One other standard rort is to refuse transferring tickets to anybody else if you cannot make it. Unreasonable, even whether it is within the advantageous print. Airways say the “low” fares are a really particular privilege. Garbage. They’re “low” to ensure they will load their planes to 100 per cent and purchase greater or extra planes for bragging rights. We’d like a union of a minimum of 5 million Australian flyers who will solely fly with rort-less airways. Then we’ll see a change.
Richard Dowling, Blackburn, VIC
EDITOR’S NOTE: Attributable to an modifying error, the identify of our reader, above, was wrongly attributed to a January 7 letter relating to Air Vanuatu. The author of that letter was Natasha Wainberg. Apologies to each readers.
DO THE RIGHT THING
Congratulations to Lee Tulloch (Traveller, December 10) for elevating the problem of plastic air pollution. I wholeheartedly agree along with her assertion that “folks making an attempt to do the correct factor have been let down by companies and governments” Lee has satisfied me to make use of toothpaste tablets and soaps as a substitute of bottles. I really hope Lee’s message hits dwelling.
Jenell Heslop, Coal Level. NSW
TOUR (OPERATOR) DE FORCE
We completely agree with Rae Masman (Traveller Letters, December 10) relating to Intrepid Journey. In June 2022 we contracted COVID-19 in Mexico whereas on an Intrepid journey via Central America. We needed to depart the tour after solely 10 days however we acquired a full credit score from Intrepid for the remaining 47 days of the journey. After recovering, we spent one other month by ourselves travelling via Central America which was in itself a tremendous expertise. We at the moment are heading off to Egypt and Jordan in February 2023 travelling as soon as once more with Intrepid. Not like Rae’s expertise our credit score voucher was not transferable and was legitimate for under 24 months. However, hey, in these occasions of journey uncertainty, that was definitely nonetheless a tremendous consequence for us.
Marlene Lawton, Bundarra, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
BOUNCING BACK
In December, I loved a 3 week keep on my favorite island – Sri Lanka (srilanka.journey), a rustic I’ve visited typically. This, my tenth go to, didn’t disappoint. After a political disaster earlier this 12 months, this resilient a part of the world is bouncing again, welcoming vacationers once more. I largely stayed down south within the standard vacationer city of Hikkaduwa. Many new cafes have opened since my final go to three years in the past, equivalent to Gunni’s German café. It boasts a scrumptious borsht and a tremendous selection of home made gelatos. One other newby, Salty Swami (saltyswamis.com), owned by an Australian, sporting a Balinese really feel, is subsequent door to Funky de Bar on the seaside, standard with millennials for meals, music and dancing. Nothing matches Lobster Pink, specialising in fish dishes to die for whereas a little bit additional south Galle Fort has lengthy captured my creativeness. A twilight stroll across the Ramparts overlooking the ocean ends in a latte at Pedlar’s Inn Café, well-known for his or her chocolate brownies. The nation nonetheless experiences one hour each day energy black-outs resulting from energy shortages however one rapidly adjusts to this minor inconvenience.
Gloria Meltzer, Chewton, Vic
MARRAKECH IMPRESS
An older girl, I just lately travelled alone to Marrakech, Morocco for a brief keep. The journey was organized by Aussies in Morocco Excursions (aussiesinmoroccotours.com.au). Proprietor and founder Cara Ghassemian was delicate to my travelling alone. She was at all times completely happy to reply questions and supply solutions together with useful data sheets about subjects equivalent to tipping and bargaining. She organized two nice guides, a conventional riad proper within the coronary heart of the medina and a sensational night meals tour. It was a beautiful journey.
Jebby Phillips, Turramurra, NSW
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
We’ve got just lately returned from a beautiful go to to Laos and Vietnam. We booked our resort in Vientiane with Qantas Lodges and once we arrived on the resort at about 8.30 pm on a Saturday night there wasn’t one. We subsequently realized that it closed over two years beforehand resulting from COVID, one thing that was not picked up by Qantas. Contacting Qantas Lodges over a weekend was not possible and discovering different lodging in a brand new metropolis, within the night, on a weekend and with baggage in tow not simple. Qantas Lodges did refund the pre-paid price of the non-existent resort and gave us about $14 every to contribute in the direction of the numerous costly phone calls, extra prices and the large inconvenience. In future, we’ll guide direct with the resort.
Donna Ravenscroft, Mosman, NSW
SIMPLY BLED
Having learn Ben Groundwater’s article on the origins of the vanilla slice introduced again reminiscences of the well-known and scrumptious Bled cake which is similar to our vanilla slice. We loved Bled cake, a vanilla custard cream cake between layered pastry, on the Resort Park Cafe overlooking the very scenic Lake Bled in Slovenia. While a vanilla slice is an Australian favorite Bled cake is a Slovenian favorite and shouldn’t be missed when visiting Bled.
Glenn Earl-Peacock, Mosman, NSW
EARNING THEIR STRIPES
I’m simply returned from Kerinci, Sumatra with an Indonesian tour firm known as Wild Sumatra (wildsumatra.com) On my 4 day three evening trek the supplied mosquito proof tents, floor sheet mat and sleeping bag had been snug and the meals is four-star bush commonplace utilizing bhutane gasoline. The jungle stays nice tiger cowl with each the information and two porters glorious. The steep muddy monitor was a testing worthwhile expertise and my pay as you go Cowl-Extra insurance coverage reassuring.
Timothy Scollary, Carlton, Vic
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give desire to letters of 100 phrases or fewer and so they could also be edited for area, authorized or different causes. Please use full sentences, do not use textspeak and do not embrace attachments. E-mail us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, embrace your identify, deal with and telephone quantity.
The Letter of the Week author wins Hardie Grant journey books value greater than $100. For November, that features Final Caravan Journeys: Australia, Final Meals & Drink: Australia and Neighbourhood Information to Biking: Naarm Melbourne. See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week author wins a set of three nice Lonely Planet journey books, together with Wine Trails of Australia and New Zealand, Connoisseur Trails of Australia and New Zealand and Australia’s Greatest Journeys.See store.lonelyplanet.com
