IT’S A WRAP
Ever since I labored and travelled round south-east Asia, typically staying at low-budget inns, I’ve packed bubble wrap. It has a number of makes use of, similar to making certain a treasured piece of porcelain got here dwelling intact but in addition good for sliding beneath doorways to dam out lights or noise. Scrunched up, it may possibly function a further neck relaxation.
Tina Faulk , Gladesville, NSW
OPEN AND SHUT CASE
Given the rising variety of misplaced baggage, a tip I learn some years in the past could also be useful. The very last thing you must put in your bag, in order that it sits on prime of every part, is an A4 sheet of paper along with your title, vacation spot handle and speak to particulars, each telephone and e-mail. That approach, in case your bag goes astray, when the airline folks open the bag they’ve all the knowledge they want. It’s a easy factor and will save a lot angst (though, fortunately, I have never had a necessity of it, to this point).
Ron Wessel, Mount St Thomas, NSW
DRY IDEA
Regarding your request for tips about objects that make journey extra comfy (Traveller Letters, July 2) I all the time pack my plastic inflatable coat hangers. They take up little or no room within the suitcase when packed flat however when inflated they preserve T-shirts and shirts in good form whIle drying and will be hung within the lavatory or on home windows or balconies or the place handy. I’ve even used them in a lodge that had a “no hand washing allowed” coverage, rolling my washed T-shirt in a shower towel, then hanging it within the lavatory in a single day and hiding it within the wardrobe the following morning to proceed drying. I hate paying for something I can simply do myself and my coat hangers are an indispensable help to this.
Ro Bailey, Hawthorn, Vic
FEELING SHIRTY
Need a bag to your soiled laundry? Tip. Pick a male shirt with a decent collar. Button all the best way up. Throw in all the opposite objects, beginning with a giant one to fill the collar gap. Yes, there’s a use for these neck stranglers and never carrying a laundry bag reduces your baggage by 18 grams.
Peter Moulding, Umina Beach, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
BEAGLE EYED
I agree, concerning your article on “the art of naming hotel rooms” (Traveller, July 2), that Canberra’s Hotel Kurrajong is price a keep, with the historic connection to considered one of our best PMs making it much more worthwhile. Elsewhere, Gardner’s Inn at Blackheath within the Blue Mountains of NSW additionally has the excellence of getting hosted Charles Darwin in 1836 throughout his formative, round-the-world voyage on the HMS Beagle. There is a plaque on the inn acknowledging the occasion and, given Darwin’s significance to science and to the best way we now see the world, I’m typically stunned extra just isn’t made from his keep in Blackheath. The lodging at Gardner’s Inn just isn’t in the identical league because the Kurrajong, however it’s clear, comfy, and cheap and central to lots of the greatest sights within the Blue Mountains.
David Towson, Mortdale, NSW
OH TAPPY DAY
Re the letter from John Darmody (Rants & raves, July 2). I’ve had my Westpac Mastercard cancelled as a result of fraud and changed in two weeks. To get by, the financial institution made the cardboard obtainable within the Westpac app in two days so I might no less than faucet for any purchases. This is the backup for those who choose the bodily card and have to proceed your journey.
Paul Jones, Berowra Heights, NSW
YOU WOULDN’T CREDIT IT
Michael Gebicki’s column on travelling with playing cards or money (Traveller, June 27) jogged my memory of our journey to Bhutan when it had simply opened to vacationers. Hotels at the moment had been pre-paid and there was nearly no bank card use for extras in inns or on the street. We calculated prices and took a way more than anticipated quantity of US {dollars} with us. Having triple checked that our final, worldwide lodge, took bank cards, we had sufficient {dollars} left to purchase a beautiful necklace I discovered. We ate within the lodge for just a few days so the expense was on our lodge invoice, however on take a look at, found that they had no bank card facility. After fairly a protracted dialogue amid issues about catching our flight, an answer was discovered. Our Bhutanese journey agent, by telephone, assured to pay the invoice and trusted us to repay by switch after we returned to Australia. A beautiful reminiscence and I’m not positive what the answer can be as we speak when a bank card fails.
Heather Barker, Albert Park, Vic
CASHLESS SOCIETY
It was solely once I arrived in Helsinki from Sydney in May that I realised I hadn’t given a thought to journey cash. As a seasoned, however rusty, traveller, in all my journey preparations (centered on bookings and vaccine necessities) I had completely forgotten this very important element. I had with me €50 in money from my 2019 travels, a Qantas Mastercard bank card and an ING Orange Everyday card, however no plans for getting money. I rapidly found out I’d have to depend on my bank card for purchases and (costly) money advances. When I ventured out to discover Helsinki, I mistakenly provided my ING card for a purchase order and was stunned when it was accepted. For 4 weeks, this card was nearly as good as money for all purchases in Finland, France and Spain. Still pondering I may have exhausting money, I simply withdrew €100 in money from an ATM (with a Maestro image) additionally utilizing my ING card. I returned to Sydney with €90 money, having learnt that cashless, is in actual fact, the best way to go.
Vicki Tennant, Surry Hills, NSW
CAPITAL GAINS
Michael Thomas (Traveller Letters, July 2) asks why Canberra airport is so environment friendly for scanning. Most politicians use it twice every week when the federal parliament is sitting. They clearly don’t like being held up so the airport invested closely to maintain our flesh pressers glad and provides them much less probability of complaining.
Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield, NSW
OH (NO) CANADA
I sympathise with Peta Colebatch and her nightmare with Air Canada (Traveller Letters, July 2). She just isn’t alone. Pre-COVID-19, I travelled to Canada most years, all the time in enterprise class. After two poor experiences with Air Canada I now fly with Air New Zealand or Japan Airlines (JAL). I’ve discovered customer support with each these airways is great.
Wendy Meads, Fadden, ACT
Peta Colebatch’s letter telling of her woes flying with Air Canada would appear to bolster the lengthy held unofficial maxim of the airline: “we’re not happy unless you’re not happy”.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW
OH (YES) CANADA
I had precisely the alternative expertise to Peta Colebatch flying Air Canada. Two weeks again I flew AC enterprise Sydney to Vancouver the place I related to Chicago. Having flown in North America in December and January, I anticipated issues could possibly be barely unpredictable. Arriving in Vancouver, I used to be requested to sit and look ahead to affirmation on the large display that my baggage was in transit between the 2 plane then affirmation it had been loaded. I arrived in Chicago and my bag was fourth onto the carousel. Chicago to Toronto, once more flying Air Canada, was simply as easy, as was a flight two days later again to Vancouver. Having flown Air Canada many instances pre-COVID-19 I had some reservations about their plane and repair. The 787s I not too long ago flew on had been immaculate and the service impeccable. When I do have issues like Peta Colebatch skilled, I simply name my journey agent and journey insurers and inform them to kind it out.
Mark Swanton, Bondi Beach, NSW
KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
In May, my sister and I spent two weeks in London, exploring this nice metropolis and having fun with the joy of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. At Heathrow, prepared for our return to Australia, we suffered a dilemma: my sister’s resident return visa had not arrived and consequently, we couldn’t board our flight. Two aged and somewhat distressed girls left the airport to search for lodging. We tried three inns earlier than we discovered a room on the Moxy London Heathrow Airport, Hounslow. Thank you to the workers on the Moxy, particularly Linda, Russell and Ansell, who all confirmed us nice kindness. Thank you, as properly, to Raj at Heathrow Qantas customer support. And to Lauren on the Bowral, NSW, Flight Centre, who, along with my daughter Samantha in Sydney, organized our flight dwelling.
Lily Murray, Bowral, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
PLASTIC NOT SO FANTASTIC
For these anxious about bank cards when travelling, I recommend getting Apple Pay or the Google equal and a restricted amount of money. Stow your plastics in a secure place and one that may be exhausting to entry. Then use your telephone for all bank card transactions. If you lose your telephone, it’s password protected and will not threaten your accounts along with your plastics serving as a backup for a brand new telephone. We travelled by Spain together with Barcelona the place thieves prey on vacationers and by no means used plastic. The occasional avenue stall wanted money however that was all.
Peter Single, Lane Cove, NSW
BIG TURN OFF
When travelling and having fun with experiences first hand, it is well timed to recollect to place away the telephone and different digital units. Better nonetheless, go away them behind when you may. Disconnecting from the digital and connecting with the actual pure world round us is second to none. You’ll have the reminiscences for all times for those who open up and go searching. We do not want that many filtered pictures,
Stephanie Ashworth, Pascoe Vale South, Vic
POST HASTE
Passport processing instances are bettering. When I lodged my renewal on June 2 I used to be warned it might take 10 weeks. On June 27, an e-mail knowledgeable me it was within the mail. It arrived on July 1. So, 4 weeks, not 10.
Colin Parks, Canberra, ACT
BEACHY KEEN
Joining the droves of Australians visiting Bali has by no means been on my journey want checklist however studying your report concerning the island’s Potato Head Beach Club has modified my thoughts (Traveller, July 3). The “good times do good” philosophy of Potato Head, who “constantly pursue and provide ways to live better and more responsibly, while having incredible fun along the way” is ideal. Fun, tasty, and fascinating journey experiences which are zero-waste, carbon-neutral, and genuinely supportive of native communities, are precisely what acutely aware travellers search.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic
EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week we ran an additional letters web page that includes reader suggestions about Qantas. You can learn it right here.
WRITE TO US AND WIN
The Letter of the Week author wins Hardie Grant journey books price greater than $100. For July, that features Vantastic by Kate Ulman; Great World Wonders by Michael Turtle; and Ultimate Weekends Australia by Emma Shaw.
See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week author wins a set of three nice Lonely Planet journey books, together with Ultimate Australia Travel List, The Travel Book and Armchair Explorer.
See store.lonelyplanet.com
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give choice 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 embody attachments. Email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, embody your title, handle and telephone quantity.
Source: traveller.com.au