COMPUTER SAYS NO
I can not agree extra concerning the Australian Digital Passenger Declaration being a nightmare (Traveller Letters, June 11). Border Force’s assertions that it really works are laughable. I submitted my declaration a minimum of 5 occasions, every time receiving an e-mail to say I had efficiently accomplished the declaration. However subsequent makes an attempt to retrieve the declaration had been met with incorrect password, password reset required, incomplete data alert, failure to scan the worldwide vaccination certificates barcode and extra. Travellers, keep away from some pointless stress by taking screenshots of your declaration outcomes, together with your DPD registration quantity, earlier than logging out.
Colleen Jackson, Ballarat, VIC
NO FUN IN REFUND
Regrettably, the Digital Passenger Declaration type is not the one app from the Department of Home Affairs that does not work. Before departing Darwin on a global flight final week I fastidiously crammed out the small print of my purchases on the Tourist Refund Scheme app. When I introduced my TRS declare, full with QR code, to the Border Force workers they instructed me the app would not work with their computer systems at Darwin airport and so they gave me a paper type to fill out. Maybe the app ought to let folks know which airports the app works in and which of them it would not.
Karen Stanley, Essendon, VIC
ALL AT SEA
More enjoyable and video games (not!) from the Department of Home Affairs. With cruising returning to Australia, I discovered that passengers arriving by sea are anticipated to finish a “Maritime Travel Declaration”. The time window to do that could possibly be problematic for passengers.
Gerhard Engleitner, Hurstville, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
WELL DOCUMENTED
On a uncommon free Saturday my precedence was a renewed passport for my god-daughter’s wedding ceremony. The native put up workplace was closed because of workers sickness. Five minutes north, that one was additionally closed. Fifteen minutes south was the identical. One signal stated attempt up the hill or by the ocean. The first was closed, and the latter did not course of passports. Monday afternoon, the native was open however the machine was down. Wednesday afternoon, the central PO could not see the margin indicators on the printed type. One hour later, re-print, photographs and cash ($300) taken, all accomplished – pending ease of backlog.
Stephen Goldrick, Corrimal, NSW
IT’S ONLY NATURAL
Now that we’re planning abroad journey once more, and after two years of dressing in LTL (Lockdown Tragic Leisurewear), it is time to add fashion to the “Pack Mentality” (Traveller Letters, June 11). A capsule wardrobe of only a few clothes made out of pure fibres – appropriate for layering in all seasons, simple for care and nice for consolation – and a small pack of equipment, the strolling footwear you put on onboard, an ankle boot for dress-ups and you’ve got it packed.
Judith Salmon, Haberfield, NSW
QANTAS CORNER
After an extended hiatus, I not too long ago flew from Melbourne to Darwin this week and confronted the brand new age of COVID air journey in Australia, which included lengthy strains at Melbourne airport safety. However, the principle motive for the strains was not travellers being unprepared for safety, as urged by some, however quite the antiquated safety scanners on the Qantas Melbourne home terminal. These previous scanners nonetheless require passengers to take out their laptops and units. Instead, the airport ought to use scanners which permit us to maintain our computer systems in our baggage. These scanners have been round for years and are utilized in Melbourne Airport’s worldwide terminal in addition to in Darwin Airport. I fear that saving cash is being thought of extra necessary than making life simpler for travellers.
Simon Benedict, Docklands, VIC
Editor’s notice: Traveller lined the difficulty of the brand new scanners not too long ago. Unfortunately a few of Australia’s main airports had been unable to supply an satisfactory rationalization as to why these extra environment friendly scanners haven’t been rolled out over the previous three years. Read extra right here.
After receiving a letter from Qantas, asking whether or not the difficulty had been resolved a month after the lack of our bags, I really feel compelled to record the inconveniences of this expertise. On arrival in Hobart our checked bag was not on our delayed flight from Sydney. Queued with others on our flight in the identical predicament to be given a reference quantity to name. Following days had been spent on the cellphone with a recorded message to take heed to, missed booked excursions and time spent looking for alternative gadgets like cellphone chargers and lingerie
Milana Votrubec, Manly, NSW
Jacqueline Homer’s expertise (Traveller Letters, June 11) introduced again recollections flying Qantas from Sydney to Rome 19 years in the past. About an hour after take off, my husband and I had been congratulated and introduced with a bottle of champagne on what was our honeymoon journey. After transit in Singapore for a few hours, we had been surprised and overwhelmed when once more, about an hour or so into the flight we had been introduced with one other bottle of champagne and extra congratulations. Thanks to Qantas we had been in a position to have a good time properly with our members of the family in Rome who had been unable to attend the marriage. It’s good to see that Qantas remains to be marking their passengers’ particular occasions.
Anthea Kenyon. Googong NSW
OH LOY
I learn with pleasure the outline of the Loy La Long boutique lodge in Bangkok (Traveller Letters, June 11) and I might love somebody to compile a ebook of comparable accommodations around the globe. It could be heartening to know of such locations in Australia and New Zealand however I worry that nothing like them exist or in the event that they do, the prices could be prohibitive. Perhaps your readers may write in with their recommendations.
Clare Purbrick, Nagambie, VIC
BOXER REBELLION
As a very long time bicycle tourer I can empathise with the earlier correspondent who remonstrated as to the necessity to field bicycles (Traveller Letters, June 11). My first bike journey expertise was not dissimilar when bikes had been merely wheeled on and off the airplane with solely the tyres deflated. I arrived in Hobart with two mates in 1989 on New Year’s Eve. We realised we did not have a pump for one mate’s bike’s completely different valves to re-inflate the bike tyres. As a end result, we adopted him in a taxi along with his bike dangling out of the rear boot laughing all the best way to Hobart.
John Anderson, MacMasters Beach, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
DOMESTIC BLISS
During the limitless months of Melbourne’s lockdown I by no means thought I might hear myself say that maybe there’s a silver lining to COVID in spite of everything. Because of the hiatus in our regular annual abroad journey, now we have holidayed at house, together with in Tasmania with its pristine wilderness, colonial historical past and spectacular shoreline. More not too long ago, a visit to the Red Centre confirmed us the beautiful colors of Australia, its historical historical past and spirituality by way of Indigenous eyes, and the limitless vistas and rock formations of the outback. Uluru (ayersrockresort.com.au), full with rain pouring down the rock and shrouded in mist, was an unforgettable sight. And to assume all this was on the market in our personal yard, simply ready to be seen. So thanks, COVID, for a minimum of affording us the chance to rediscover Australia.
Brenda Hateley, Mulgrave, VIC
SHARP REBUKE
Make positive to queue early to catch trains in Spain (renfe.com) as baggage has to undergo a safety machine and the queues could be lengthy. Travelling from Madrid to Sarria by prepare earlier this month, we would come from Switzerland the place we would innocently purchased a boxed and sealed kitchen set containing a knife, scissors and peeler with the knife confiscated. So, resist the urge to purchase sharp and pointy devices if travelling by prepare inside Spain. That stated, the quick prepare is wonderful, travelling at almost 300 kilometres. Book your seat approach forward of time, as seats go fairly rapidly.
Grace Soriano, Ashburton, VIC
COAST WITH THE MOST
With all of the challenges of flying out of Sydney, we determined to go native for the latest lengthy weekend. Having pushed previous it a thousand occasions we selected to present the South Coast seaside city Kiama (visitnsw.com) – simply over an hour and a half from the town, a go – and remembered to really flip off after we bought there. What a terrific determination. It was a beautiful stress-free drive by way of the nationwide park on the best way down with incredible lodging, a terrific coastal stroll (with Bombo quarry being a spotlight), a go to to rainforests and treetop sky walks and wonderful eating places besides. We left refreshed and replenished and we will certainly return.
Nigel Leverett, Epping, NSW
THOMPSON, JAMES THOMPSON
A good friend instructed us if we stayed in a single day in Bangkok to make certain and go to the Jim Thompson gardens and home (jimthompsonhouse.com) if we may. We did and it was great. The backstory of his life and disappearance was mysterious. He was an American agent of some kind and helped the Thai folks rediscover their misplaced arts and the silk commerce. To high it off we had a connoisseur Thai lunch within the adjoining restaurant and drank a Jim Thompson Cocktail to have a good time. No one ever mentions this in any evaluations and I can not suggest it extremely sufficient.
Kris Mckeon, Cowra, NSW
PACIFIC BLUES
I’m an impartial traveller making an attempt to return to regular post-COVID. I not too long ago visited New Caledonia (newcaledonia.journey) the French territory within the South Pacific whose nationwide airline declared it open for enterprise. Beware and do your homework fastidiously. Normally a cruise vacation spot, the capital of Noumea was lifeless, particularly on evenings and weekends. I used to be the one vacationer staying on the YHA and will discover no group excursions working to the reef or different elements of the island. Bus providers had been restricted and I ended up hitchhiking, at 67. Being a glass-half-full gal, I met the locals, practised my French, and de-rusted my journey abilities because it was a quite difficult expertise paying homage to pre-internet occasions. Travel gentle with a way of humour.
Gerdette Rooney, Glebe, NSW
EDITOR’S NOTE As our reader implies on the finish of her letter, the pandemic has been devastating to most, if not all, South Pacific tourism-dependent locations. By visiting them sooner quite than later you will be dashing their path to restoration although make sure you do your analysis earlier than you go.
TICKET TO RIDE
Germany has a €9 public transport ticket out there throughout every June, July and August . You can purchase it on-line (bahn.com) and obtain the Deutsche Bahn (DB) app. Any ticket is legitimate for under the month of buy however you should buy now for all three months.
Angela Cook, Parkside, SA
WIN A SET OF TRAVEL BOOKS
The Letter of the Week author wins Hardie Grant journey books value greater than $100. For June, that features Ultimate Cycling Trips: Australia by Andrew Bain; On the Himalayan Trail by Romy Gill; and Rewilding Kids Australia by Melissa Mylchreest.
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
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Source: traveller.com.au