WISH ME LUCK
For 133,000 factors in financial system (318,000 in enterprise) Qantas’s One World Traditional Reward can let you fly as much as 35,000 miles with as much as 5 stopovers higher than 24 hours. It appears to be among the best worth redemptions out there. Journey should be on Qantas and a minimum of two different Oneworld member carriers. It is not for everybody as there are extra guidelines and limits and reserving early with flexibility on journey dates is crucial. I am part-way reserving flights utilizing this provide for September and I managed to safe two seats in enterprise class to New York after which onto Casablanca. Whether or not my luck continues in getting seats once I like and for the place I can solely hope.
Nathan Chamberlain, Amaroo, ACT
LETTER OF THE WEEK
FREE AT LAST
I lately returned from a month in Europe travelling to Scotland, Spain and Greece. It was so good to expertise once more the each day anticipation of recent sights, individuals and delicacies. The liberty of driving by the Scottish Highlands and staying in B&Bs and exploring the moody mountainous and heather-strewn panorama, with some implausible unplanned excursions, woke up a pre-pandemic joie de vivre which had lengthy lain dormant. Lengthy-haul journey in these occasions isn’t any picnic however the rewards of arriving at your vacation spot and experiencing it are past measure.
Georgia Connell, Comboyne, NSW
EASY DOES IT
I’ve simply returned from a sophisticated journey itinerary involving a number of airports and airways. I might wish to reassure readers that most of the horror story points appear to have eased. No airline misplaced my baggage, even on the mind-boggling Frankfurt-Dubai-Denpasar-Sydney return leg, and all baggage appeared on the carousels inside quarter-hour. My solely actual queueing problem was at Frankfurt, the place one passport management window was open for 45 minutes (then three new home windows opened in 10 minutes). The primary queue points had been at bag drop/check-in counters as a result of individuals are heeding recommendation and turning up 4 hours early. Border management at Sydney Airport was additionally irritating however I used to be coming from Bali so foot and mouth management checks had been to be anticipated.
Jim Andrews, Ballina, NSW
POINT TAKEN
I sympathise with Lee Tulloch and her expertise with plane bogs (Traveller, September 17). As maybe a warning to careless males, I’ve seen a printed discover atop the cistern in public bogs on the bottom studying: “We goal to please; YOU goal, too, please.”
Tony Nathan, Gilston, Qld
LEFT-WING BIAS
Being an everyday reader of Traveller Letters, I’ve been having fun with the letters concerning readers’ air journey experiences. Approach again in 1977, my spouse and I and our two younger youngsters travelled to London on a 747 jumbo. The Qantas air crew was implausible, giving us seats with an open area in entrance so our daughters may lie on the ground, roll round and play with their dolls. They even organized a go to to the cockpit. On the ultimate leg from Belgrade to London early on a wonderfully clear morning, we started crossing the French Alps. A message came to visit the intercom. “Good morning women and gents, that is the captain talking. In case you transfer to the left of the plane you’ll witness the spectacular sight of the French Alps in all their morning glory”. Passengers rushed to the closest window out there to savour the wonderful view because the airplane banked to the left to present us a extra spectacular view. What a sight. Instantly, the airplane twitched and an pressing message was heard: “Fast, again to your seats, too many on the left aspect.” Then with a hearty chuckle from the captain, he stated: “Ha, gotcha”. Ah, these had been the times!
Mike Jolley, Torquay, Vic
DIVING DISCOURSE
Simon Benedict (Traveller Letters, September 24) complained about PADI’s $US37 ($57.40) price for a digital qualification and went on to say that PADI has a monopoly on leisure diving programs. That is incorrect. PADI could be the most pervasive of dive businesses however it’s removed from being the one one. There are numerous dive businesses that provide leisure diving {qualifications} and these are all recognised worldwide. In some ways, PADI is the McDonald’s of diving in that it’s well-known and prescribes how programs are supplied. That doesn’t make it the most effective or the one possibility. Many instructors will prepare for multiple company, so you could nicely have the identical individual educating no matter company. If desirous to have a free digital proof of qualification, not having to pay $US37 and doubtlessly having a less expensive worth (given the charges charged by PADI to run programs) , look additional than PADI
Dave Noble, Kellyville, NSW
TAKE COVER
My spouse and I lately accomplished a visit to Scandinavia which was meant to incorporate a 10-day cruise round Svalbard aboard Aurora’s Greg Mortimer. We had been to fly with SAS from Oslo to hitch the cruise in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Sadly, because of the SAS pilot’s strike, our flight was cancelled; we had been unable to hitch the cruise. Aurora’s help within the lead as much as the cancelled flight was complicated and unhelpful. Our journey insurance coverage firm, alternatively, was terrific. 1Cover processed our declare inside 10 days. The complete quantity of the declare was deposited into our checking account 5 days later. That is the second time we have claimed with 1Cover in the previous few years; each experiences have been seamless.
Mathew Kempton, McMahons Level, NSW
MORE IS LESS
We had been caught up within the June chaos at Heathrow, with onward flight cancelled with out discover as a result of crew shortages. We incurred lodge cancellation charges however consoled ourselves that we had journey insurance coverage with Cowl-Extra through our Commonwealth bank card. Not so. The corporate denied our declare on the premise of a clause deep within the small-print limiting flight cancellation legal responsibility to “strike, riot, hijack, civil protest, climate, pure catastrophe or a collision affecting your mode of transport”, nearly all obscure circumstances, leaving uncovered the staffing and technical points which at present afflict airways. Cowl-Extra? No, Cowl-Much less.
Jim Bond, Mosman, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
HAVE BIKE – WILL TRAVEL
For me, journey is straightforward, as all I do is pack my bicycle and panniers into a motorcycle field and jet away to Europe, Asia or the Americas. On arrival, relying on the town or nation I’ll assemble and unpack on the airport or lodge room after which confirm the course of the wind and away I’m going. I’ve my transportation and baggage and with the help of cell phone and journey purposes I’m able to meander alongside minor roads and eat and keep at obscure places. Travelling by bicycle, I expertise good days, unhealthy days and exhausting occasions. However I meet up with beneficiant individuals and naturally detached individuals, however that’s journey, as it’s a journey. I keep at visitor homes, motels, temples and even obscure shelters and study to understand scorching showers and fluffy towels. No plans and nothing booked, as each day is a brand new journey. I come dwelling with no souvenirs, no images, however nice reminiscences and despite the fact that I am 78 I hope to proceed for a couple of extra years.
Rod Grierson, Murwillumbah, NSW
NO SILVER CITY LINING
In case you guide a taxi in Damaged Hill, NSW, you could want a Plan B. Apparently there are three taxi corporations however all have the identical failing. They could or might not flip up. My taxi reserving was made nicely forward and the corporate confirmed the journey at 11.45 am from the motel to the airport. A taxi arrived for my pal at 7am so I felt fairly assured. When no cab had arrived by midday the type motel workers supplied to drive me to the airport. With out this assist I would nonetheless not be again in Sydney. Maybe whoever is accountable for tourism in Damaged Hill would possibly look into this broadly reported drawback.
Eleanor Davidson, Forest Lodge, NSW
THE HOLE TRUTH
Listed here are 5 ideas which have stood the take a look at of time in my travels: 1. Take all worn out jocks with you and discard after every put on to avoid wasting on washing the primary week away. 2. One bar of pure velvet cleaning soap removes all stains from garments and doubles for private cleaning soap and can final a superb three months of journey. 3. A pack of enjoying playing cards takes little area and weight however creates nice reminiscences and straightforward introductions to different travellers. 4. Electronic mail copies of passport and delivery certificates to your self and you may entry all particulars over the Web cafe in the event you lose them. 5. A basic small paperback English novel may be traded with different travellers (no want for a Kindle), and you may simply hold buying and selling.
Kerry Dell’Oro-Dehne, Ivanhoe, Vic
SOCK HORROR
Having laundry accomplished at your lodge (Traveller Letters, September 24) could also be handy nevertheless it will also be costly as we as soon as came upon in Dublin. Since UK motels don’t have visitor laundries we determined to get the lodge to do our load. I nearly fainted after we acquired the invoice which was $156. That is for 2 individuals’s garments for about three days (I had been doing laundry in lodge loos). Simply beware and perhaps complete up how a lot it’s going to price by rigorously going by the laundry and dry-cleaning record within the room (one handkerchief $3, one sock $5 and so on).
Dorothy Blake, Wellington, NSW
FORGET ME NOTS
By no means go away valuables or requirements behind in a lodge room. A single shoe leaning towards the wardrobe is a reminder to verify that you’ve got your coat. Equally one of many footwear that you’ll in all probability put on on departure on high of the in-room protected is a final minute reminder to empty the protected. Though I’ve by no means used it, a toothbrush anyplace however along with your toiletries will assure a search and the possibility to “discover” a valued possession.
Heather Brown, Engadine, NSW
BAD SIGN
I am again from England and needed to warn others about counting on the Commonwealth Financial institution journey card. It usually requires retailers to request a signature with others having insurance policies towards this and refuse the cardboard. The opposite drawback arises when reserving on-line tickets or lodging. That is problematic as the cardboard insists on a confirmatory step despatched to my Australian cell quantity which I couldn’t entry, having to depend on different individuals’s playing cards and repay them in money.
Simon Holliday, Taree NSW
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give choice to letters of 100 phrases or fewer they usually could also be edited for area, authorized or different causes. Please use full sentences, do not use textspeak and do not embrace attachments. Electronic mail us at [email protected] and, importantly, embrace your identify, deal with and telephone quantity.
The Letter of the Week author wins three Hardie Grant journey books. For October, that features Final Walks & Hikes Australia; Pasta Grannies; and Kinfolk Islands.
See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week author wins a set of three nice Lonely Planet journey books, together with Offbeat by Lonely Planet, The place to go When and The Climate Ebook.
