Traveller Letters: My precious possession disappeared at airport security

I am a Type 1 diabetic and our community gets so anxious before we take our flight, worrying about the issues we will have to face with airport security. Our pumps and sensors can’t go through the X-ray machines or body scanners as they interfere with the equipment. We have an official letter from the government stating that they cannot go through the scanners, but it is usually a fight to get a pat down, which in itself is embarrassing.
Kim Hannagan, Maroochydore, QLD

Ditching responsibility

Adrenaline-filled activities, such as bungy-jumping and heli-skiing are available in New Zealand, because if injured, damages are extremely limited with nothing reimbursed for economic loss and only medical expenses incurred in New Zealand covered. However, NZ hospitals don’t seem equipped to handle the type of accidents that occur with these activities and most treatment is seemingly received in Australia. I learned this after a nasty jet boat accident where no helmets or life jackets were provided and the boat had no padding or protective equipment. One passenger needed to be flown back to Australia for treatment as NZ wasn’t capable of dealing with her leg injuries. The NZ no-fault scheme did not pay for her medevac back to Melbourne, nor the medical and care expenses in her two-year recuperation, or her loss of income. I also received no compensation for my injuries suffered in the accident. Readers travelling to NZ should obtain income insurance and the best medical and travel insurance available.
Chris Clancy, Cremorne, NSW

Wat service

My husband had a fall at Angkor Wat, Cambodia, sustaining serious injuries. NIB travel insurance was outstanding. The team there supported and guided me through a difficult time with many hours spent on the phone and email consulting with the medical team. His surgery in Cambodia, then medevac to Bangkok was seamlessly arranged, where he had further surgery.

The insurance company organised my hotel accommodation in Thailand and paid for my son’s travel and accommodation so he could be with me. Further, they finally got us home with an Australian medical escort, and a transfer to a Sydney hospital. I cannot recommend them highly enough. A word of advice, however, make sure everyone in the travel party is familiar with and has access to insurance policy information. On a happy note, my husband is well and we are about to head off on a cycling trip to New Zealand.
Alison Fenaughty, Mittagong, NSW

Grand scale

Further to Brian Johnston’s feature on Hamburg (Traveller, March 9) one of the city’s additional and unmissable attractions is Miniature Wunderland, the largest model railway system in the world. It showcases landscapes of countries and cities around the world, its scale is 1.87, and it is continually expanding. This is a gobsmacking exhibition for young and old in the heart of the docklands area of Hamburg.
Pauline Harvey, Bathurst, NSW

Time flies

Turkish Airlines does not fly direct from Melbourne to Istanbul (Traveller, March 2). The flight stops in Singapore with the total journey time being 20 hours 45 minutes, not 16 hours as reported.
Rex Holyoake, Camperdown, NSW
EDITOR’S NOTE We stand corrected. However, Turkish Airlines’ website states the average flight time between the two cities is 18 hours, depending on the comparatively brief “layover schedule” time in Singapore. It’s also worth pointing out that “direct flights” and “non-stop flights” are not the same thing.

Flailing kangaroo

I’m thrilled that Elizabeth Proude (Rants + raves, March 2) managed to get her refund from Qantas. After five long and increasingly stressful conversations in October with Qantas operators, I’m still waiting to see my approved refund of nearly $3600. It seems my problem is that Qantas’ systems have been unable to deal with a series of bookings and rebookings from flights cancelled by the airline starting in February 2020. I have written to Vanessa Hudson without avail, so I’m starting to think I’ve been placed in an ever spinning rainbow wheel on someone’s computer. Qantas, can I please have my money back. Strangely, despite all this, you’re still my airline of choice.
Rebecca Kaiser, Erskineville, NSW

Heaven on Earth

Traveller readers have responded to our invitation, following our story on heavens on Earth, writing to us with their own choices of heavenly places around the world. Each of the seven letters published win a copy of the Lonely Planet book, Natural World, valued at $45. See shop.lonelyplanet.com

Sands amazing

Kalalau Beach, on the island of Kauai, is a magical, awe-inspiring place. The beach extends along the base of the Kalalau Valley, where native Hawaiians once lived, cultivating taro in vast terraced fields. The rugged, inaccessible coast features a series of green fluted cliffs soaring more than 600 metres high reaching out into the ocean like the talons of a dragon. This wild beach, a magnificent stretch of fine, white sand, also features beautiful sea caves. The beach is accessible only by boat or by hiking the challenging 19-kilometre Kalalau Trail. It’s that relative isolation that adds to the beach’s allure.
Boris Pogos, Caulfield, Vic

Remote chance

I cannot go past Berkeley River Lodge in the remote Kimberley of Western Australia – an Australian piece of heaven. Remote, only accessible by boat or plane, it comprises about 20 individual private chalets built along the sand ridge overlooking the ocean or the Berkeley River. Meals are all four-course, gourmet-standard and beautifully presented with daily activities such as fishing, river cruising, hiking or beach-driving included. The highlight was a helicopter excursion to visit amazing Indigenous art sites, waterfalls and rock pools.
Katriona Herborn, Blackheath, NSW

Hook or by Cooks
For me, heaven on earth is a place that transports me to another reality, one that takes my breath away and melts all my troubles, one blissful moment by blissful moment. The Cook Islands’ Aitutaki atoll is this place. It is the most breathtaking lagoon I have ever laid my eyes upon, dotted with palm-fringed paradise islands.

Here, I lay my weary body down on the whitest, softest sand enveloped by crystal clear blue waters. I am floating, literally and metaphorically, while the distant music of a sweet ukulele sings to my soul. This is pure paradise, my heaven on earth.
Mary Likar, Blackburn South, Vic

Springs eternal

It’s two hours crossing the desert valleys, not entirely barren, but rugged and worn when I reach Palm Springs, California. An entirely different landscape unfolds; mountains rising almost like cliffs would seem intimidating, except for their beauty. Palm trees many storeys high add a strange relief. I am attracted by the unmistakable sounds of a Mexican band and find a small hacienda cafe with a shaded outdoor garden. The menu of Mexican delights is extensive with many beer choices. The air is cooling, it’s so dry, I’m unaccustomed to its pleasant softness; this is as close to heaven as it gets.
Michael Webb, Cromer, NSW

Paradise found

We fell in love with Yamba NSW’s postcard charm. Beaches galore, pandanus trees, glorious views and a charming main street with the classic fish and chip shop on the corner. Then there are cute cafes in leafy side streets and afternoon beers at the pub with the most stunning view. Rock pools, dolphins, surfers, sunsets, beach hair and salty skin. But most heavenly of all? Being able to walk to five different, equally idyllic beaches while the car sat silent in the garage.
Lisa Moroney, Brisbane, QLD

To die for

My idea of foodie heaven on earth is in a small village in the south of France called Tremolat. Le Vieux Logis, the restaurant in the Relais & Chateaux boutique hotel, serves a degustation menu that has never disappointed. The foie gras creme brulee is to die for. The setting, with tables under plane trees and looking out onto a perfectly manicured garden, only adds to the delight. The service and attention to detail are also outstanding. And it doesn’t cost the earth.
Nelly Luzynski, Cremorne, NSW

Secret garden

There’s a walled garden near the King’s Road in Chelsea, London, which is a peaceful spot to escape the traffic and crowds. The garden, with its high walls and ancient trees, has been there for centuries. Generations of birds and small creatures have made it their home. There’s nothing better after a day out exploring London, than to retreat to this garden and sit under a shady tree beside the pond. The garden is attached to a seminary, and in summer, when the seminarians are away, accommodation is available in its airy rooms. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you exactly where this piece of heaven is, because my friends would probably kill me. It’s our little secret.
Gara Baldwin, Randwick, NSW

Tip of the week: Constantinople craving

Encouraged by others, my wife and I decided to visit Istanbul and we’ve been overwhelmed at what it has to offer. With history dating back past the Roman Empire and the Ottomans, it has a unique blend of east and west. Shop where it all began – the Grand Bazaar – and at other markets, and you name it, it’ll be there, along with a little friendly bargaining to still come in at incredible prices.

There are great restaurants and street food and even with the Aussie dollar down against most currencies, all offer reasonable prices (except for wine which is subject to high taxes). Being here in March, at the end of the low season, we were able to book a well-located boutique hotel, walking distance to the major attractions. It came in at under $100 per night, including breakfast, with spectacular views from its rooftop viewing area over the world-famous Bosphorus and the Blue Mosque.
Peter and Ely Menton, Bankstown, NSW

Balcony scene

In response to Micky Ashton’s letter (Traveller Letters, March 9) about whether it is worthwhile to book a cabin with a balcony, it really depends where you are sailing. We sailed around Hawaii and enjoyed having a balcony as the weather was warm. It was delightful at night to leave the door open and listen to the sea as we sailed along. Twice we have been on expeditions on dark ships where no light was visible at night, so as not to attract birds to the ship. As they were both in cold areas, a balcony was not worth the extra cost.
Afton Johnston, Frankston South, Vic

Hey presto

The best balcony experience we have had was on a Scenic cruise. There were three modes – open, open with insect screen, or enclosed, with glass screen. With that last setting, the balcony becomes an extension of the cabin as the glass door between cabin and balcony completely retracts. Quite brilliant design.
Louisa & Lachlan Pitcher, Surrey Hills, Vic

Nostalgia trip

In reference to your Airport Report review (Traveller, February 8) travelling by ferry to and from the airport to central Venice is a delightful experience, reminiscent of boating out to the four-engined Short Solent and Empire flying boats moored in Rose Bay between the 1930s and early 1950s when it was the city’s international airport. The Alilaguna ferries arrive and depart every 30 minutes, the 16 kilometre airport to Central Venice one way ticket is €15 ($25) with no increase, at the time of writing, on the 2018 price. Travel time from the airport to Zattere Wharf “B” on Dorsoduro is one hour six minutes. My stays were in the same B&B at Zattere on the Rio di San Trovaso Canal, opposite the only gondola factory in central Venice. I was bunked in above a bistro and bar, serving delicious inexpensive food and Aperol spritzes for €5, patronised by the locals. Note that the price of food and drink goes up, and the taste deteriorates the closer you get to St Mark’s Square.
David Miller, Kingsford, NSW

False note

Ben Groundwater’s scam by a taxi driver in Buenos Aires poked a deep memory. As a frequent visitor, I knew never to pay a taxi driver in large notes. After a late concert, my unsuspecting boyfriend offered an ATM-issued 100 peso note (in 2003 this was the equivalent of $US25). “Falso!” the driver huffed as he flicked it back. We gave him another and received change. Traumatised that we’d been ripped off by a bank, we stumbled into a bar and ordered a fortifying malbec, where the taxi driver’s “change” was politely declined, as was our 100 peso note. Stung twice!
Maggie Ferguson, Potts Point, 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