Traveller Letters: Virgin ‘perk’ of platinum, gold status is totally useless

After reading several letters about system problems with Qantas, I warily flew Qantas to Canberra over Easter. Flight delays from Melbourne and Canberra were disappointing with an hour and a half delay from Canberra due to “turnaround” problems in Melbourne. But the Qantas staff were excellent. Jason and Hana on the flight from Melbourne, and Charlie and Harry from Canberra were so helpful. Clearly Qantas’ greatest asset is their staff.
Mary Keating, Flemington, Vic

Letter of the week: Forbidden delights

My walkabout around Beijing’s Forbidden City (Traveller, April 2 ) was accompanied by Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987) film soundtrack. The music issued tremulously from my hand-cradled trusty first-gen Philips CD player as I basked in the deserted magnificence of the imperial complex one frost-nipped winter’s morning that same year. My mind’s eye replayed the boy emperor rushing past billowing curtains. His acute fixation on a pet cricket emerging from its box renders his gaze oblivious to the kowtowing minions paraded to the furthest walls of the imperial complex. Purposeful music to stimulate the traveller’s “wonder within”.
Joseph Ting, Carina, Qld

Smoke and mirrors

Further to hotels requesting travellers to cancel their bookings (Traveller Letters, March 2) last year I booked five days’ accommodation at a small hotel in Istanbul and in the notes section requested a quiet, non-smoking room. I politely backed my comments up with the helpful hint that I am very sensitive to smells. The reply I received rather shocked me as I was requested to cancel my booking as the hotel could not offer me what I had requested and didn’t want to lose their 8.5 rating. I was grateful for their honesty but shocked by their rationale.
Judith Hudson, Elwood, Vic

Do the right thing

I cannot tell you how delighted I was to see your story on sustainable regenerative travel (Traveller, March 30). As a student of humans and global heating and inequality, who finds great pleasure in local holidays and volunteering, it pushed all my buttons. Learning that poachers are retraining as rangers and holiday-makers as real change-makers was the turtle on my beach.
Lesley Walker, Northcote, Vic

Baby grand

How amazing to read Martin Artenstein’s letter (Traveller Letters, March 30) about Brian Johnston’s Seven Wonders article on the Taj Mahal (Traveller, March 9). Ironically, I missed Brian’s article because I was in India at the time visiting the Taj. It is a magnificent building. While in Agra I would also recommend visiting the Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, also known as the Baby Taj. It was built between 1622 and 1628 by another family member of the Taj family, Nur Jahan. It is smaller than the Taj but is covered in mosaic patterns. Every section is a different design. As a quilter, I find it equally inspiring as I study all those gorgeous patterns. I have also visited Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi and agree that it is also a must-see.
Susan Rowe, Epping, NSW

Pay the ferryman

Brian Johnson accurately describes some of the wonderful sights encountered on his South America and Chilean fjords cruise (Traveller, March 30). But did you know that the local tourist ferry alternative also covers the spectacular journey between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales? The four-day experience through the stunning Patagonian Fjords gives you a true Chilean experience at a tenth of the price of a cruise. Comparable with the Canadian Inside Passage ferries or the Original Coastal Express in Norway, this spectacular adventure lets you experience thrilling historical sites, like the Cotopaxi shipwreck, and encounter native wildlife such as curious dolphins while sailing through the awe-inspiring scenery, letting you marvel at nature at its best.
Keith Brown, Armidale, NSW

Tip of the week: Oh what a Town

If there was ever a country flying under the radar, it is South Africa. Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background, is stunning, the food amazing and world-class, the people exceedingly friendly. We hired a car and drove ourselves to the Cape of Good Hope, via Chapmans Peak, and through the most beautiful scenery in the world. We were warned of the many dangers of travelling alone, but there was never a time when we didn’t feel totally safe.

However, the biggest thrill was Durban and surrounds. Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, [formerly Hluhluwe–Umfolozi] Game Reserve, a large “big five” conservation area, is the oldest park in South Africa consisting of unending views, untouched African savannah, grasslands, plains, rivers, forest, bush and, of course, the beautiful animals that inhabit it. Not far is the St Lucia estuary with its incredible and diverse birdlife and of course hippos floating about.
Maree Boyd, Manyana, NSW

Now look here

For a better view of the Japanese capital (Traveller, April 6), instead of Tokyo Skytree, I would recommend a visit to the observation deck of Roppongi Hills. The view gives you an idea of the density of the city, you get to see some stunning architecture and the proximity to swathes of colourful neon at night is excellent. You can also see Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree, planes landing and taking off from Haneda Airport and the bridges by Tokyo Bay. Also, there is a great art gallery, which hosts visiting exhibitions and it is also possible to go up onto the roof.
Phillip Musgrave, Pennant Hills, NSW

Monumental offence

Yet again Brian Johnston makes disparaging remarks about the Pyramids of Giza, although this time he has reached new heights in offence to Cairenes by describing shabby apartment blocks in an unedifying area. Meantime he sings the praises of views of Aswan from the deck of a Viking cruise ship.
Sharyn Volk, Malvern, Vic

Keep it clean

No matter what the cruise ship, the place on board for entertainment and gossip is the laundrette. From 7.30am until 8pm the place vibrates. The human traffic in and out is frenetic and the queue is continuous.

On my first visit, one guest was searching each laundrette on every deck for her laundry as her husband had not taken notice of where he dispatched it. Another couple were frantically opening and closing every door in the laundry searching desperately for their washing. Forlorn faces, the washing had gone, disappeared, until a casual observer noted this was deck 10. A sheepish retreat to deck 11 for another search. I’m looking forward to my next wash aboard Queen Mary 2.
Jan Naughton, Wahroonga, NSW

Permission sought

I’ve been well and truly put in my place as a traveller without a conscience for having the temerity to visit Hong Kong (Traveller Letters, April 6). Perhaps Traveller itself could help by suggesting a list of countries that we need to avoid on the basis of human rights or other issues. I’m off to Japan next week. I do hope that’s okay.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW

Editor’s note: It is a vexed issue and one that was tackled by columnist Ben Groundwater and our digital editor Craig Platt in an episode of Traveller’s podcast Flight of Fancy in 2021. Read more and listen here.

Star by name …

I have just returned from a holiday to Bali, flying Jetstar and in business class on the way over. The flight left on time and arrived early. The cabin crew were professional, accommodating and friendly. The food and welcome pack were of a high standard. The return trip was in economy. Again the flight left on time and arrived early. The staff were busy as the flight was full, but the standard of service was still high. On disembarking the plane we were thanked for flying Jetstar by the captain. A nice touch and a bouquet to Jetstar.
Pauline Kelly, Bonville, Vic

Concrete advice

When travelling in Vietnam by road, think twice (or more) when planning to go from A to B for many hours on a “sleeper bus”. Hell on wheels, concrete hard bed, cramped space, unpleasant bus crew and dirty bus shelters.
Judith English, Hornsby Heights NSW

Here’s the point

The Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme has received a lot of criticism, and perhaps quite rightly. However, now they have teamed up with Trip A Deal, there are at last some really good deals to be had – we’re off to Sri Lanka for the cost of a taxi to the airport.
Cecily Black, Annandale, 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