We nearly lost our bags in transit, due to Qantas' poor communication
Device squad II
Ken Fraser's experience with retrieving his iPad left on a Virgin flight contrasted with the time silly and sleepy me left my camera bag on an Aerolineas Argentinas flight some years ago. I reported the loss at the lost property desk in Buenos Aires, and within one minute the bag had been presented by an employee to me at the desk. No outsourced packaging company, no fee, no delay.
Kevin Egan, Ascot Vale, Vic
Only in Japan
I enjoyed Lee Tulloch's 'Doing it right' story (Traveller, June 14) with the accompanying photo of a Japanese bullet train being Doctor Yellow, a yellow shinkansen bullet train for maintenance and for the checking of the shinkansen lines. The photo brought back memories of our recent visit to the Kyoto Railway Museum. While there, a Doctor Yellow on the shinkansen line leaving Kyoto suddenly appeared with excited locals recording the passage of the train. In explanation, we were told that to see, let alone photograph, a Doctor Yellow, particularly in daylight hours, was considered good luck for the viewer. We hope that the photo of Doctor Yellow in Traveller will also bring good luck in the future.
George Baias, Summer Hill, NSW
Spin versus substance
Kudos to Traveller and Lee Tulloch for asking the hard questions about sustainability in travel. Most of us know in our hearts that while travel deepens our humanity, it often comes at a steep environmental cost. Offsets are dubious and many green programs are more spin than substance. With ecological decline accelerating, small sustainable tweaks no longer cut it. As Ecotourism Australia's Elissa Keenan points out, slow, local travel is the way forward. Fortunately, Australia offers plenty of immersive, low-impact experiences with no passport required.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic
No sense
I found Lee Tulloch's 'Doing it right' story, containing advice from travel experts about reducing our impact on the destinations we visit, to be troubling in parts. For example, the expert who provided advice on visiting Antarctica could only recommend 'a less harmful way' to see this fragile ecosystem which encourages 'respect and interest in caring for the planet'. If all the ways to visit are harmful, which seems to be conceded by the expert adviser, how on earth does it make any sense to do this harm to care more?
Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW
All exchange, please
Nina Karnikowski's enjoyable Savvy Traveller column on taking an extended holiday (Traveller, June 14) missed two enormously savvy tips. First, sites like homexchange.com allowed us a month's free accommodation during the European summer: a week each in London, Madrid, Rome and Naples. You are out of town a bit, but we live like a local, and it's so good; Madrid even had a pool. Secondly, sites like mindahome.com have your house and pets looked after for the cost of amenities. We have used this many times with nothing but praise for our house minders who all come with references.
Ron Thomas, Kalorama, Vic
Tip of the week: Free and easy
I've just returned from a fabulous tour of Sardinia, Italy, and Corsica, France, with Secret Italia Tours, a small-group tour company. Guide Paola and driver Sara were excellent and travelling with a small group of 16 was great. The itinerary was well thought-out – a mixture of cultural, historical, and artistic activities, from pasta-making to lunch in the vineyards, walking tours, visiting markets and museums. The meals that were included were of the highest quality. But the best thing was that every afternoon you were free to do whatever you wanted, or even to simply rest. There was no 'having to do something every minute of the day.' I would recommend this tour company if you are considering a tour to these two wonderful places. I had the best time.
Susan Scully, Middle Cove, NSW
Ready, settings, go
To make your phone holiday ready, install an eSIM (electronic SIM, AIRALO), setup WhatsApp (to message home photos, videos and your whereabouts), learn to use Google LENS (to translate foreign language menus, signs and more) and Google Maps (to find places to visit/eat and navigate map-free). Install a banking app (to avoid using a hotel PC) for use with your travel money cards. Fully back-up/update your phone and set up the 'Find My' App on each iPhone/iPad and learn to use the iCloud.
Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill, Vic
Take a seat
Regarding 'No reservations' (Traveller on Sunday, June 15), in addition to Paul Marshall's advice for snaring a restaurant reservation in Japan, I have another suggestion: the waiting chairs. You arrive about 30 minutes before you plan to eat, and write your name (and how many people) on a list at the front door. You may wish to go away and do something else while waiting if the wait is long, but it can be interesting and fun to sit on the waiting chairs and chat to your neighbour. You never know who you will meet; it's always an adventure, but be sure to learn some basic Japanese. This is a fair system that ensures you get your booking, and possibly a new local friend at the same time.
Margot Pope, Five Dock, NSW
Casbah none
Algeria offers remarkable variety: Mediterranean coastlines, the vast Sahara, green wheat fields with red poppies, ancient Roman ruins, Ottoman landmarks, French colonial architecture, and the winding Algiers Casbah. Everywhere we went, we were warmly welcomed as guests of the country. Roman archaeological sites and mosaics are especially impressive. The food blends French and local influences – baguettes, seafood, and excellent coffee are standouts. Roads, transport, and hotels are good and affordable. A visa is required but easy to obtain. Arabic, Berber, French, and English are widely spoken. I toured with BC Archaeology and the excellent local company Fancyellow Alger.
Michel Hedley, Westgate, NSW
Say cheese (and tomato)
It was interesting to read Julietta Jameson's Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport Report review (Traveller on Sunday, June 15). I am now longing for a simple toasted cheese and tomato sandwich on brown bread and a milky coffee from the Wimpy.
Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW
With regrets
It's 30 years since I visited the UK and my one regret is I didn't visit Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Port of call, June 15). My maternal grandparents migrated from County Durham to Newcastle (Upon-Hunter) with Mum born in Adamstown (a suburb). Regrettably, the Novocastrian line was broken upon my birth in Gosford.
Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW
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Qatar Airways purchased massive stake in Virgin Australia to secure capacity Catherine King rejected, Ross Greenwood says
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The Age
a day ago
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We nearly lost our bags in transit, due to Qantas' poor communication
Device squad II Ken Fraser's experience with retrieving his iPad left on a Virgin flight contrasted with the time silly and sleepy me left my camera bag on an Aerolineas Argentinas flight some years ago. I reported the loss at the lost property desk in Buenos Aires, and within one minute the bag had been presented by an employee to me at the desk. No outsourced packaging company, no fee, no delay. Kevin Egan, Ascot Vale, Vic Only in Japan I enjoyed Lee Tulloch's 'Doing it right' story (Traveller, June 14) with the accompanying photo of a Japanese bullet train being Doctor Yellow, a yellow shinkansen bullet train for maintenance and for the checking of the shinkansen lines. The photo brought back memories of our recent visit to the Kyoto Railway Museum. While there, a Doctor Yellow on the shinkansen line leaving Kyoto suddenly appeared with excited locals recording the passage of the train. In explanation, we were told that to see, let alone photograph, a Doctor Yellow, particularly in daylight hours, was considered good luck for the viewer. We hope that the photo of Doctor Yellow in Traveller will also bring good luck in the future. George Baias, Summer Hill, NSW Spin versus substance Kudos to Traveller and Lee Tulloch for asking the hard questions about sustainability in travel. Most of us know in our hearts that while travel deepens our humanity, it often comes at a steep environmental cost. Offsets are dubious and many green programs are more spin than substance. With ecological decline accelerating, small sustainable tweaks no longer cut it. As Ecotourism Australia's Elissa Keenan points out, slow, local travel is the way forward. Fortunately, Australia offers plenty of immersive, low-impact experiences with no passport required. Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic No sense I found Lee Tulloch's 'Doing it right' story, containing advice from travel experts about reducing our impact on the destinations we visit, to be troubling in parts. For example, the expert who provided advice on visiting Antarctica could only recommend 'a less harmful way' to see this fragile ecosystem which encourages 'respect and interest in caring for the planet'. If all the ways to visit are harmful, which seems to be conceded by the expert adviser, how on earth does it make any sense to do this harm to care more? Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW All exchange, please Nina Karnikowski's enjoyable Savvy Traveller column on taking an extended holiday (Traveller, June 14) missed two enormously savvy tips. First, sites like allowed us a month's free accommodation during the European summer: a week each in London, Madrid, Rome and Naples. You are out of town a bit, but we live like a local, and it's so good; Madrid even had a pool. Secondly, sites like have your house and pets looked after for the cost of amenities. We have used this many times with nothing but praise for our house minders who all come with references. Ron Thomas, Kalorama, Vic Tip of the week: Free and easy I've just returned from a fabulous tour of Sardinia, Italy, and Corsica, France, with Secret Italia Tours, a small-group tour company. Guide Paola and driver Sara were excellent and travelling with a small group of 16 was great. The itinerary was well thought-out – a mixture of cultural, historical, and artistic activities, from pasta-making to lunch in the vineyards, walking tours, visiting markets and museums. The meals that were included were of the highest quality. But the best thing was that every afternoon you were free to do whatever you wanted, or even to simply rest. There was no 'having to do something every minute of the day.' I would recommend this tour company if you are considering a tour to these two wonderful places. I had the best time. Susan Scully, Middle Cove, NSW Ready, settings, go To make your phone holiday ready, install an eSIM (electronic SIM, AIRALO), setup WhatsApp (to message home photos, videos and your whereabouts), learn to use Google LENS (to translate foreign language menus, signs and more) and Google Maps (to find places to visit/eat and navigate map-free). Install a banking app (to avoid using a hotel PC) for use with your travel money cards. Fully back-up/update your phone and set up the 'Find My' App on each iPhone/iPad and learn to use the iCloud. Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill, Vic Take a seat Regarding 'No reservations' (Traveller on Sunday, June 15), in addition to Paul Marshall's advice for snaring a restaurant reservation in Japan, I have another suggestion: the waiting chairs. You arrive about 30 minutes before you plan to eat, and write your name (and how many people) on a list at the front door. You may wish to go away and do something else while waiting if the wait is long, but it can be interesting and fun to sit on the waiting chairs and chat to your neighbour. You never know who you will meet; it's always an adventure, but be sure to learn some basic Japanese. This is a fair system that ensures you get your booking, and possibly a new local friend at the same time. Margot Pope, Five Dock, NSW Casbah none Algeria offers remarkable variety: Mediterranean coastlines, the vast Sahara, green wheat fields with red poppies, ancient Roman ruins, Ottoman landmarks, French colonial architecture, and the winding Algiers Casbah. Everywhere we went, we were warmly welcomed as guests of the country. Roman archaeological sites and mosaics are especially impressive. The food blends French and local influences – baguettes, seafood, and excellent coffee are standouts. Roads, transport, and hotels are good and affordable. A visa is required but easy to obtain. Arabic, Berber, French, and English are widely spoken. I toured with BC Archaeology and the excellent local company Fancyellow Alger. Michel Hedley, Westgate, NSW Say cheese (and tomato) It was interesting to read Julietta Jameson's Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport Report review (Traveller on Sunday, June 15). I am now longing for a simple toasted cheese and tomato sandwich on brown bread and a milky coffee from the Wimpy. Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW With regrets It's 30 years since I visited the UK and my one regret is I didn't visit Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (Port of call, June 15). My maternal grandparents migrated from County Durham to Newcastle (Upon-Hunter) with Mum born in Adamstown (a suburb). Regrettably, the Novocastrian line was broken upon my birth in Gosford. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW
