Traveller letters: I was charged overseas transaction fees for local hotels via booking website

Nothing stirs the longing for travel like the memory of loved food (Traveller, April 23). My craving, triggered by cold beer on a warm evening: Lao river weed, served as a snack in cafes and bars in Luang Prabang, Laos. You get a mound of hot, salty, crispy-fried green sheets, shiny with oil and flecked with sesame seeds and garlic slices. Perhaps there's a side bonus of jeow bong: a local sweet-spicy chilli relish. Who'd have thought? Filamentous algae dredged from the Mekong, rolled into sheets and dried on racks, then searingly wok-fried, could be the pinnacle of beer snacks.

Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW

THAT'S THE SPIRIT

Our Qantas flight to Gladstone last week allowed an hour in Brisbane for connecting flights, and left Melbourne 75 minutes late due to baggage handling issues. Flight attendants kept us informed of progress, gave us priority disembarkation in Brisbane and provided a personal escort to the departure gate. Relieved that we had made the connection, we then saw our bags being loaded onto the plane. Thank you to all the Qantas staff who provided such friendly, efficient and caring service. We could not have done it without you.

Leone Thiele, Cape Paterson, Vic

TAKE A LEAF

For the first five decades of my life dreams of travel could only be lived vicariously through the books I read. About a decade ago I started travelling to some of those places- the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; I stood under CS Lewis' lamppost in Oxford (from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe); and in Romania, followed in the footsteps of Jonathan Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula. I'm still looking for Frances Hodgson Burnett's secret garden - maybe I'll find it as I wend my way from Southwark to Canterbury cathedral following in the steps of Chaucer's pilgrims!

Elva Miller, Kenthurst, NSW

BEE WELL

Having suffered weeks of seasickness (Traveller letters, April 23) on a cruise from London to Australia via South Africa many years ago, I discovered that a brilliant, chemical-free remedy was - a teaspoon or two of honey (take creamed honey, it's less likely to spill). It worked a treat for my sister as well.

Tanya Tintner, Halifax, Canada

SCREEN GEM

We travelled over the Easter period and read the horror stories out of the state capital airports regarding people missing flights and/or luggage. Flying out of Darwin, we were in the security queue for about 30 minutes. Not because of a lack of people in the Top End but simply due to the updates to superior security screening systems that meant laptops stayed in bags, and my husband, who has a defibrillator implant, walked safely straight through the scanning machines. Major airports take note. Update too, and then you won't have to deal with the "inexperienced traveller".

Lynda Lovett, New Port, SA

BAD FORM

I nodded my head furiously in agreement when reading John Boast's letter (Traveller letters, April 23), regarding the Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD). Having just returned from the UK, I completely agree with all his comments. We were well aware of the need to fill out the declaration online so duly downloaded the app and created accounts before leaving Australia. However, my daughter and I had terrible issues when trying to complete the form before returning home to Sydney. Neither of us was able to log in using the username or password we had created - one or other of them "could not be authenticated" - and even when they were changed and accepted the message regarding it still appeared upon log in. We were certain of both those details before trying to access the site. All very frustrating, and we had the luxury of decent WiFi and a printer. You can only complete the form 72 hours before departure from overseas, so do it as soon as possible after then, because you may encounter hours of frustration as we did.

Teresa Cayzer, Frenchs Forest, NSW

READER TIP OF THE WEEK

DON'T DELAY

I have just returned from three magical weeks in beautiful Bali. The Island of the Gods is finally starting to welcome back tourists and what a welcome it is. Already renowned for their warm hospitality, the Balinese are beyond grateful to those travellers who have returned to this popular island paradise. Everywhere I went I was met with huge smiles, and also some tears. Bali's charms remain but it's also different. Many shops, cafes and restaurants are closed and some sadly will never reopen. But on the flip side, the peace and tranquillity, with less traffic on the roads, is a bonus. It was like being back in Bali in the 80s and there are bargains galore. I stayed in a stunning, one bedroom villa in Seminyak with my own pool for just $80 a night with breakfast. It's also easier to get into Bali now, with no PCR test required on arrival. So for those who may have been putting off returning, I say delay no longer.

Jann Burmester, Byron Bay, NSW

OFF THE RAILS

Perhaps a word of warning about overcrowded intercity train services in the UK would not go amiss, especially if the impression given is similar to that of a Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journeys-style experience. Intercity train services in the UK are generally packed to the point of being a hazard with passengers reduced to sitting on the floor or worse. It can mean that if you're sitting in a seat, if you can get one, standing fellow travellers' nether regions can be in close proximity to your face. Yes, tickets can be booked three months ahead but seating reservations are drip fed in the interim so it's first come best dressed.

Pam McConnell, Boronia, Vic

IT'S FULL, BY GEORGE

My husband and son drove to Canberra recently and we were absolutely spellbound by the sight of Lake George (Lake Werriwa) full of water. It is the first time either of them have seen it like this. Driving back again, late afternoon, they stopped to take many photos of the sunset colours across the lake. It's worth a trip to Canberra just for this sight.

Marjie Williamson, Blaxland, NSW

I would like to award plaudits to Luxury Escapes or their customer service. I recently cancelled a holiday to Bali booked earlier this year. A short time later I received an email, explaining how to contact them if I wanted to rebook. When I emailed, detailing what accommodation I'd like, they rang me and without being asked, offered the earlier accommodation deal at the old price, not the latest one on their website which is about $700 higher. Not only did I not have to hang on hold for a long time to speak to someone, they contacted me; and incredibly offered the previous deal. Outstanding customer service in my book. I'll certainly book with them again.

Angela Forgan, Docklands, Vic

JAPAN PLAN

Ben Groundwater's column (Traveller on Sunday, April 24) confirmed what I had suspected - that Japan is still closed to tourists [at the time of writing]. Worryingly, though, a number of major tourist groups have recently been advertising for excursions to Japan, which I would think you'd need to be careful about. On another matter, as a result of a significant number of trips over the years I've accumulated a reasonable number of air miles and a top tier (Oneworld Emerald) status with JAL. Despite having last travelled with them in 2019, they are allowing their frequent flyers to keep their pre-COVID membership status, and their miles, until things get back to normal. That's a lot better than a number of other carriers.

Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW

EDITOR'S NOTE: Don't lose faith in this compelling destination. We're confident that the naturally cautious Japanese will reopen to the world in due course, especially since Japan remains one of the last major economies and destinations to not do so.

WIN A SET OF THREE HARDIE GRANT TRAVEL BOOKS

The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100, including Undiscovered Tasmania by Rochelle & Wally Dare; Emma Shaw's Ultimate Weekends Australia; and Vantastic by Kate Ulman.

See hardiegrant.com

SHARE YOUR TIPS AND WIN THREE LONELY PLANET TRAVEL BOOKS WORTH $100

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books, including Australia's Best Trips, Best Day Walks Australia and Gourmet Trails Australia and NZ.

See shop.lonelyplanet.com

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