Letters: hotel credit card fees are absurd

Hold those fees

I agree with Michael Combs ('Second thoughts in Noosa', Traveller Letters, April 21-22) that added fees for settling a hotel bill in Australia by credit card are absurd. Extra charges also mean booking domestic flights online is becoming a rip-off, too. I travel to Britain, Europe, Canada and the US, paying for some hotel stays with my credit card - for no additional fee.

Recently, when booking a spa weekend for my mother in Victoria - after the deposit was taken - it was brought to my attention that a 1.5 per cent fee would be added if I paid the balance using a credit card. Guess I'll be taking cash for this one.

It bothers me that Australian companies think imposing extra fees is an acceptable way to do business. When staying at international hotels, it's commonplace for the tariff to include breakfast, yet when I stay at hotels in Australia, breakfast is sometimes an additional $14 or so and wi-fi isn't free. International guests must really feel ripped off when holidaying here.

- Toni Frazer

Guilt-free getaways

What a great article on opportunities for volunteering (Holidays with shared goals, Traveller, April 6-8). I recently did a "work camp" in Turkey through International Volunteers for Peace (IVP), picking and grading olives to provide oil and fruit for a foundation that addresses racism in Germany. I worked alongside locals and volunteers from Europe and Central America ranging in age from early-20s to 60. IVP fosters peace through understanding and undertakes projects that local people cannot get done otherwise, from physical labour to assisting at festivals and creative projects. See ivp.org.au.

- Lyn Casey

Make a better impression

My wife and I are just back from 10 days in Tahiti. Outbound, we had arrived at Sydney airport several hours before the 6.30am departure of our Air Tahiti Nui flight. However, the airport flight departures board listed the flight as being delayed for three hours. We later asked a staff member, who advised there was no delay and indeed our flight left on time, so be warned and double-check the departures board information with staff. When we returned to Australia and walked from the terminal to the taxi rank, we witnessed two taxi-rank attendants shouting and almost coming to blows. I thought to myself, "What a great way to begin a trip to Australia" if you were an overseas traveller. Come on fellas, lift your game.