Traveller letters: Here's how to fix Sydney Airport

I revisited the Great Ocean Road recently as part of a road trip through Victoria long on my bucket list. Some highlights were the cross-country drive from Melbourne through to Cape Nelson lighthouse; counting sheep through Corangamite and the coastline further west, Cape Bridgewater and the Petrified Forest.This trip came back through Port Fairy, Warrnambool and the Bay of Islands. All new experiences enriched by finding koalas at Cape Otway, its lovely lighthouse cafe and extraordinary scones.

The low lights were the overwhelming tourist numbers as we came closer to the coach day trips from Melbourne. The impossibility of trying to take photos in key spots taken over by numerous tourists now taking multiple posed individual selfies, seemingly disrespecting other travellers trying to enjoy the scenery.

I guess I miss a bygone era when I first saw the Apostles in the '80s and again in the '90s but the lesson I learnt is that you can go back so long as you vary the journey by taking a different route and spending more time with the locals, thus creating new memories. No trip should be quite the same.

Marilyn Rochefort, Castle Hill, NSW

LETTER OF THE WEEK: BRAT PACK

It was interesting reading your suggestions for the smaller, less-crowded destination alternatives in your Europe edition (Traveller, November 11). One country which doesn't seems to get a mention is Slovakia.

Its capital Bratislava, with its lovely old town and recently renovated castle, is only one hour by train from Vienna. The second largest city in Slovakia, Kosice, was the European Capital of Culture in 2013, alongside Marseille, France.

It has one of the eastern-most Gothic cathedrals in Europe, St Elizabeth Cathedral. The High Tatras, a mountain range on the border with Poland, offer plenty of hiking opportunities as well as skiing in winter.

The mountain lakes and parks are a popular destination and five of Slovak caves have UNESCO's World Heritage Site status.

There are numerous spa towns such as Bojnice and Rajecke Teplice, which offer thermal waters for swimming. Train travel is easy and communication not difficult. Slovakia is worth visiting, as a pleasant and economical alternative to the usual suspects mentioned in the Traveller.

Jane Jilek, Castlecrag NSW

CROWD CONTROL

I recommend Amsterdam as a lovely place to stay, however if one requires respite from the crowds (Traveller, November 11), day trips are a good option.

One morning we caught a public bus to the pretty fishing villages of Marken and Volendam stopping for an hour or two in each town with lunch at Volendam.

Then we caught a bus to an uncrowded Edam for coffee and a good look around. We found the local bus drivers to be friendly and helpful.

The following morning we caught the train to Zaans Schans to see the iconic row of windmills that are a flat one kilometre walk from the rail station. There are some handy cafes on the way.

Chris Byrne, Mona Vale, NSW

COAST WITH THE MOST

Alison Stewart's story about the Portuguese Coastal Camino (Traveller, November 18) was an outstanding read but nothing can really do justice to this fantastic part of the world unless you experience it for yourself.

We walked this fabulous Coastal Camino this year with Dawn from the wonderful Wandering the World team. I can tell you first hand it's magnificent.

The experience has changed my life forever. As the advertising goes, just do it and enjoy it, though walking the Camino, rather than cycling it, allows you to better see and feel it.

Paul Soanes, East Doncaster, VIC

DIRT FILE

The gratuitous typecasting of pilgrims at the mass in Santiago Cathedral by Alison Stewart makes me think she might not actually have attended it herself.

To say that the mass is packed full of hobbling, filthy pilgrims (yes that's what she said) is patronising of her fellow travellers and the congregation in general, which mainly consists of Spanish tourists.

It also isn't true. That spoils what is otherwise a pleasant account of her own trip to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Jonathan Breedon, Brighton, VIC

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our writer confirms that she did indeed attend the mass and the pilgrims were filthy after their "final, exhausting uphill stretch" and that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with being in such a state after such an epic journey.

VIVA MEXICO

At last, a positive travel article about Mexico (Traveller, November 25). We've been to Mexico several times to visit our youngest daughter who's lived there for 10 years.

We love everything about the country and have seen a lot of it. And the Red Tree House in Condesa, Mexico City, is indeed the most charming B&B in the world.

Rosemary Penman, Summer Hill, NSW

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