Traveller letters: $350 to cover potential mini-bar use?

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Traveller letters: $350 to cover potential mini-bar use?

Dress properly: Boardshorts won't cut it in Lyon's riverside pool.

Dress properly: Boardshorts won't cut it in Lyon's riverside pool.Credit: Matt Long

KEY CONCERNS

I sympathise completely with Michael J. Donohoe (Traveller Letters, November 1). My wife and I recently visited Canada. Imagine our shock when we were told by a hotel that our card would be debited with $350 to cover any minibar use when here there was no way there was that value of alcohol in the minibar. We objected andwas were told that unless we agreed they would lock the minibar and remove the key. I replied that that suited us completely. If faced with the same problem again, I will not hesitate to suggest that they remove the key. It's something other travellers could consider.

- Barry H. Broom

I feel Michael J. Donohoe did well compared to a friend and meI. We allowed $200 on a credit card at an island resort last year and were told the amount would be refunded within the month. This year in two locations in Australia we allowed $100 at each hotel/resort with the same advice. To this date, despite several attempts made to have the money repaid into our accounts we have not received refunds. We are octogenarians and certainly did not leave premises or mini-bars in any way depleted. There should be some comeback against accommodation houses who practice this fraud on any of their patrons. Certainly there will be no return business from us.

- Mary Adams

OVER IT

Consumer law reform is needed to stop airlines overbooking seats and refusing carriage to passengers who book and pay in advance, and turn up on time for check-in before boarding begins, only to be bumped. I was "Qantased" last week. Just because airline policy permits this unacceptable conduct doesn't mean Australian consumers or regulators should tolerate it. Let airlines sell stand-by seats of "no-shows" after boarding commences, not oversell beforehand.

- Peter Kempster

FORCE OF ABBOTT

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I concur with Brian Johnston that there are some things only a local can tell you, especially regarding Lyon. (The Lowdown on Lyon. Traveller Nov 1). While in Lyon in July last year on a hot day, my travelling companion and I sought out the nearest local pool, Piscine du Rhone, which is scenically located right on the river. Alas for him, he was attired in board shorts, which for reasons unknown, were strictly prohibited. The only acceptable swimwear were either Tony Abbott-style budgie-smugglers or Daniel Craig-style Eurotrunks. (One-piece or bikini for women). No amount of pleading in broken French was able to budge the pool attendant's resolve. So no swim for him. As a heads up for others, pack the speedos if you want swim in public pools in Lyon.

- Matt Long

CAUTIONARY NOTE

Rachel Ward may well have enjoyed her horse trek in Bulgaria (Traveller, November 1) but it is a country to be wary of, given young Australian Jock Palfreeman was imprisoned for 25 years because he was a Good Samaritan and intervened when cashed-up thugs were threatening a young migrant in Sofia. Australians should not give their tourist dollars to repressive regimes with no regard for human rights. Support countries that value a just legal system instead.

- Rosemary Sheehan

RAIL BUFF

I can't think of a hotel I've stayed in for years which doesn't have a sign in the bathroom asking me to think of the environment and re-use my towel. I'm more than happy to do that but how many hotels - almost none - provide enough towel rails so that all occupants can dry their towel for re-use? So I usually drop my wet one on the floor for a dry replacement. In the very few which have sufficient towel rails I've yet to stay in one which doesn't replace wet towels anyway so why do they bother with the sign?

- Narelle Niven

LETTER OF THE WEEK

After dreaming about it for several years, I have just returned from a visit to marvellous Morocco. Together with three friends of a certain age, we had the most unforgettable experience. We explored the souks of Fez, absorbing all the colour and life, gazed at relics from the 9th and 14th centuries, rode camels at an eco lodge and dined under the stars on French-inspired food, with the resort lit by hundreds of lanterns and candles. We wandered the Roman ruins at Volubilis, and explored magical Marrakesh. We ate lunch in a Berber village in the High Atlas with everything locally-produced and organic, even down to the salt. We were welcomed to the cave home of our guide, and shared mint tea with his family, and left feeling quite emotional at their simple life and their outlook. All of this was helped by our wonderful driver, whom we relied on completely. His sense of humour and his patience were typical of the people we met along the way. Go, if you can. It has left an impression on all of us.

- Sandra McVitty

WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES

The writer of the letter judged the best of the week will receive a LUXE travel guides box set, valued at $60, including savvy, pocket-sized guides for destinations including Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, London and New York. See luxecityguides.com for more details. Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Preference will be given to letters of 50-100 words or less. Email us at travellerletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.

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