Traveller Letters: Airport bag carousels - they need to be policed

For a stay there, the delightful little Hotel Maison Borella​ is the only hotel which overlooks the main canal and is right in the middle of all the action. Their two rooms with canal balconies are charming. Just don't hang your undies on the washing line you can pull across the shower - it's actually an alarm cord!

Greg Taylor, Mount Eliza, VIC

STOLEN MOMENTS

Rio is in the news with the Olympics being staged there later this year. I have been a few times and especially enjoyed Carnival time when people really let their hair down. But while the people are charming it's important to be aware of the major gap that exists between rich and poor in Brazil.

On the first day on my first trip to Rio, my brother and I went to the beach and had cash and camera stolen. On another occasion while trying to enter a bus turnstile two old guys were picking my pocket. And it's not uncommon to hear a female screaming "ladrone!" (thief) as a man hurtles past .

Patrick Sayers, Woollahra, NSW

SINGULARLY UNIMPRESSED

Marli Davies is mistaken in her belief that she was being discriminated against for being a single traveller (Traveller Letters, March 26 -27). As a solo traveller myself for many years I am fully aware of the single supplement applied to the advertised price, almost always twin-share, of various tours and cruises.

However, I recognise that this reflects the cost of one person paying to occupy a room or cabin alone rather than two persons who would both be paying the twin share cost.

Perhaps it is time for the travel industry to change the way it markets options to potential customers and advertise prices as dual or solo occupancy rather than presuming, as is currently the case, that normal people travel in pairs and imposing a "supplement" for those who stray out of this mould.

In the meantime, there are many companies that cater for the increasing numbers of solo travellers and websites that provide information on how to access accommodation without incurring the dreaded "single supplement".

Kathy de Flon, Valentine NSW

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Lee Tulloch (Traveller, March 26-27) is right to be alarmed about the danger of millions of tourist footprints at the world's most popular destinations.

My recent trip to Argentina included some iconic and popular places, but the highlight for my friend and me was four days in Santa Rosa de Calamuchita​, a small town set beside a pristine river with fish-filled akes nearby and towering mountains in the distance.

Santa Rosa is home to Spanish & Beyond, an internet language school also offering guided tours, lifestyle activities and the cabana style accommodation preferred by Argentines.

There are no international hotels and we were accompanied everywhere by Spanish & Beyond guides who encouraged us to engage as much as possible with the people and world around us.

Judith Salmon, Haberfield, NSW

Your "Everyone asks ..." item (Traveller, April 2-3) states that following President Obama's recent visit that "Cuba will be hit with a tsunami of US tourists". It may sound absurd but it is actually still illegal for any US citizen to go to Cuba as a tourist.

The only way that those from the US can legally travel there is in accordance with one of 12 categories none of which includes tourism.

John Varley, Abbotsford, VIC

BUNKER MENTALITY

Your Traveller liftout is always welcome in this house. My partner sat in her fernery garden all weekend silently poring over your articles and I was able to sneak off and play golf. Everybody wins.

Martin Ball, Black Rock, VIC

LETTER OF THE WEEK

I've just returned from eight days in beautiful Fiji and I want to encourage everyone to visit to support the economy in the aftermath of Cyclone Winston. The Coral Coast (where many resorts are located) was unaffected and most resort staff have family or friends in affected areas.

All the locals I spoke to had already sent boxes of supplies to the cyclone-hit areas - a good reminder of how people who have so little can still be so generous.

Bula vinaka!

Robyn Aburn, Albert Park ,VIC

WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES

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