Traveller letters: Canada ETA visa waiver scams - don't be fooled

In mid-2018 we booked a first-time cruise, around the Hawaiian Islands, for February 2019. The plan was to give our 21-year-old wheelchair-dependent university student son a short holiday with his younger brother and elderly grandparents.

The few disabled berths required early booking and we got the last one. In October, we organised online US visas. All went well for everyone except for the 21-year-old who needed a B2 non-immigrant visa. The first available interview was on January 3.

A positive interview ensued with the consulate official wishing him a great holiday and assuring him that a visa with passport would be couriered out in couple of days. Two days later we received an email that the visa was now "admin pending" requiring a minimum of 60 days to resolve.

Further information was required, about income, employment and every international flight, with exact dates in-and-out, for the past 15 years. All was provided after much angst.

We managed to get an expedited application in but when the visa finally arrived from the faceless US Embassy bureaucracy, the date of the cruise had passed. With no visa in time and no refund or change of date for the cruise allowed, more than $10,000 was wasted.

Lydia Lee, Castlecrag, NSW

PUFF THE MAGIC AIRLINE

On a recent trip to Cape Town (via Johannesburg) with Qantas, I was mildly concerned when I realised onboard the plane that I didn't have my Ventolin puffer on me. As a life-long asthmatic who has had the good fortune to travel widely over my 40 years, it was the first time since childhood that I'd found myself in such a pickle.

Anyway, with temperature fluctuations an asthmatic trigger, I noticed myself becoming increasingly wheezy. Without any success in relieving my own symptoms, I sheepishly called one of the crew and explained my situation.

Their response was the best I could have hoped for. One, they had a puffer in their medical box which is apparently is standard with Qantas - relief. Two, they expressed concern and care for my wellbeing. Three, they were friendly and even cracked a few jokes to lighten the mood.

Michael Frommer, Erskineville, NSW

NAUTILUS AND NICE

I was astounded that, in the article on what to do in Port Douglas, the "One Restaurant" was not awarded to Nautilus. Surely this restaurant is so outstanding it couldn't be overlooked.

It is remarkable for its history (operating for more than 60 years; customers have included numerous celebrities, such as Bill and Hilary Clinton), its design and ambience (one sits outdoors in chairs that cocoon you, amid tropical plants including towering palms), its location on the hill away from the street and, not least, its excellent food.

If you are wondering what happens if it rains - that is an amazing experience. An awning quietly rolls out, way, way up, even above the tallest palms. Stunning.

Jan Perry, Chatswood West, NSW

TOP MARX

If anyone has any doubts about visiting Russia, they should be dismissed immediately. My wife and I, in a small group of five, have recently returned from a 19-day, guided tour of the country.

Visiting St Petersburg, Moscow and the Golden Ring towns of Vladimir, Suzdal, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Rostov and Sergeiv Prasad, we were absolutely amazed and surprised at the history, culture and beauty of the country, and the friendliness of the locals.

Never at any stage did we feel unsafe. Indeed, the very visible security presence, particularly in Moscow, was a comfort. Language was not an issue, although the Russian written script was a challenge.

However, there were many eager locals, including cafe and restaurant staff, who were very eager to help out, particularly when they discovered we were from Australia. Now is the time to discover Russia, before it becomes a mainstream tourist destination.

Stephen Darlington, Bathurst, NSW

WEIGHTY MATTERS

Usually I would have chosen to fly Singapore Airlines or Qantas for a recent trip but decided to try something different and fly Qatar, as I had heard excellent reports.

However, I had a little too much weight in my carry-on and had to transfer three kilograms to check-in luggage resulting in a seven kilogram excess over my 30 kilograms allowance (Singapore offers 32 kilograms).

This cost me $700 (or over $725 with bank fees) and, no, I was not in a situation to purchase excess online. Having checked amounts per kilogram charged by other major airlines, these fees appear to me to be extortionate.

An unpleasant end to a wonderful trip (and, please do not advise me to travel light, I do not).

Jennifer Dodd, Blue Bay, NSW

TRICK AND TREAT

Reading Andrew Taylor's account of experiencing a tour guide named Doris in Peristil Square in Split (Traveller, June 8) was a laugh out loud moment for me as I believe her sister must have been operating in the Citadel in Cairo in March this year.

We were approached by woman, dressed like a bag lady, wearing a lanyard which she flashed so quickly it may as well have held a rewards card as far as we could see. She told us we could not proceed without an official guide and the cost was $US25.

She talked at such a rapid pace it was difficult to understand anything and questions were not allowed. We were the only two in her clutches.

She took us to a "very special place", which was a large hole in the ground with the "oldest tree in the world" hanging on by a few roots and leaning precariously over the hole. "This is the original Mecca", before it was stolen by the Saudis, we were informed.

Prior to this we had visited Cairo's old town and George, a 46-year-old Coptic Christian, was our well informed guide who spoke perfect English. He said there was no charge and that he particularly liked Australian tourists. We gave him a $US10 tip but he was worth $US50 had we known what was coming next.

Ros Barwick, Sunnybank Hills, QLD

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