Traveller letters: Qantas, why am I still stuck on bronze status?

OFFENDING IMAGE

Re "The Hot (Food) List" and the inclusion of Restaurant Naturell, Ghent. Why are the Belgians still creating chocolate hands – the bounty of an actual hand demanded by Belgian colonisers in the Congo for every contracted worker who did not show up to work on the rubber plantations. Why does Traveller think this is appropriate? Just google King Leopold and read the history for yourself.

Carol Zeccola, Parkdale, VIC

LETTER OF THE WEEK: AUSTRALIAN CONNECTIONS IN BATH

Australians travelling to Bath (Six of the Best: Bath) may include as their seventh thing to do in Bath a short trip to Bathampton, where in the local church is the final resting place of Australia's first governor, Arthur Phillip. It's a very moving experience; worth the trip. Also look for a plaque in the terraces around the corner from the Jane Austen Centre in Bath where he lived. It saddens me that the Australian connection is never mentioned when speaking of Bath.

Christine Moroney, Berala, NSW

SLEEPLESS IN CHICAGO

In Chicago our AirBnb hosts had no plan B when the bedroom airconditioner didn't produce cold air and we had a sleepless night sweltering under the quilt.

Inadequate linen, kitchen ware and tired furnishings become more obvious when you sit around waiting the whole next day for the "technician" who will arrive to "look at" the air conditioner. By 4.30pm no tech was evident, and we rehoused ourselves, lugging all our stuff across town. Fortunately, we found an equivalent but brilliantly and generously equipped unit, however we were considerably out of pocket.

Julius Grafton, Balmain, NSW

IN PRAISE OF DFAT

Recently we were evacuated from a resort in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. Rioting in Alotau following a road fatality had closed the town and we were unable to leave.

The situation looked potentially dangerous for a couple of days. Officials from DFAT in Port Moresby and Canberra were in regular contact with our group leader. Our group found it reassuring to have their support.

Paul Kelly, Benalla, VIC

AIRLINE KEEPERS

Like Colleen Jackson (Traveller letters, November 24), I have been using my reusable cup on airlines in order to avoid the waste of endless plastic cups. However, unlike her, my experiences have been overwhelmingly positive. On eight recent flights to and in Canada and the US, my partner, daughter and I all took our keep cups and had all our hot and cold drinks in these cups. Domestically I have been using keep cups on Qantas, Virgin, Rex and Jetstar flights for several years and have never encountered an issue. I would urge all environmentally aware travellers to try this.

Andrew Goodman, Castlemaine, VIC

ON THE CONTINENT

European regional airlines can be useful. We had occasion to travel from Milan to Budapest, from a Globus coach to an Avalon river tour. Major airlines wanted $800 or so for an 8-10 hour trip through Amsterdam or the like. Instead we chose Wizz Air, Hungary-based, for $160 plus luggage and a 1 1/2 hour direct flight. All went perfectly well. The one proviso is that luggage be paid in advance with the ticket. If overweight at check-in, it will cost a lot, so err on the conservative side.

Campbell Laughlin, Rowville, VIC

THERE'S NO LIMIT

To Patricia Hall (Traveller letters, September 8), re travel insurance and age limits. I use CGU now, as I have a parent over 80. I am covered in the event of having to return unexpectedly due to an issue with them. I got this recommendation from the this travel section!

Anne Cloak, Bargo NSW

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