Traveller letters: Cathay Pacific's star shines bright on service

So for those immersed in the rat race, the cacophony that is city life, I guess silent travel can be a bit odd at first. But after a day or so, in my experience, you get hooked. It's not dull and boring: it's restorative and allows that rare thing – time for contemplation. I'm with Louise; quiet travel rocks.

Julie Davenport

JEWEL IN THE SANDS

My partner and two teenage children spent a week in Oman (Traveller, October 18-19) earlier this year whilst travelling in the region. Oman is certainly an undiscovered jewel by many Australians and really is the Arabia of your imagination. Within two hours' driving of Muscat there are isolated pristine beaches, vast mountain ranges and of course the legendary empty quarter.

Omani people are warm and welcoming and nothing was ever too much trouble. We have many treasured memories from our time in Oman and would recommend it to anyone thinking of a side trip or a destination in itself, it really is the best-kept secret – but not for much longer!

Fiona Weily

COLD, HARD FACTS

I was an expedition physician on a ship in the High Arctic in Norway in 2009. The "Polar Plunge" (Traveller, October 18-19), a much sought-after rite of passage for travellers to the polar regions, is not without health risks, including hypothermia and cardiac events. That is why expedition vessels are equipped with gigantic rewarming tubs. I was tasked to be on stand-by with a cardioverter-defibrillator for passengers who suffer an arrhythmia. I advise infirm travellers with heart and lung conditions to weigh up their risk of suffering an adverse event before embarking on the Polar Plunge.

Dr Joseph Y S Ting

AUSSEE, AUSSEE, AUSSEE

Brian Johnston's article on the Salzkammergut (Traveller, October 18-19) brought back memories. As the attached picture shows, we felt it might not be wise to venture into this little Austrian village when on a motorcycle tour some years ago. The Australian stickers on the bike would have given us away. In the event, all was well, but the picture was just too good to miss.

Brian Macdonald

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

The additional deposit after payment or in addition to payment for accommodation is a mystery. Regardless of the presence of a mini bar and/or the opportunity to buy a bottle or two of overpriced water this sum is debited against one's credit card for the extent of the stay plus an additional five or six days. Surely within 12 hours of departure it can be determined whether the said room was destroyed, trashed or otherwise made inhabitable.

Michael J. Donohoe

CLASS ACT

Daniel Scott's Flight Test review (Traveller, October 18-19) of the Qantas A380 Los Angeles-to-Sydney flight explained how pleasant cabin crew and a good seat (a given in other classes) make for an enjoyable flight in economy. For me the upstairs economy cabin is a true delight and Scott was unfortunate not to have had a starboard exit row seat (35K or 35J), the best economy seats on the plane, whereas his seat (35D) is one of the worst.

Maurice Critchley

WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES

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