Traveller letters: Don't get too comfortable with Qantas, we were dumped twice

I'm just back from a three-week road trip in southern Puglia – from Bari to Leuca. Driving in Italy was challenging as ever – roads in dire need of maintenance, poor signage, austere traffic signals, laissez-faire parking and stopping and inattentive pedestrians.

However, there is something quite predictable about the chaos and is easy to adapt to with the right mindset. It's much more fun than driving in Melbourne where aggression and road rage are prevalent and running red lights has become the norm.

In the end, it's about the right attitude and Melbourne drivers just don't have it – maybe repeat offenders could be required to undertake a road trip in Italy?

Stelvio Vido, Kew East, VIC

LETTER OF THE WEEK: INSIDE KNOWLEDGE

My wife and I have just returned from a holiday in western Canada and Alaska. We could not speak more highly of Alaskan Dream Cruises for our 11-day Inside Passage cruise.

The small ship only slept 40 passengers and 17 staff and had access to parts of the passage that the big cruise ships don't. The beauty of a small ship meant greater flexibility during cruising.

If a pod of humpbacks or orcas were spotted, we were able to change course and follow them. The staff on the ship were amazing, which made this an unforgettable experience. The cruise is not cheap (mainly thanks to the Australian dollar) but it is worth every cent.

Peter Miniutti, Ashbury, NSW

SOAK IT UP

Reading Ben Groundwater's article about Seville (Traveller, July 13) brought back wonderful memories of my Spanish trip, particularly Seville, which proved to be my favourite city.

We had read about, and managed to track down, the Aire Ancient Bath House in the old quarter of Seville near the Cathedral. The present bath house was built on the site of the original thermal baths and embraces more than five centuries of history.

We enjoyed apple and cinnamon teas, an excellent massage, sipped champagne in the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the rooftops of Seville and luxuriated by candlelight in the many different subterranean thermally heated pools.

An absolute holiday luxury. We spent four hours there and could easily have stayed longer, but they were closing. You must book ahead though, as the bathhouse is very popular.

Denise Formby, Blackburn North, VIC

NOISES OFF

Carmel By The Sea at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast has "a room with a view" similar to the one your reader (Traveller letters, July 20) experienced.

We solved the privacy issue by sticky taping newspaper pages to the offending glass wall. It had the added advantage of providing reading material when on the loo.

Graham Russell, Clovelly, NSW

I stay at Rydges Sydney Airport before travelling overseas and when the hotel first opened it's toilets didn't even have a door, with ablutions on full display.

After a lot of complaints doors were installed, short doors with a space at the top and a space at the bottom, the doors lent a certain air to the rooms.

Finally, after several years, full-length doors were fitted. Who thinks that sitting on a toilet is a sight to be seen by others?

Patrick McIntosh, Bathurst, NSW

WEIGHTY MATTERS

To Chris Gilchrist and the other Traveller letters respondents, I was not attempting to "get away" with excess baggage.

After 17 weeks on a marvellous round the world cruise I knew I had overweight suitcases and was prepared to pay.

My complaint is that I believe the amount per kilogram ($100) charged by Qatar Airways is excessive.

Jennifer Dodd, Blue Bay, NSW

DAN THE MAN

After reading criticism of Air Canada's service in recent editions of Traveller letters I felt compelled to defend the carrier based on my experience.

On a flight from Toronto to Los Angeles on June 16, I was allocated a seat that was going to cause me some anxiety. After speaking with flight attendant Daniel after take-off I was moved to another seat, which made my nearly six-hour trip relaxed and faultless.

He also accommodated an elderly couple who were not happy with their seats next to the toilet. He was friendly, polite and professional and out of all the nametags I have seen on my many flights, his is the only one that I remember.

Clare Raffan, Campsie, NSW

COLOURED VIEWPOINT

After reading Max Anderson's article about India's colourful Holi festival (Traveller letters, July 20) I can't help asking myself why he calls it a "photographer's dream". I'd call it a photographer's nightmare.

What's so desirable about having water and colour splashed all over your camera?

Maybe you could do a follow-up article on cleaning your photographic equipment at the end of the day? Chances are you might as well throw it away.

Kirsten Walla, Vaucluse, NSW

FARE COP

On a recent trip to Japan we were informed by Qantas that our return premium economy flight from Haneda to Melbourne via Sydney was overbooked.

We were offered an upgrade to business class from Narita with no Sydney stopover – a great option until our JAL flight from Nagasaki to Haneda was delayed by 25 minutes.

We missed all the buses that would have transferred us to Narita in time and had to catch a taxi which cost $375. It is 90 kilometres between the two airports and heavy rain had brought the traffic to a standstill.

If you are required to travel across Tokyo make sure you give yourself ample time.

Tony Shea, Guildford, VIC

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