This was published 8 years ago
Traveller Letters: Do not waste your money on so-called 'luxury'
PLANE AWFUL
I had the pleasure of visiting Hanoi, Vietnam, last month. I flew business class with Singapore Airlines which was wonderful and beyond expectations. While there I had a booking with Vietnam Airlines for a couple of days at Hue, in South Vietnam, also booked for business class, and what a shock that was.
The plane was so old it still had the ashtrays from the old smoking days, the lounges at Hanoi and Hue were horrible and the food inedible as was the food served on the plane, with only beer available inflight, no wine.
The curtains between economy and business were not closed at all, and when we landed, the economy passengers just about knocked us over to get out. There was absolutely no courtesy extended to business-ckass passengers with loading or unloading.
Do not waste your money paying the extra for so-called "luxury" on Vietnam Airlines – there isn't any.
Virginia Jackman, Hazel Park, VIC
REALITY CHECK
Hilary Cook-Geraerts (Traveller Letters, March 26-27): just because your children are privileged enough to travel frequently does not mean that most young people are gallivanting around the world.
I'm 34, with a young family and no one I know who is saving for a mortgage is doing any kind of travelling, save the occasional trip down the coast.
The majority of middle and working-class young people cannot afford to travel abroad extensively, with or without plans to purchase property. With the median property prices in Melbourne now exceeding $700,000, many of my friends are foregoing even domestic jaunts (not to mention lessons for their children, cinema tickets, takeout meals, and other "luxuries").
Thirty years ago, the median house price was close to $300,000, adjusted for inflation, and my parents, two teachers, lived in a comfortable inner-city home, travelled to Europe once a year, and still saved modestly. A dream that few of my generation will ever be able to realise. Check your privilege and that of your children when you chastise my generation for their perceived "indulgences".
Stephanie Delage, Seddon, VIC
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Keith Austin (Traveller, April 2-3), in his article on the Queen Victoria, does not seem to understand that it is rude for a guest to totally disregard the wishes of his host. Cunard guests dine in the Britannia dining room by choice, respecting the dress code.
Austin could have dined with the many guests who choose the flexible arrangement for time and dress in the Lido. However, he arrogantly chose to disturb the staff and other paying guests, although being fully aware of the choice. Good manners did not end in the era of Downton Abbey.
Nancy Price, Mornington, VIC
WEIGHTY MATTERS
In regards to the article on the Queen Victoria, gross tonnage is not the ship's weight. Gross tonnage is the cubic capacity of all the spaces of the ship. Net tonnage is the capacity of the earning spaces on the ship.
If it was possible to weigh a ship, that weight would be the displacement tonnage. This can be arrived by multiplying the length, breadth, draught and coefficient of fineness of the ship, which gives you the amount of water displaced by the ship in water.
Kenneth Fernandes, Altona, VIC
THE RIGHT TRACK
My first four visits to India were casual, unbooked affairs, buying tickets and catching trains as the spirit moved me and finding accommodation on arrival. By 2012, my last visit, it was all done online before I left home and was fun, rather like assembling a jigsaw. Not so this time.
Indian Railways have erected barriers so complex that only an IT genius could hurdle them and every attempt to pre-book accommodation met a multinational booking agency that would only disclose a price after I donated my personal data. Time-consuming, frustrating, intrusive.
Then I met Perfect Travels, a Delhi-based travel agency that truly lives up to its name. They will do all of the above for you with utmost efficiency, speed, accuracy and politeness. By the end of my trip I felt we had developed a personal relationship.
Their English language communication and ability to anticipate the needs of Western visitors is brilliant. They will work with you as an individual traveller or you can take a tour from their colourful website at perfecttravels.net.
Sue Currie, Northcote, VIC
BEACH ETIQUETTE
As a regular visitor to Rio (Traveller Letters, April 9-10), I have never had a problem with thieves. That said, I take precautions, As a tourist, don't be stupid. Dress like a local in T-shirt short or jeans and in thongs with no big camera and no money belt.
On the beach never leave your things alone. Ask a local to look after them when you go for a swim, or if you have hired a chair, hook your backpack around the chair or up in the umbrella, just like the locals do.
Leave your passport and credit cards at the hotel and don't use an ATM at night. The same advice for Buenos Aires. Lonely Planet has good advice on surviving as a tourist in South America.
John Mahaff, Grose Vale, NSW
DO NOT DISTURB
Further to experiences with US Customs (Traveller Letters, April 2-3), last June my bag was opened twice over three internal flights. There was a notice left inside my bag both times advising that they had opened my bag. There was no damage done to the locks (TSA) or zips and my contents were not disturbed. Maybe they are getting better at releasing the locks.
Judith English, Hornsby Heights, NSW
WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES
The writer of the letter judged the best of the week will receive a Lonely Planet prize pack. See lonelyplanet.com.
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