Traveller Letters: Every traveller should take this when they go for their jab

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Traveller Letters: Every traveller should take this when they go for their jab

Updated
One reader had the nurse record her COVID-19 vaccination in her International Certificate of Vaccination booklet.

One reader had the nurse record her COVID-19 vaccination in her International Certificate of Vaccination booklet.Credit: iStock

BY THE BOOKLET

Like Allan Gibson (Traveller Letters, June 26), I have an International Certificate of Vaccination which I have had since 1995. I use this yellow booklet to record all my vaccinations. Although we rarely need vaccinations for travel any more, I record all tetanus and influenza vaccinations each year. I recently had my COVID jab and the nurse was happy to record it in the book. We should all have one.

Barbara Perugini, Kew, VIC

LETTER OF THE WEEK

WORLD VIEW

Ben Groundwater's souvenir musings prompted a lockdown journey. From the pictures on my own walls I travelled to Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, St Kilda then back to Cornwall, Suffolk and onto Greece. The baskets took me to Finland and Vanuatu, the floor rugs to Fez, Kas and Connecticut. On the mantle pieces, ceramics transported me to Cyprus, Turkey, Azores, Cuba, Morocco, Tunisia. Elegant candlesticks from a Rouen antique shop as I ran for the ferry sit next to sea glass and shards from world beaches and a tiny pink-festooned, cracked cream jug marked "Selfridges", spotted in soil near Kings Cross, London. The fireplace holds round stones from Finland and holed flint, witches' stones from Suffolk pebble beaches while the Greek blue glass eye hanging at my window is a promise I will travel again.

Lesley Walker, Gordon, NSW

TOKEN GESTURES

Like Ben Groundwater, I am a sucker for a souvenir. Similarly I have everything from sombreros to carpets. My favourites though are the Christmas decorations; each December they remind me of the four countries in which I have lived and those 35 in which I have travelled. Great memories.

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Sally Spurr, Lane Cove, NSW

NUTS FOR STANLEY

I enjoyed the cover story, "Tour de Tassie" (Traveller, July 3) by Anthony Dennis. In March 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdowns started, my husband and I visited Tasmania for 10 days. We also did the loop around the island, as in the article, but I must mention one great little town that we visited and which was not featured. It's Stanley, located in the far north-west of the island, and famous for The Nut, the 143-metre high volcanic plug that towers over the town. We stayed at Stamps At Stanley, which operates as a post office by day and with accommodation upstairs by night. The hosts originally were from Sydney but moved there for a quieter life. Down by the waterfront, Hursey Seafood has probably the best seafood in Australia. I hope that all of these little quaint towns and villages have survived the various lockdowns as I can't wait to one day go back.

Sharon Mccudden, Port Macquarie, NSW

BORDER BLISS

Having previously bemoaned the paucity of world class service and/or accommodation in Australia, I was pleasantly surprised on our recent visit to Albury-Wodonga to discover a small boutique hotel shattering this preconception. Circa 1928 is set in a beautifully-restored bank on Albury's main street and where Kevin and his wife Ririn were the consummate hosts, providing a stay as welcoming as it was relaxing. Nothing was too much trouble and a vast array of goodies was provided at no extra cost. With international travel seemingly off the agenda for the foreseeable future, it was refreshing to learn that you don't necessarily have to venture beyond these shores to experience a world class hotel with unimpeachable service.

Chris Roylance, Paddington, QLD

Editor's note: You can read Traveller's review of the hotel here.

COPY THAT

I couldn't agree more with Michael Gebicki regarding the digital certificate available to European Union citizens once they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There should be an incentive for fully-vaccinated Australians who wish to travel and can prove, either digitally or by hard copy, that they are eligible to do so. As Michael so correctly stated, "you need a passport to travel overseas, so why not a vaccine passport?"

Marilyn Tremp, Portarlington, VIC

VIRGIN SOLDIERS ON

I have had to fly Canberra to Melbourne on numerous occasions this year to help an elderly aunt who fell, and whose life is spiralling out of control. I have found booking with Virgin an absolute relief. Frequently I have had to change my original plans. Flights can be changed anytime and re-booked for the exact same fare (mostly "off peak") without any extra costs. Log in, select new dates and times and it's done. Long may these conditions continue. Well done Virgin.

Lis Carola, O'Connor, ACT

PICTURE PERFECT

I cannot speak too highly of Greenlee Cottages, in Canungra, an hour south west of Brisbane. These four charming cottages are nestled on a gentle slope, downhill from a macadamia orchard. It's a working farm, but hosts Robyn and Paul have thought of everything. Interior spaces are tastefully furnished with attention given to the little things such as a breakfast hamper of selected local produce and a take-a-book/leave-a-book mini-library. The view over Canungra Creek Valley and Ranges is picture-perfect. Greenlee Cottages is the ideal place to get away from it all and reconnect. It's just far enough off the beaten track but still convenient to nearby wineries and the many delights of Queensland's Scenic Rim. Sitting in the steamer chairs by the creek was so tranquil, even though we didn't catch a glimpse of the elusive platypus - maybe next time.

Garry Potter, Carina, QLD

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

Further to Alex Hamill's (Traveller Letters, June 19) about Avis requesting a physical, plastic licence in Queensland. I was lucky enough to travel to New Zealand and back from Sydney at the end of June before the bubble closed, and upon hiring a rental car from a place near Auckland airport I was informed that NSW digital licences were not accepted. Fortunately I have a NSW old-school plastic licence, so no problem for me. But when I told my now Brisbane-based son, who has a trip to NZ planned for the end of July that he would need a physical plastic licence, he laughed and said, "mum I have a Queensland licence now and it's plastic." Queensland is light years behind NSW with digital licences!

Karen Prince, Frenchs Forest, NSW

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