Traveller letters: Munich Airport - If you're going to lose something, do it here

Yes, the plastic will help keep suitcases from being scuffed and damaged, but they are suitcases after all and aren't meant to go through life unscathed. The plastic won't stop thieves either, who can slice through the layers in a microsecond.

Doesn't your columnist realise where plastic comes from? It's a byproduct of petroleum or oil, a fossil fuel formed from the decomposition and pressurisation of ancient marine organisms. It is a finite resource that should not be wasted on something so frivolous.

And there's also the question of how you dispose of the wads of plastic when at your destination? Is it recyclable or biodegradable? Possibly, but probably not, and most of it will end up in the hotel rubbish bin.

Jenna Reed Burns, Glebe, NSW

PACKING IT

In response to Ken Gray's letter (Traveller Letters, December 31), I ride my bike to airports regularly, both domestic and international, pack it and fly with it. Domestically, I buy a bike carton at the airport. In some airports (such as Launceston, Adelaide and Portland in the US) there are bicycle packing areas.

Three days ago I landed in Invercargill, NZ. The security woman collected our cartons, which she said they keep for departing passengers. In a few weeks, we will arrive at Wellington Airport in New Zealand where we have previously also purchased bike cartons. Rarely do I pay any excess for my bike.

Noel McFarlane, Kurraba Point, NSW

DRY IDEA

Eileen Pearson (Traveller Letters, December 31) highlights the huge waste of water, energy and effort in washing hotel towels after a single use. However, cleaners are worried that complaints are lodged against them if they do not replace hung up towels that occupants wish to reuse.

Their default position is to satisfy room occupants rather than incite the rare complaint of someone who did hang up their towel on racks despite wanting it replaced.

I'd leave a note in the bathroom of your wish to reuse, or as I have often done, just have a chat to reassure the cleaner on your hotel floor that you'd like to have a single set of towels during your stay.

Cleaners are often overseas students or recent arrivals, and are vulnerable enough to believe themselves at risk of being "hung out to dry" for even minor irritations and vexacious complaints.

Joseph Ting, Carina, QLD

RENTAL CRISIS

Similar to Sue Martin's experience (Traveller Letters, December 31), in July 2016 we collected our rental car from Avis in Glasgow for a 35-day period.

After showing the Avis staff our receipts we were assured that there would be no overcharging issues when we returned the car to Avis at Heathrow. To our dismay, we were billed on our credit card GBP458.16.

After numerous emails direct to Avis, not once did they respond directly, instead doing so via our intrepid travel agent, Travel Managers. After two partial refunds we are still owed more than $200.

We are told that the questionable slow tyre leak that we reported whlist in England is the reason yet no detailed invoice ever provided as required in Australia. Interestingly, this charge was made without any inspection.

Winton McColl, Montmorency, VIC

LETTER OF THE WEEK

We collected our black Fiat 500 (Traveller, December 31) from Treviso Airport and drove it ("white" in the paperwork and with no aircon in a hot July) five hours west past Turin.

Next day I performed one of my legendary three-point turns to determine the depth of the concealed ditch. With the assistance of a passing local, we were soon back on four wheels.

In the hills north of Turin, under the instructions of Miss Julie (our GPS gizmo, who is always absolutely 100 per cent correct) we ignored a dead end sign and continued down a lane that became progressively tighter and steeper – like wing-mirror tight.

Eventually, the cobblestones ahead converted to steep and then steeper steps and many of them. By now reversing was not an option. The house opposite had a tiny private parking space where I somehow performed a 36-point turn involving many unhappy car noises and language. Driving sensibly back to our Airbnb, I managed to donate 40 euros to an unco-operative self-service fuel bowser.

Final verdict: the Fiat 500 is lightweight, manoeuvrable, light on fuel and fun to drive – just don't hire black, sans aircon, in a northern Italian summer.

Bill Murrie, Sapphire Beach, NSW

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