Traveller Letters: Please, just tell me when the meal will be served

Bad filling

We filled the tank of our rental vehicle, took photos of its exterior and drove four kilometres to Ace Car rentals near Perth Airport. We returned the car and gave them the fuel receipt. We should also have taken a photo of the fuel gauge because a few days later we were charged $8.46 for fuel (about four litres) and a $36.36 handling charge plus GST. Priya at Ace said it was out of her hands. Be warned. Take a photo of the fuel gauge before returning the car.
Sue Martin, Clareville, NSW

Such posers

My peeve regarding manners and photography (Traveller, June 3) is people feeling the need to stand in front of that famous statue, castle, tree, or whatever, while their fellow traveller takes their time getting the perfect picture. Surely the subject of the picture should be the icon, not the person. The photograph proves you’ve seen it, and others get to take a shot without a stranger posing in the foreground.
Diane Maddison, Parkdale, Vic

Bot nothing

After deciding on a trip to Thailand, my wife and I read about AirAsia’s offer of flat bed seats at “premium economy” prices and thought we would give them a try. We booked in January but were advised that our flights were cancelled in early March. There seems to be no way to call the airline to discuss alternatives. The only available contact point is a “bot” that tries to persuade you to accept a credit. Our experiences with airline credits have been negative and besides, who wants to book with an airline that accepts your booking, takes your payment and then cancels your flights within a few weeks? After requesting a refund we were told (via the bot) that AirAsia would consider our request and get back to us ASAP. This has not happened, meanwhile we have had to replace the flights to Bangkok and pay for more tickets.
Row Currie, Sandringham, Vic

Midnight run

When recently our connecting flight at Kuala Lumpur (Tokyo/KL/Sydney) was cancelled, we were initially told the awful news that our new flight, ex-KL would be at midnight, giving us an 18 hour layover. As we were approaching Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to check in for the first leg home, Malaysia Airlines called us and told us they had switched us to an ANA direct Tokyo/Sydney flight, leaving an hour and a half before the scheduled midnight MA flight. We got home nearly 12 hours earlier than planned, slept well on the half empty flight, all at no extra cost to us.
Christine McColl, Maroubra, NSW

Southern discomfort

I enjoyed Catherine Marshall’s excellent and sensitive review of experiencing the melancholic beauty of Antarctica (Traveller, June 17).

Antarctic travel, however, is a key example of the huge divide and inequity in our society. I shall never afford a $26,000 luxury cruise but, as Marshall suggests, I sincerely hope that those who do visit Antarctica subsequently commit themselves to advocate for the protection of this magnificent yet vulnerable part of our planet.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Wheat are not amused

Yes, Pam, I have likewise rejoiced while eating wheat-based goodies when travelling in Europe (Traveller Letters, June 10). I first noted “wheat freedom” in Turkey 20 years ago. I echo the question, what is wrong with Australian wheat that causes the discomfort and bloating that drive so many of us to gluten-free products?
Rae Lawler, Old Bar, NSW

Tip of the week: Rome ranked

We recently returned from a wonderful European driving holiday. On the last leg of our journey we dropped our car off at Rome Airport before heading into Rome. I booked most of our accommodation using a popular online booking service. As a reward, the online site offered a discount taxi transfer from Rome Airport to the city which I considered, but did not take up. As we stood in the long taxi line at Fiumicino T3, I was starting to regret not taking up their offer, only to discover that there is a fixed price of €50 ($80) from the airport to Rome. This was 80 per cent cheaper than the “discount” fare. It was a great reminder to check before taking up any “discount” offers.
Jeff Swan, Castle Hill, NSW

Electrifying experience

A day in Stuttgart, Germany, is plenty to visit the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums. Not only did we see beautiful cars, but we also learnt some interesting history. Who knew that the first Porsche (named after Ferdinand Porsche) was fully electric or that Porsche made the first fully operational hybrid car way back in 1900? Another fun fact – Mercedes was the name of a car client’s daughter. Ironically, Mercedes herself never learnt to drive. Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, touring these museums is a day to remember.
Leonie Jarrett, Hawthorn East, Vic

Inspirational inns

Your recent cover story on grande dame hotels (Traveller, June 18) brought back warm, wonderful memories of the Hotel Kvarner in Opatija, Croatia. When I was there in 2008, it was still fabulous, but about to be “rejuvenated” It was full of chandeliers, wide staircases, a massive dining room, velvet curtains and French doors opening onto a view of the ocean. It was at times “spooky, but enchanting”, as not many travellers were there. I’m really happy to see that the update hasn’t taken away its character.
Roslyn Jaeger, Shoalhaven Heads, NSW

Primal screen

If you’re leaving Paris via Charles De Gaulle airport beware. We were warned in the Singapore Airlines lounge to allow at least 90 minutes to get to our flight. Somewhat sceptically, we took the advice. Seventy-five minutes later we were still in the line waiting for our tray to emerge from the security X-ray. The problem was that the French airport staff were closely examining every three or four trays, but instead of moving them to a central, they simply stopped the belt from moving. This meant a huge backup and crowds of travellers loudly complaining about how they were late for their flights. To top it off, my iPad was stolen out of my tray before it got through the X-ray.
Alex Hamill, Sydney, NSW

That’s (not) entertainment

In regards to your reader’s letter (Traveller Letters, June 11), I would urge readers not to attend a church service as a musical experience. For the congregation, this is a religious and spiritual time and not just entertainment. When I visited the US (pre-pandemic) I chose not to attend a Harlem service. Instead, one Sunday I arrived at a Washington African American church that was on the site of the underground railway, which smuggled slaves to safety. I asked permission to attend the service and was warmly welcomed. Yes, there was great singing, but the sermon, morning tea and conversation were memorable, authentic and became a highlight of my stay in the US.
L Page, Baulkham Hills, NSW

The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com