Traveller Letters and Reader Tips: Why can't Australian city hotels provide decent coffee?

TURN OFF

I would like hotel rooms to have easy to find and easy to understand light switches. It would help if there were a standardised diagram showing where they are and what they do. Some hotels also have complicated faucets in the shower. A simple mixer faucet should be standard in hotel bathrooms.

Brian Reid, The Ponds, NSW

EDITOR'S NOTE: This subject has stirred considerable interest among readers since we published Debbie Wiener of St Kilda, Victoria's "Rooms for improvement" letter to us earlier this month. We'll endeavour and publish as many as we can over the following weeks. But please do keep the tips coming on other travel–related topics.

LETTER OF THE WEEK

PLAY TIME

Forty two years waiting and I have just returned from Germany having experienced the Oberammergau Passion Play 2022. It has been performed since 1634 every 10 years as a pledge after the plague. It was an Aida-worthy spectacle with 1800 locals in the cast including kids, orchestra and choir and fabulous tableau of Old Testament Scenes along with sheep and camels. It was also a great way to kick off revisiting Europe after the recent plague. Knowing my dates, I used the internet to pre-book tickets in Australia for Salzburg festival concerts, the original Marionettes from The Sound of Music and the Mirabell Concerts. Such a contrast to chance lining up for standing room on the day when I was in my 20s.

Victoria Hayes, Hawthorn East, VIC

TOURS DE FORCE

Thank you to Elspeth Callender for highlighting Nunami Sculthorpe-Green's takara nipaluna walking Hobart tour (Traveller, October 1). Following the route of Aboriginal resistance used in 1832, the tour gives voice to the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal people). Gaining historical perspective and insights are one of the many benefits of travel. And what history is more important in Australia, than the experiences and insights of Indigenous Australians? Congratulations and thank you to Nunami for offering travellers to Hobart this unique opportunity.

Amy Hiller, Kew Vic

We visited South Africa in 2019 and while in Johannesburg (Traveller, October 1) we chose Cashan Tours for a day tour. We arranged pickup and return to our Airbnb, and after a quick discussion, tour guide Chris Green developed a truly personal tour. His tour of Johannesburg, its environs, Soweto and Vilakazi Street, the Maboneng Art Precinct, the amazing wealth of industrial and domestic architecture, as well as showing us the diversity of life in Joburg was so much fun, giving us a diverse and very well-rounded understanding of this city. Chris knew Johannesburg so well, had lots of contacts and ins to special places which made this tour unique.

Lucy Irons, Rowville, VIC

GOING PAINS

I recently flew to Bali on Jetstar with the flight only having one toilet on the plane per 80 people. Sometimes 10 people lined up to use them. At Bali's Denpasar Airport before my return, Jetstar flight toilets were unusable in an absolutely putrid and disgusting state.

Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson, Vic

AN AIR BRIDGE TOO FAR

Further to Simon Benedict's letter about the debacle known as Melbourne Airport (Traveller Letters, October 1), we arrived on time last week from Singapore to find no air bridge attached to our aircraft for over 20 minutes with the pilot explaining that we were waiting for the chocks to go under the wheels. Upon finally entering the airport. it was exactly as Simon described - queues, confusion and blocked toilets. Even the duty free was disorganised with only two check out staff and queues through to the rear of the store. If short-staffed, why arrange for three or four flights to arrive at the same time?

Mark Gower, Melbourne, Vic

OPEN AND SHUTTLE CASE

As weary overseas travellers arrive into Australia at Sydney International Airport to then transfer to a domestic flight, we get shunted by foot and bus, waiting what seems an inordinate period of time to travel across the tarmac to the domestic terminal whilst again having to recheck luggage and pass through security. In this day and age, where is the shuttle train that runs every five or so minutes that moves the masses efficiently and effectively?

Andrew Amarant, Cooroibah, Qld

EDITOR'S NOTE: The AirportLink train line runs between Sydney's international and domestic terminals, but will cost you $6.70 for a one-way journey.

HEAVEN'S GATES

In the recent Traveller article, on how to pass the time in various airports, another airport that makes waiting a pleasure is the one in Tallinn, Estonia. Apart from being both charming and efficient and allowing a walk in a pretend birch forest, it has a library with comfy armchairs and books to borrow.

Maire Mannik, Stirling, SA

NAME GAME

Jenny Mooney and Paul Sloanes (Traveller Letters, October 1), I thank you both for your "Semantic antics" and "More is less" letters. For Jenny, you would like to be called a "passenger" but this would seem at odds when a passenger requires assistance as they then need to contact the "customer line", as per Paul's experience with his travel insurance. Such a quandary. Maybe a name change from customer service line to passenger service line is in order?

Andrew Cheong, Balgowlah Heights, NSW

PLASTIC NOT FANTASTIC

I recently returned from an Intrepid tour of Vietnam, and while the trip was fantastic, I feel there is more travel companies could do for the environment in the countries they visit. While Intrepid's "Say no to plastic" slogan is admirable, are we really saying no? Our tour group members frequently accepted single-use plastic bags at markets and shops while exploring Vietnam, while in the background, piles of rubbish and general litter were always present, even in World Heritage sites like Halong Bay. Tour groups could do more, by stressing the need for travellers to bring their own shopping bags, reusable cups, straws etc in their pre-trip information, while there are still beautiful places to visit.

Margot Pope, Lewisham, NSW

SOUTHERN COMFORT

I just returned from a three week business trip around southern Africa. In comparison to my recent Australian domestic experiences, there was no chaos in the airports, hardly any delays, security queues as normal, no cancellations and no lost baggage. This was after taking around 15 domestic, regional and intercontinental carriers, albeit none being Australian or European. The biggest issue was the constant (electricity) load-shedding in force that was taken calmly in their respective strides by both airports and airlines. This is an experience I'm sure our local airlines need to learn from, and quickly.

Mark Paulton, Madeley, WA

BRICK WORK

Rosemary Swift (Traveller Letters, October 1) mentioned that she had languishing frequent flyer points. Recently, Myer announced that customers shopping online on the Myer website could use Virgin Velocity frequent flyer points as a payment option for purchases. I was able to use 8777 points that were languishing to purchase a Lego set that deducted $40 off the price.

Paul Brown, Gosford, NSW

TIP OF THE WEEK

SAIGON MISS

My wife and I are travelling to Europe for Christmas with Vietnam Airlines which means we must transit through Ho Chi Minh City on our outward journey and on our return we wish to spend some time in Hoi an. Last week I contacted the Vietnam Embassy to start the process for our visa and was told we had to go through a travel agent. We contacted our agent and, while surprised, they started the process and discovered you required a visa just to transit to another destination and you cannot gain a multiple entry visa. This means we have to pay for two visas and the second visa can only be applied for once you have left the country.

Barry Stubbs, West Hobart, Tas

DANK OUTSIDER

I totally agree with your correspondent, Judy Hungerford (Traveller Letters, October 1). Being a widow of 25 years, and even paying a single supplement for years on all my trips, one is inevitably shunned to the worst room. My advice is to complain loudly. A certain travel company completely spoiled a wonderful trip to Malta after I was assigned to a dark and smelly little room below the stairs.

Robin O'Neill, Waverley, NSW

PEUGEOT A NO GO

On two prior extended European road trips, we've leased a vehicle through Peugeot and it worked well. But despite booking months in advance, on arrival in Frankfurt we were informed that the contracted vehicle was unavailable. An alternative, significantly lesser rental vehicle was provided. Then followed weeks of unreturned emails to Peugeot, eventually, after five weeks, resulting in the admission that no Peugeot would be available. There are two main issues here: a failure to deliver on a contractual arrangement and, most irritatingly, truly appalling customer service, particularly communication

Noel Bayley, Carlton North, Vic

DUDS ADVICE

Whenever I go overseas I take a selection of my oldest clothes and wear them once then discard them. This means I have more room in my case to buy new clothes, I have to buy new clothes so that I have something to wear on the rest of the trip and I have a perfectly legitimate excuse if my wife raises an eyebrow as I give the credit card more sunlight. Win, win and win.

Neale Meagher, Malvern, Vic

HOW TO WRITE TO US

We give preference to letters of 100 words or fewer and they may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Please use full sentences, don't use textspeak and don't include attachments. Email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.

The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100. For October, that includes Ultimate Walks & Hikes Australia; Pasta Grannies; and Kinfolk Islands.

See hardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books, including Offbeat by Lonely Planet, Where to go When and The Weather Book.

See shop.lonelyplanet.com