Traveller letters: It's time for Tigerair to answer for ruining people's holidays

We had always wanted to visit the Hawaiian Islands, especially Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Unfortunately, the eruption of Mount Kilauea came as a disappointment to us.

Nevertheless, we visited Hawaii in July, after having the Pride of America cruise recommended to us. The cruise was worthwhile as it enabled us to visit all the main islands. In Maui we took a tour up to the summit of Mount Haleakala to see its vast moonscape, 2900 metres above sea level.

On the Big Island we signed up to a "modified" Volcanoes National Park tour due to the fact that the park was closed but the guide did take us to see some old lava flows from past eruptions. We also drove as close to Kilauea as was safe but saw steam coming from cracks in the road surface.

What was more impressive, however, was when the ship made a special announcement that it would cruise past the Kilauea area that night so that we could see the dramatic fire and lava flows. The raw power that volcanoes can unleash has always been a source of great fascination.

Brian Parker, Terrigal, NSW

SWISS BLISS

Thanks for the nostalgia, Brian Johnston, we have been lucky enough to enjoy several Swiss Winter experiences (Traveller, September 15) and have added others to our bucket list (your recommendation of the Burgenstock Resort is top of the list).

One of our most enjoyable was visiting the alpine town of Leukerbad twice – the natural thermal waters and the heated outdoor pools gazing over snow-covered mountains was unforgettable.

Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW

DUTCH TREAT

I read the woeful story of your reader's Qantas Cash problem in Paris (Traveller Letters, September 15).

My recent experience in Europe was different. My card was skimmed and Qantas blocked it after three transactions totalling some €1000.

Qantas emailed me about the problem and I was sent a claim form for reimbursement, and my claim was accepted within two and a half hours.

Being in the Netherlands at the time, I was promised a replacement card at my Dutch address within 10 business days and I got the new card in six days. I could not be happier with their procedures and response, and I loved the Qantas Dreamliner experience, too.

Joseph Boonen, North Melbourne, VIC

ONCE UPON A TIME

Gwen Higgins' letter about books and travel (Traveller Letters, September 15) reminded me of how as a young girl many years ago, embarking on what would be the first of many trips overseas, I decided on a whim that I would purchase a children's story book from every country visited.

Half a century later, I have a collection of many children's books which are wonderful, and were inexpensive and easily-packed souvenirs of all those trips.

Luckily, my schoolgirl French enables me to read Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (Little Red Riding Hood in French) and other stories are easily recognisable such as Cenerentola (Cinderella in Italian) and Te Anuhe Tino Hiakai or Donall An Chluimh Agus An-Ocras Air (The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Maori or Irish).

But for the most part I am free to marvel at the different scripts and interpret for myself the stories and cultural elements revealed in the colourful and evocative illustrations. My favourite book is the Turkish 202 Jokes of Nasreddin Hodja, a jovial but cunning character from the 13th century, albeit with questionable humour. When a neighbour inquired of Hodja why he always answered a question with another question, he replied: do I?

I am so glad I have these simple books to remind me of my happy travels.

Kay Wood, Glenning Valley, NSW

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