Traveller letters: The sneaky way of bypassing immigration queues in the US

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Traveller letters: The sneaky way of bypassing immigration queues in the US

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Immigration queues in the US have seen travellers waiting for as long as four hours.

Immigration queues in the US have seen travellers waiting for as long as four hours.Credit: iStock

MEGHAN METHOD

Jan Naugton (Traveller letters, January 18), there is a sneaky way to bypass immigration queues in the US by flying through Canada. Last week I flew to New York with Air Canada via Vancouver and I cleared US immigration there while in transit. It was fast and easy and I then flew on to Newark, New Jersey, where I disembarked just like a domestic flight. Could not have been happier.

TRUDY DALGLEISH, ROZELLE, NSW

Louisiana's Whitney Plantation.

Louisiana's Whitney Plantation. Credit: Elsa Hahne

LETTER OF THE WEEK

STAIN ON THE SOUTH

Thank you, Lance Richardson, for recounting your trip to Louisiana's Whitney Plantation (pictured) and Alabama's National Memorial for Peace and Justice in America's south (Traveller, January 18). The story of African men and women being kidnapped, taken to America, sold into slavery and dying from the experience is one that needs to be told. Travellers to Europe frequently visit sites where atrocities were committed against Jews and others during World War Two to learn more of these things. A visit to these American sites should be undertaken for the same reason. Only when people are informed about the horrors and injustice of slavery will there be any possibility of eliminating this disgraceful practice that continues today. Articles like Lance Richardson's encourage people to have a broader travel experience and make them more aware of the world as it was and how it should be. More please.

COLIN SMITH, MT WAVERLEY, VIC

KAKADU RENEWED

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Parks Australia is disappointed not to have been approached for comment for your cover story on the future of Kakadu, Australia's largest national park (Traveller, December 7). While international visitation to Kakadu has fallen, international visitation has fallen across the Top End in general. At the same time we have seen a higher number of domestic visitors, showing more Australians engaging with their own cultural and natural treasures - a positive step in securing ambassadors for our iconic Australian destinations. Domestic visitors also stay longer in Kakadu, bringing a stronger economic return to the region. In January 2019, the Prime Minister announced a $216 million funding package for Kakadu, including $70 million to improve roads and access to key visitor sites which will encourage private investment, improve visitor safety and access, and increase the length of the main tourist season. Delivery of these changes is well underway and both Australian and international visitors will already be seeing the start of the transformation.

BRANT SMITH, PARKS AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA, ACT

TRUE BLUE

Blu Tack for noise reduction on flights is a brilliant suggestion (Traveller letters, January 18). From experience, after a few hours, noise cancelling headphones become very uncomfortable. A while back I read a review of bone-conducting ear phones which provide very good sound and are very comfortable (so I bought two to always have one fully charged). The manufacturer helpfully provided a pair of earplugs with each set to provide noise blocking and audio at the same time. I'm going to try them on my next flight.

WAYNE ROBINSON, KINGSLEY, WA

CAN DO ATTITUDE

On a recent trip to Paris we went to a bistro near our hotel. As I had visited French markets and noticed whole sardines for sale I ordered them as an appetiser. The sardines arrived served in an open can on a plate. I thought, those cunning French, they have made the dish look like they have just opened the can and put it on my plate. It only took me a couple of mouthfuls to realise the "chef" had done just that and charged me €16 (or about $A30) for the pleasure.

BOB ELLIS, BREAKFAST POINT, NSW

SCUFF HAPPENS

I have been renting cars for decades both overseas and throughout Australia. I have never had any problem until my most recent rental from Europcar at the Gold Coast Airport. Less than five minutes before I returned the vehicle I did a complete inspection finding nothing wrong. When I returned the car, they were very busy and the attendant instructed me to just give him the keys. A couple of days later, I received an email claiming that there was damage to my car (scuff marks). They included a photo but the photo could have been any white car. Could it also be a possibility that the car was damaged by the attendants moving it around after I dropped it off? Sure. Customer service was useless (as expected) and, unfortunately, there is no where else to turn. Following this incident I have read reviews of this company and it appears that many people have had similar experiences. Unfortunately, I didn't take photos but from reading the reviews, that did not seem to matter to Europcar.

ED NIEDZIELA, ELLIOTT HEADS, QLD

COLD COMFORT

I've just returned from a gorgeous trip in the South Island of New Zealand. Our Airbnbs were spotless, spacious with much beautiful food supplied for free, including not just breakfast essentials but organic big leaf garden salads, yoghurt, freshly baked sourdough bread and fresh fruit. Europe, the UK and parts of Australia need to lift their game significantly where a totally empty fridge not turned on is the norm.

RICHARD MASON, MONA VALE, NSW

SPLIT DECISION

What a thrill to read your One & Only guide to Zagreb (Traveller, January 18). My daughter and I loved our visit to this wonderful city in April, 2019, but how could anyone omit the city's extraordinary Museum of Broken Relationships!? It was the most catch-your-breath, stay-longer, dwell-on, make-a-memory and wish-you-could-stay-longer museum I've been to.

SARAH GUTHRIE, WILLAURA, VIC

NOT A CORKER

We just spent an enjoyable week over Christmas in Hong Kong. Our arrival in to and out of Hong Kong airport took less than 15 minutes. Back in Sydney, it took us over one hour through the shambles of border control. On that note I accidentally took a corkscrew with my carry-on luggage. it passed through Sydney security undetected on the way out but got picked up by Hong Kong security on the way back. It makes you wonder about what else gets through Sydney?

G. HILDEBRAND, MOSMAN, NSW

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