Traveller letters: Westpac Visa cards don't work in Cuba

Cuba, the same country that we have enjoyed those friendly relations with for many years?

So our four-day holiday quickly turned into some sort of Amazing Race farce where the remainder of our walking around money had to be stretched to last us all of those four days. Westpac was happy to confirm that, yes indeed, its cards will not give us access to money in Cuba, as "...the Westpac Group operates in the US, (and) we must comply with US sanction laws ..."

It appears Cuba is one of those countries that "present a significant risk in relation to sanctions compliance." The bank's message ended with the very helpful "… there are other options in Cuba such as ... cash."

Of course.

Peter McGill, Lancefield, VIC

SNIFF TEST

I recently had to connect from QF7 to a domestic flight at Dallas-Forth Worth. After snaking along the lengthy queue through immigration I had to go through security again.

The queue was about 50 metres.

There were only two carousels and the full deal – shoes off, belts off, iPads out, liquids out and one person at a time.

I gradually drew near the top of the line, as my connecting flight boarding time was rapidly approaching. Tensions were high.

Then, suddenly, after the sniffer dog had run along the lines, there was an announcement that there was now "express security" – no belt off, no shoes off and just put the carry-on bag through, liquids and all, and be on your way.

I just made the next flight thanks to saving these last five minutes but I was left puzzled.

How did the sniffer dog know whether I had an iPad or not?

Brian Lucas, Bundanoon, NSW

BLANKET RESPONSE

I could not agree more with Doug Brown (Traveller Letters, June 23). Give me a woollen blanket any time over the dreaded doona. I also like two cotton sheets, one on the bottom and one on the top – some places don't even offer a separate top sheet, so if you are hot with the doona and shove it off the bed, there is nothing on top. My husband and I have found doonas are replacing blankets all around the world – our dear country included. I always endeavour to obtain a blanket when booking in and mostly have been successful with such request.

Jeannette Jordan, Seaforth, NSW

I'd like to add to Helen Caldwell's reply (Traveller Letters, June 30) that taking a quilt cover (bought cheaply at a chain store) with us to add to the two sheets taken from the doona usually covers most warmth needs.

It's outrageous that I have to make my own bed in a hotel!

As for Anne Ackroyd's comment (Traveller Letters, June 30) that Doug Brown should have been enjoying his trip rather than complaining about doonas – it's hard to appreciate everything you see when suffering from lack of sleep.

Beryl Cathro, Mawson, ACT

My wife and I have travelled to a range of European countries over the last few years, most recently to Great Britain. We have found that in all our accommodation, mostly B&Bs but including some hotels, the beds are fitted with doonas.

On a very small number of occasions, we have found a blanket which can be used to replace the inner part of the doona but mostly we have had to suffer with parts of the body sweating and those parts "hanging out" freezing.

I suggest that if the inventor of these dreadful devices can be identified that they should be exiled to a remote island for at least 12 months and forced to sleep under their invention.

Philip Roberts, Coledale, NSW

EDITOR'S NOTE We've received and published a large number of letters on this issue and declare correspondence on the doona debate closed.

SILVER LINING

I was in Cape Town, South Africa, recently at the start of our world holiday and a cloud formation (pictured) I spotted was like nothing I had seen before.

Cape Town was an interesting city on many levels and I am glad we started our holiday there.

Sue O'Brien, Sanctuary Point. NSW

SINGAPORE SLING

Our family of four had a holiday to Noosa in April, flying Singapore Airlines business class from Jakarta (where we were based) to Brisbane.

The night before we were due to go back to Jakarta my dad (who travelled up from Adelaide to holiday with us) had a stroke.

I sent my wife and kids back to Jakarta as planned and spent a week arranging hospital care for my dad and looking after my mum in Noosa (where the hospital staff are awesome, by the way).

Singapore Airlines charged an additional $1000 for my ticket change. When I let them know I wasn't impressed as many airlines waive fees during an emergency (and the SQ arranged insurance didn't cover it) they said there had been a mistake.

I should have been charged an additional $2500, but since it was their mistake they wouldn't try and recover it from me.

Greg Holman, Coromandel Valley, SA

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