This was published 2 years ago
Traveller Letters: Who cares what flight attendants wear?
What flight attendants wear is the least important aspect of their job, writes one Traveller reader.Credit: Getty Images
DRESSING DOWN
Lee Tulloch, I'm all for non-discriminatory gender processes in the airline industry (Traveller, April 9). However I think fashion and how cabin crews are dressed is the least important aspect of flying. Surely the most important issue is that cabin crew and flight attendants are well versed in all aspects of safety, security and service for passengers. There are never ending stories of terrible flights (particularly long haul ) because the cabin crew and flight attendants didn't do their job properly. No one ever mentions how they were dressed.
Joanne Gordon, Pyrmont, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
TAKE ME THERE
Even better than Isola Bella beach in Sicily is Isola Bella (Traveller Letters, April 2), the charming island in Lake Maggiore, Italy. In 2018 we enjoyed a magical three-night-stay at Boutique Hotel Elvezia, where amazing staff produced a memorable birthday dinner, complete with local wine and singing waiters. By day we explored the magnificent Baroque palace and terraced garden with its peacocks and pebbled grotto, and shopped the cobblestone lanes where former fishermen's cottages now showcase elegant Italian fashion and homewares. When the day-trippers depart, the island is all yours to wander, take in the views, restaurants and twinkling lights. Sigh. If only we were there right now.
Jan Dennis, Port Macquarie, NSW
AMSTERDAM THEM
We are about to start a much delayed road trip within Australia of nearly two months and 10,000 kilometres. We are staying in a variety of accommodations including cabins, Airbnbs and hotels and motels. Most of the accommodation has been booked through booking.com which we have used before as they offer a good service and, often, very good rates. In addition, as a regular customer we get a discount. It was with some amazement, therefore, to find that all of our latest bookings have been processed through booking.com's head office in Amsterdam and have incurred a 3 per cent international transaction fee. This significantly reduces the appeal of this booking service. Phone calls to booking.com trying to get an explanation have proved fruitless.
Robert Taylor, Mount Waverley, Vic
ALIVE AND LICKING
Asra Bechaz thinks aerogrammes are defunct (Traveller Letters, April 16). Not so. You can still get them from your local Australia Post shop.
Andrew Burns, Mollymook Beach, NSW
NOT SO FAST
Anne Elliott (Traveller Letters, February 12) wrote that she explained to a visiting French acquaintance that "our states had only agreed to the same rail gauge a hundred years ago". Wrong. As a retired railway engineer, I can confirm that Victoria and South Australia refused in 1923 and nothing was done. Queensland still has medium gauge, NSW and NT standard, SA broad and standard, WA medium and standard, and Victoria an unworkable mess of broad, standard and dual, forcing 95 per cent of Victorian freight onto roads. And no, Australia does not need hyper expensive Very Fast Trains designed to enrich dishonest politicians' construction-firm buddies, just a national standard-gauge system of high-quality conventional railways run by competent railroaders, not bungling private operators.
Yaroslav Dudinski, Sunshine, VIC
I'VE HAD MY FILL
Michael Gebicki's article about Australia's new Digital Passenger Declaration states it is supposed to replace the Australian Travel Declaration. Before returning from Dubai last week, we wrestled with the app but managed to finish all the requirements, including uploading our PCR test result (hint: upload a photo instead). However, the only time we were requested to show it was at Dubai airport. We were then surprised that we had to also fill in the old paper declaration on the plane which was then collected in Sydney. No-one in Sydney was interested in seeing the DPD at all. You cannot access the app at a foreign airport unless you have global roaming are logged into the airport WiFi or have a local phone chip (another hint: take a screenshot of the summary page instead). Taking a photo of any relevant documents you may need access to and putting them in a travel album within your photo collection is a great idea.
John Boast, Hunters Hill, SW
THE BIG QUEASY
It is possible to avoid the Drake Passage (Traveller Letters, April 8) by flying to King George Island, and then accessing the Antarctic Peninsula. Failing that, find a ship with an X-shaped bow (such as Greg Mortimer, Aurora expeditions). It makes the ship much more stable and the crossing smoother. Sea sickness medication must take the form of antihistamines not antiemetics which do not work. The biggest side effect is drowsiness, but this is much better than vomiting. The scopolamine patch behind the ear is an alternative but can cause a troublesome dry mouth. I have just returned from working as an expedition medic and, having crossed the Drake many times, I can recommend all these measures.
Mari Fleri, Glebe, NSW
As an offshore sailor and seasickness suffer for more than 50 years, I have successfully overcome it. All humans get seasick. Choose remedies that are short acting, less sedating and which work. My advice is avoid alcohol the night before sailing, take Travacalm Original (hyoscine, dimenhydrinate and caffeine which is less sedating, short acting), one tablet the night before sailing and quarter to half tablet every four to six hours thereafter. Read the side effects beforehand but after 48 hours – the inner ear has adjusted - no sea sickness. Read, eat and enjoy sea life.
Tim Armytage, Turramurra, NSW
EDITOR'S NOTE Thanks to our readers for their useful tips. Traveller strongly recommends consulting your GP for the best methods of preventing and treating seasickness prior to your travel from Australia.
PRIVATE THOUGHTS
After reading the headline to Julie Miller's story account of island hopping ("Join the jet set", Traveller, April 9), I simultaneously despaired and laughed, chiding myself for missing the bleeding obvious, that private plane is the way to go. Haven't any of these wannabe rock stars heard about climate change? Carbon footprint? I love my travel too but surely we need to re-write the conversation on how we do it?
Jennifer Ingall, Leura, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
FRESH EYRE
For an easy escape to the outback, try South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. We took the daylight Overland train (journeybeyondrail.com.au) from Melbourne to Adelaide as a restful start and then used the Spencer Gulf Searoad ferry (spencergulfsearoad.com) to cut off the long drive via Port Augusta. On the Peninsula, distances are short, main roads are immaculate, and the dirt access roads are currently in good condition. National parks and roadsides are fresh with new growth thanks to heavy summer rain. We enjoyed desert rock formations in Gawler National Park, sea cliffs and dunes around Streaky Bay, and a fascinating boat trip out of Port Lincoln to the fish farms (southaustralia.com).
Helene Juliff, Ashburton, VIC
WHERE CREDIT'S DUE
We are wondering if Julie Klok, (Traveller Letters, April 16), paid with a credit card for the Thai Airways flights she booked through Flight Centre. We had also booked Thai Airways flights for travel later in 2020 but it was through STA Travel, which also went into administration. When neither STA Travel nor Thai Airways seemed capable of refunding us we applied to our credit card provider. They refunded our fares in full.
Anthea Lowe, Elizabeth Bay, NSW
FADING GLORY
The Silo Art Trail (siloarttrail.com.au) to the Wimmera and Mallee regions in north western Victoria provides an appropriate focus for a visit. As well as the depictions on the silos, which include local people, flora and fauna, travelling the trail can also provide additional highlights. Among these are the street art in the rural towns, the viewing of dawn at Sea Lake (sealake.vic.au) and the art heritage classified Stick Shed (thestickshed.com.au). This is a journey you shouldn't delay, as the artwork is showing signs of deterioration from the weather and which may not be easily restored.
Elizabeth Ruschena, Melbourne, VIC
VINE TIMES
Once a year we visit Victoria's King Valley, staying at the Whitfield's Mountain View Hotel (mvhotel.com.au). We're always impressed with the region's Italian cuisine, wine and hospitality. The Chrismont Wines cellar door and restaurant (chrismont.com.au) is our favourite with sweeping views over vineyards from the terrace, great Italian food, wine and friendly service. All of the cellar doors recommend other wineries, reflecting the sense of community in the King Valley that's everywhere..
Anna Lindstad, Abbotsford, VIC
Loy Lichtman, Carnegie, VIC
GEOGRAPHY LESSON
Ben Groundwater in his Wish Dish column (Traveller, April 17) stated that the Japanese dish okonomiyaki was developed in Osaka and directly linked to the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. For the record, the Great Kanto earthquake was centred in Tokyo, a long way from Osaka, and the effect on that city was minimal, with some services disrupted and a comparatively small number of casualties.
Peter Roy, Coffs Harbour, NSW
WIN A SET OF THREE HARDIE GRANT TRAVEL BOOKS
The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100, including Undiscovered Tasmania by Rochelle & Wally Dare; Emma Shaw's Ultimate Weekends Australia; and Vantastic by Kate Ulman.
See hardiegrant.com
SHARE YOUR TIPS AND WIN THREE LONELY PLANET TRAVEL BOOKS WORTH $100
The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books, including Australia's Best Trips, Best Day Walks Australia and Gourmet Trails Australia and NZ.
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.
Sign up for the Traveller newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.