Traveller Letters: Please stop whingeing about business class

Right track

I appreciated Kristie Kellahan’s excellent summary of the “stress-free” train trip from Edinburgh to London (Traveller, July 22). Not only is rail travel convenient, but it has many other benefits, not least low-cost, low emissions and more luggage space. The Brits and Europeans show us how train travel can be done in style. Sydney to Melbourne is the fifth-busiest flight path in the world. A high-speed rail connection between Melbourne and Sydney would be a welcome addition to Australian travel.
Amy Hiller, Kew, Vic

Wrong track

Thank you, Kristie Kellahan, for the interesting account (Traveller, July 22) of your train journey. However, you missed one element – the cost (and train cost versus air). Train travel in the UK is notoriously expensive.
Helen Howes, Collaroy, NSW

Style counsel

I appreciated Lee Tulloch’s point about style apparently being out of fashion (Traveller, July 22). A no-care attitude to appearance tends to send a poor message about tourists on many levels. It’s especially the case when the population of the host country often specialises in flair and attention to detail and visually pleasing – even outside of Europe, people take pride.
Sue Caldwell, Carisbrook, Vic

Memory air lanes

I remember those days well, Amanda Jennings of Bellingen (Traveller Letters, July 22) when air travel was completely different to today. It was the era of prop-aircraft, namely Viscounts and Constellations, before jet engines were introduced on commercial routes. In 1955, at the age of 12, my nine-year sister and I travelled unaccompanied from Entebbe in Uganda, to London, with refuelling stops at Khartoum, Cairo (before the 1956 Suez crisis) and Rome. On one leg we were invited up to the flight deck, so we could look out from there at the skies surrounding us. In Rome, our landing was delayed so the pilot circled low over the city so the passengers could view the sights. Three years later the flight from London to Gambia took a day and a half: we left Heathrow at dawn and, with a refuelling stop at Lisbon, took all day to fly to Las Palmas, where we had a night stop, then down the west coast of Africa the following day. Now this flight takes less than five hours. And we all wore our best clothes.
Penny Ransby Smith, Lane Cove, NSW

Boarding on the infuriating

It seems that it is not only hard to spend Qantas Frequent Flyer points, it is difficult to claim missing points. We flew on a combined Emirates-Qantas ticket to Europe that involved five flights. When I made the points claim I was asked to supply e-tickets and boarding passes, which I did. Qantas then informed me that I had to contact Emirates to get proof that we actually boarded the flights despite stating in their initial reply that “boarding passes confirm that flights have been taken”. In all my years of flying I have never had such a request. And the final flight was a Qantas flight, so they could see from their system that we were on it. My battle with Qantas to be credited for the missing points continues.
Brian Glass, Montrose, Vic

All credit

With all the talk about debit card, travel card and credit card use overseas, I asked my bank what to use. Just my normal credit card, I was told. Brilliant. I used my card in the UK and France, to tap on and off to travel on the London underground, to make all purchases including restaurants and coffee shops, using public toilets, and it was especially useful when businesses accepted contactless payment only (no cash). I could check the activity on my card using the app every evening. A few extra cents in international transaction fees is nothing considering the overall cost of travel.
Louise Kloot, Doncaster, Vic

Tip of the week: Right folk for Norfolk

I can highly recommend Spacifica Travel for booking, travel insurance, flights, accommodation and a hire car for a week-long holiday on Norfolk Island. Everything was easy and went without a hitch. For those who haven’t been to the unique, picturesque and sometimes quirky Norfolk Island, just two hours from Sydney, it is well worth a visit. It has a tragic colonial history, tied in with its settler families originating with The Bounty mutineers. It also has world-class scenery, forests of majestic pine trees and the ever-present livestock which have right of way on the road. There is much to see and learn on the many tours available on this tiny eight kilometres by five kilometres, isolated island.
Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW

Sock it to ’em

You asked for suggestions about security when travelling, here are mine: I use a neck pouch and to avoid an obvious bump, I wear mine waist high. Socks are also a good place to store money and credit cards when wearing long pants. I also carry the equivalent of €5 in an outside pocket so if a pickpocket dives in there, they will get something and hopefully think I have no other cash. I found money belts are a nuisance to access in public. Obviously, wear any item inside your clothes; otherwise it is an open invitation to thieves.
Lindsay Somerville, Lindfield, NSW

Menton Mention

Menton, a beachside town on the French Cote d’ Azur, is overlooked by a cemetery topped with a Russian orthodox gold, onion domed chapel. The cemetery has English and Russian citizens, who may have visited to find relief from tuberculosis, including William Webb Ellis, the (alleged) inventor of the game of rugby. The town has the amenities of a holiday resort with medieval streets, squares, churches and gardens. Menton hosts a Lemon Festival in February and has all things lemon for sale, including the delicious Limoncello liqueur. It has a French-Italian vibe as it is half an hour by local bus to Monaco and San Remo in Italy.
Michael Copping, Oatley, NSW

Loved to death

We have just returned from a month in France – the first since 2019. While much of what we love about France remains unchanged, a noticeable shift in attitude towards tourists and an increase in British tourists, who have virtually colonised many locations in the Dordogne and Charente, left us wondering what had happened to our favourite country? On more than one occasion only loud, braying English-speaking voices could be heard in restaurants that four years ago were almost exclusively French. Twice we were informed – after being seated in outdoor cafes – that unless my wife ordered a meal to accompany our drinks and my meal, we had to leave. I don’t believe this would have happened in the past. Relatives in Paris agreed that many French view tourists as an unwelcome resource and resent their increasing numbers – this was most evident in the ubiquitous tour groups. Unfortunately, France is being loved to death, and ultimately, it will pay the price as visitors decline to return.
Roger Holdway, Sorrento, Vic

High times

We can remember many shorter, sweeter journeys, as per your story, (Traveller, July 23) but there are two that stand out. Firstly taking the gondola ride from Helbroner to Aiguille du Midi across the Mer de Glace glacier and next to Mont Blanc – extraordinary. The second was a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls – spectacular.
Chris Close, Doncaster, Vic

Vouching for voucher

Two tips for travel in Spain: as from age 60, travellers of any nationality can obtain a “Tarjeta Dorada” voucher from the Spanish train company Renfe (with customer service counters at any station) which allows discounts of up to 40 per cent on train trips. If you get ill in Spain, there are online medical services in English which can offer advice and email prescriptions. The service I used was Nerja Medical and I found them excellent.
Kelvin Widdows, Edgecliff, NSW

Beautiful cities

EDITOR’S NOTE Traveller invited readers to tell us what they consider to be the world’s most beautiful city, as part of our recent feature story (July 22). Each reader, below, wins a copy of Lonely Planet’s The Cities Book: A Journey Through the Best Cities in the World, valued at $77. See shop.lonelyplanet.com

Seeing Siena

Twenty years ago, Tuscany’s Siena and its Piazza del Campo, with its tower and instantly recognisable shape, took my breath away. It’s a living city, not a tourist park, its soul timeless. The laughter and conversation spilling from every bar down every winding street reflect life as it has been lived here for centuries. Once you are embraced by her, Siena never lets you go.
Ross Jackson, Kew, Vic

King of the Mekong

Luang Prabang, once the capital of Laos, is surely the world’s most beautiful city. Set along a tongue of land between two great rivers, its architecture blends traditional Lao and French colonial styles. Wander the laid-back main street and dip into the small lanes that connect with the river; pause for a coffee or plate of crunchy river weed; gaze at the temples and the groups of orange-robed monks as they go about their business, or hop aboard a boat to visit a nearby weaving village. Arrive relaxed after two days on the Mekong, or fly. Heaven.
Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW

Fun with funiculars

Lisbon has quirkiness, warmth and charm. The appeal for me are the narrow, winding, hilly streets of the old quarters. Walking up these cobbled streets, where each turn reveals different built structures, houses covered in bold coloured ceramic tiles, a church, a faded warehouse or shop. Funiculars and stairs help to conquer the steep terrain but are delightful engineering curiosities. As is the No.28 tram that trundles through these districts. At the end of the day enjoy a drink or coffee with a pasteis de nata, as the setting sun casts a copper glow over this endearing port city.
Philip Smith, Waterloo, NSW

Miles of style

In Edinburgh, an ancient castle sits atop an extinct volcano. From here wander down the French influenced Royal Mile. Meander down to Princes Street and emerge in the Georgian magnificence of the “New Town”. From here stroll along the Waters of Leith or explore the Victorian splendours of seaside Portobello. Back on The Royal Mile, proceed down to Holyrood Palace, Scottish residence of King Charles. Stroll through the Royal Park and climb Arthur’s seat. From the top view the entirety of this stunning city and adjust your vision to gaze across the Firth of Forth to the Kingdom of Fife.
Nicki Melville, Albury, NSW

Shah delights

For lovers of Islamic architecture, Isfahan in Iran has to be the most beautiful city. Even its name is beautiful. There are so many breathtaking places, from the elegant two-storey arcaded Si-o-Seh bridge to the Chehel Sotun Palace with its pastel mosaics of apricot, green, blue and gold. Best of all is the huge central Imam Square. Lawns, clipped plants and pools are enclosed by honey-coloured colonnades and the turquoise and blue gateways to the mosques. In the evening the portals and domes are floodlit against the black sky, fountains play, and families relax in the cool.
Helene Juliff, Ashburton, Vic

Harbour view

Paul Kelly prefers St Kilda to Sydney Harbour (all that land, all that water) but to this Melburnian, Sydney Harbour with its magnificent inlets, bays, beaches, rugged cliffs and narrow heads makes Sydney one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I was disappointed that it didn’t make the list.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn, Vic

Bern baby, Bern

To me, Bern, capital of Switzerland, is the most beautiful city. My favourite part is the medieval town. I have slowly wandered the ancient streets and arcades and discovered marvellous buildings, cafes, ancient fountains, cellar restaurants and gardens. Through it all flows the majestic Aare River, in glorious aqua colour.
Mim Kocher, Healesville, Vic

The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com