I’ve travelled to the US for 35 years. My ESTA was revoked without warning

Homeland insecurities

My daughter lives in the US and, for the past 35 years (excluding the pandemic), I have visited her at least once a year, as part of an extended overseas trip. This year, I made my usual US ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorisation] application. When it was approved, I purchased a ticket. But a few hours before my flight departure time, I received an email from US Homeland Security cancelling my authorisation to travel. No reason was provided, leaving me in the Kafkaesque situation of having breached some official procedure, while having no way to appeal the decision or determine what that breach could be.

Another Traveller reader has been denied entry to the US without explanation.Credit: Getty Images

It is, of course, unthinkable that in the US, the land of much-vaunted freedom of speech, I should be penalised – as I suspect – for posting online several comments critical of President Trump and his administration, but it remains difficult to think of any reason why it should be acceptable for me to visit the US in May and, then, be suddenly unacceptable in July. There was a time when we only worried about such matters when travelling behind the Iron Curtain.
Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy, NSW

Letter of the week: Makes scents

Steam city… Beppu cityscape.Credit: iStock

I toured Beppu, Japan (Traveller, July 12) in early April and there was a lot to see in addition to the various “hells” (hot water springs). I visited the Otia Fragrance Museum, a two-kilometre downhill walk from the concentration of “hells” along a funky shopping street. As well as a great history of the development of the fragrance industry and the various packages fragrances come in, the museum has a high-quality and reasonably priced gift shop and a lovely garden coffee shop. Its fragrance is quite different from the springs. I also participated in a workshop developing your own personal perfume for about $30. Yet another fun-filled, different activity in Japan, my favourite destination.
Alex Gosman, Canberra, ACT

Not so fast track

Travelling from Singapore Changi to Sydney on QF2, the queue to enter security was clearly divided into two lines, indicating boarding groups one and two on the left and boarding groups three and four on the right. With no one to separate the boarding groups, not surprisingly the entire planeload joined the groups one and two queue, leaving the groups three and four queues virtually empty. I was travelling business class, entitling me to board in group one and two. Rather than ask for my due, I sauntered over to the near-empty group three and four queue and quickly sailed through. So much for the supposed privileges of fast track/priority boarding.
Shamistha de Soysa, Vaucluse, NSW

Brownied off

We recently travelled to Europe with Emirates and were really impressed with all aspects of their faultless service. Unfortunately, on the way home we flew with Qantas codeshare on the last leg. The flight crew were fantastic, but that’s where it stopped. Seats were much smaller than the Emirates equivalents, almost feeling like a domestic flight, and the food offerings were nothing short of substandard. Emirates offers a main meal, a small appetiser, bread roll with a pat of butter, a delicious sweet, cheese and crackers and a chocolate. By comparison, Qantas offered a main meal, a roll (no butter) and a pre-packed chocolate brownie. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Dolly Loppy, Richmond, Vic

Beagle eyed

I could not agree more with your correspondent regarding the dehumanising and confronting treatment of travellers on arrival into Melbourne (Traveller Letters, July 12). The “line-up” of randomly selected travellers for olfactory interrogation by beagles is over the top and the accompanying unfriendliness of the customs staff totally unnecessary. It’s uncomfortable enough for Melburnians returning home, it must be completely bewildering for international visitors. What a terrible first impression.
Michael Wloszczak, Parkdale, Vic

Home sweet home

I, too, have recently returned from a few weeks overseas (Traveller Letters, July 12). I used the E-passport reader facility with direction from an official, took the photo ticket, passed through the next photo gate, had my passport and completed immigration form in my hand, joined the nothing-to-declare queue and passed through quickly. At all times, the officials were pleasant, efficient and even made time for a laugh with me. A great homecoming, Australia.
Barbara Grant, Castle Hill, NSW

Doha or bus

Doha – time on the tarmac.Credit: iStock

I agree with Trudi Jenkins’ review of Virgin Australia-Qatar Airways (Traveller, July 15) except that Doha’s Hamad International Airport [Qatar Airways’ hub] is a nightmare. Flying there from Madrid last month we were bussed for at least 20 minutes around the tarmac, then let out somewhere with no obvious path to an exit, which I needed to access for my one-night stopover in a depressing Doha hotel (on special from Qatar Airways).
Dennis Altman, Clifton Hill, Vic

KLIA is AOK

I’m surprised to read of travellers having problems with the arrivals process at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport. For my several recent flights there, I registered online for a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) the day before my flight. At immigration, I followed the well-marked lanes for MDAC holders, scanned my passport, stared at the camera and walked out the other side. No problems, no human interaction and no delay. Because it is a big terminal, the walk to baggage claim can be a bit long, but it is well sign-posted.
Ken Christensen, Wangi Wangi, NSW

Peek viewing

The view of St Peter’s Basilica as seen from the Aventine Keyhole in Rome – three countries in one view.Credit: Alamy

The most fascinating aspect of peeking through the keyhole at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, as referenced in your guide to the Seven Wonders around Rome’s Tiber River (Traveller, July 15), is the fact that you’re standing in Italy looking at, firstly, Malta under the Lateran Pacts [recognising both the Vatican City and the state of Italy]. Three countries for the price of one.
Peter Price, Southbank, Vic

Just mask

In response to the letter “Plane unwell” (Traveller Letters, July 12), on a recent trip to Japan my husband and I wore N95 masks inside the airport, on the plane and on trains if they were very crowded. We also made sure that our flu and COVID-19 vaccines were up-to-date and frequently used hand sanitiser – essentially all the things learned throughout the pandemic. Wearing a mask might look strange, but it works. There were many unmasked people coughing and sneezing on the flights, but we remained healthy.
Ann Roberts, Shepparton, Vic

Bot or not

Anyone else had trouble getting past AirAsia’s bot to claim a credit? If there’s no-one at home to answer the phone, why should they expect any more of my money?
John Mester, Clunes, NSW

Road rave

I had to chuckle when I read in your story that New Zealand was one of the destinations where cruising is considered the best option for travel (Traveller, July 12). While I do agree that sailing through Milford Sound is a must-do in New Zealand, which you can do on a day cruise, the suggestion that “you could drive around Aotearoa”, but to be “freed from the wheel” is better, is quite laughable, when driving there is so economical, scenic and so easy, and interesting places to stay a while are such relatively short distances apart. A 15-day fly-drive holiday for two in New Zealand, travelling from across the Tasman, would cost half the per-person price of the advertised 15-day cruise in your article. It’s really a no-brainer.
Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown, NSW

Tip of the week: Stripe me lucky

Zebra family in Etosha National Park, Namibia.Credit: Getty Images

I have just returned from a two-week self-drive holiday with friends around Namibia (“Driving force, driving farce”, Traveller on Sunday, July 6). As city drivers, it was great to be on the quiet open (gravel) roads in such a beautiful country. Every day there were many “I wasn’t expecting that” moments: zebra traffic jams, giraffe crossings, rhino and lion spotting and the most breathtaking scenery. Etosha National Park, Palmwag, Skeleton Coast and kayaking with baby seals in Walvis Bay were just a few of the highlights.
Annemarie Casey, Woolwich, NSW

Passing thoughts

A rail pass for travel in Europe may seem a large outlay to start, but if you plan your journeys it can be such a convenient saving. Using a first-class Eurail Pass to travel in Northern Europe and Scandinavia meant I could travel long distances: Oslo to Cannes or Finland and Amsterdam to Munich. Swiss Rail passes and Britrail passes are also great. The bottom line is to plan your basic trip and then a rail pass lets you explore side trips.
Marjie Williamson, Blaxland, NSW

In too deep

A felucca on the Nile in Luxor, Egypt.Credit: iStock

With the increasing concern for staying healthy when abroad, I recall our Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor before the Arab Spring, and remembered how firmly we were warned not to swim in the river due to the risk of schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia), a parasite that can penetrate the skin and cause serious long-term illness. That warning seems less prominent today, perhaps because modern travellers, especially from Western countries, often resist advice that limit their freedom or spontaneity. The desire for immersive “authentic” experiences sometimes overrides caution. After all, if locals swim, why shouldn’t we? While tour operators may not want to dampen the spirit of adventure, risks don’t fade just because we choose not to hear them.
Jonathan Breedon, Prahran, Vic

Tight squeeze

I recently returned from a trip to Europe. Outward, the long leg of 12-hours plus hours was on Lufthansa with the return long leg with Swissair. I would recommend neither due to cramped conditions and lack of, or minimal, storage space. The shorter legs on Singapore Airlines were a great improvement.
Ann Bowditch, Chelsea Heights, Vic

Putting the “age” in coverage

I have been an American Express Platinum cardholder for many years and enjoyed the travel insurance that comes with that card. Indeed, my late wife suffered a cardiac episode in rural France in 2010 necessitating both ground and helicopter ambulance, a five-day stay in hospital in Tours, abandoning a trip to Spain and staying an extra 10 days in France before being flown home accompanied by a cardiac physician. All covered. However, two years ago and then over 80 but with no life-threatening conditions, I checked my Amex travel insurance to find I was no longer covered nor could I pay a premium to be covered. I was told that 80 was the cut-off point and despite being healthy, no cover. Had I been 79 with a cardiac condition, cancer and diabetes, not a problem and fully covered.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick, 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