Backpackers, no one wants to see your bum at lunch

Strung out

Backpackers should dress appropriately for the destinations and situations they’re in.Credit: Alamy

This is for backpackers: please dress according to the local customs when visiting countries. I live on Magnetic Island and during peak backpacker season young women tourists wear G-string bikinis walking along the street as well as in cafes and the supermarket. It just looks awful seeing bums hanging out when you’re consuming or buying food.
Maree David, Magnetic Island, Qld

North to Alaska

Transiting through Los Angeles to a conference in Atlanta I was in an airlines check-in queue. Behind the check-in desk was a young, well-presented gentleman. The lady in front of me was abusing him for a range of what seemed trivial and almost nonsensical problems she had experienced on previous flights. This did not phase the agent. He was professional, engaged and kept his cool. It was an impressive display of politeness and self-control. When she eventually ran out of steam and moved away I approached that agent and said: “That was the most amazing customer service I have ever seen”. His face lit up with a big smile, and he leant towards me and quietly said, “That lady, she’s going to Atlanta. But her bags are going to Alaska.” We both burst out laughing. Lesson learnt. Never disrespect the staff.
Geoff Hoad, Bella Vista, NSW

Letter of the week: PINS and needles

A calm evening in Athens – watch for the card scammers.Credit: iStock

During a recent holiday in Greece, I was robbed, in a slick operation, at Piraeus Station. Within the 30 minutes it took to cancel my cards, two withdrawals of €500 had been made at an ATM – without a PIN. On the same trip, I had authorised a booking agency to use my credit card – a totally different card – with my 16-digit number and the CVC, but no PIN (and, obviously, no physical card) to pay for various accommodations. An unauthorised withdrawal was made at an ATM while I was in a totally different part of the country. Is this a newly devised scheme to override the necessity to have a PIN? I am utterly confused. The bank refuses to accept that this is possible, but it occurred twice in totally different circumstances. Has anyone else had a similar problem?
Sue Howard, Glen Iris, Vic

Pay daze

Three days into a recent six-week trip to Italy, my Qantas Pay debit card failed. Qantas Pay never responded to numerous messages via the “help and support” function on its app. I subsequently called the help line from Italy and spoke with a representative who offered to send a replacement card to my home address in Melbourne. That was obviously not of much use to me in Italy and their representative wasn’t prepared to send a card to an agreed suitable secure Italian address.

I also discovered that when you attempt to check the balance via the app, you nearly always get a message saying that due to technical or other issues you can’t view your transactions. When I returned home, I emailed Qantas Pay, but they never replied. I now have another brand of travel debit card that provides a spare card on the same account and offers six more currencies than Qantas Pay, at what appear to be better exchange rates. And they will send a replacement card overseas.
David Moore, Hawthorn East, Vic

Just lovely

Thank you, Brian Johnston, for evoking memories of our magical holidays in Cannes, Antibes, St Tropez, Monte Carlo (Traveller, December 7), and for the recommendation of Hotel Belles Rives in Juan-les-Pins. This is especially the case since the lyrics from my favourite Peter Sarstedt song, Where Do You Go to My Lovely, have now become an earworm.
Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW

Short sheeted

On our recent two-week holiday in Paris, my son and I were given a one-bedroom suite instead of a two-bedroom suite. The hotel said the lounge was the second bedroom and pulled out a thin mattress on a metal frame from a sofa. We asked for a real bed or at least a comfortable sofa bed, but it declined. The hotel offered $200 to Kym, our travel agent at Flight Centre, who did the booking for us – she refused that and got us a 50 per cent refund. By using a travel agency, we avoided being scammed online.
Swarna Pinto, Lalor, Vic

Paris unmatched

Overrated? Not Paris.Credit: Getty Images

In regards to your annual underrated and overrated travel lists, Paris is not overrated (Traveller, December 19). This ignores the wonder of this city that cannot be replicated elsewhere and the same goes for the also-listed Edinburgh, especially during spring and autumn. As to the snarky and silly comments about the London Underground that “you don’t see anything”, the hint is in the name: underground. Also, the newer stations, especially those on the Elizabeth Line, are the polar opposite of tired and grubby, with superfast connections.
Victoria Watts, Mango Hill, Qld

Take a bow, Japan

My husband took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto for a meeting. Once at his hotel he realised his computer, with his presentation, was still on the train. In a panic, he went to the hotel reception. They asked what train he was on and his seat number. They assured him his computer would be at the front desk by morning. There it was, beautifully wrapped with a lovely note. The hotel accepted no payment from him. My husband’s brand-new laptop was found still on his seat where he left it. No one had touched it and no one took it.
Debbie Sandler, Glen Iris, Vic

Seating plan

In reference to Rob Williams’ “Caught in the jetstream” letter (Traveller Letters, December 14), the internet has given modern travellers the gift of endless research. As someone particular about where I sit, even on domestic flights, I could not fathom booking a long-haul journey without consulting one of the many available sites on plane seat selection. Even being upgraded upon check-in, surely being allocated in row one, regardless of the class, you are aware you are near the galley and the toilet?
Thi-Anh Smith, Lennox Head, NSW

Tip of the week: Souks and the city

Evening in the square, Marrakesh.Credit: Getty Images

We, two retirees, have just spent two weeks travelling around Morocco independently staying in the medinas rather than Western hotels and enjoyed the experiences they provided (Traveller Letters, December 7). The vast majority of people were friendly, welcoming and honest (apart from taxi drivers). Marrakesh was no more dangerous than many other places, though the souks could be confronting for first-time travellers. Our advice is to relax, keep your eyes open and embrace the variety of life different places can offer.
Jennifer McKay, Ashbury, NSW

Early birds

Unfortunately, Lyndal Jones’ experience of booking a hotel months earlier at one price then finding it would have been half that if she’d waited until the day of arrival (Traveller Letters, December 7) is basically standard procedure, and I’ve experienced it many times. If you book well ahead of your date, you will usually pay more, the price will tend to drop as you approach the day as the hotel attempts to fill all empty rooms (except if there are other factors such as special events pushing the demand and price up). You can wait until the day of travel if you want a cheaper rate, but you take the risk of the hotel being fully booked. Paying ahead gives you peace of mind, knowing you have a suitable room in your chosen hotel. Personally, I think that’s worth the extra cost.
Melinda Dawson, Bairnsdale, Vic

Not so fast

My best tip after 35 years of professional travel (as an airline crew member) is to slow down and absorb the ambience. If you are told to visit 12 different places, halve the number and see them well. It will not be the last time you get to travel so “slow down, you move too fast”, as the song goes. Take lots of photos and reminisce whenever you get the opportunity. Travel is warm, nourishing chicken soup for the soul, and the privilege and pleasure that is afforded to us all should never be lost or forgotten. Take your time, breathe, attempt the local language, embrace the culture and simply be the best version of yourself.
Darren Thomas, Mosman, NSW

Digestive tracks

Mercato Centrale at Rome Termini Station.Credit: Alamy

In addition to your Airport Report’s suggestions for Rome’s Termini Station (Traveller, December 16), I highly recommend the excellent artisan food court Mercato Centrale, a short walk away on the south side of the station. Housed in a former railway staff building, numerous popular kitchens offer gourmet Italian and international food at reasonable prices. I can also recommend the delicious gelato from the branch of the GROM chain in the station itself.
David Berg, Canterbury, NSW
EDITOR’S NOTE Thanks for the additional advice. Melbourne’s excellent Mercato Centrale, which opened last year, is a spin-off of the Rome equivalent and the group’s first venue outside Melbourne.

Not so squeezy

We have been fortunate to experience expedition cruising both in Australian waters with Coral Expeditions and around the world with Lindblad Expeditions. Our fellow travellers have almost always been keen to explore the areas we were visiting and to get off the ship on every possible occasion. As well, their knowledge has benefited from the presentations given by the insightful crew on the ships. Your writer’s comment in your cruising column (Traveller, December 17) that the disadvantage of expedition cruising is the lack of space and entertainment just does not ring true to us, and for those who love expedition cruising. We look forward to seeing more of them on our next trip around Britain in May.
David Bennett, Terrey Hills, NSW

Double trouble

On a recent trip to Canberra we booked a room at Rydges. The room we were given had two double beds and was not the queen size room we had booked. In future, we will certainly be aware of the inclusions for the room we book.
Peter Clews, West Pennant Hills, NSW

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