Traveller Letters: Qatar’s business class should come with a warning

Business with displeasure

Our high expectations for Qatar Airways’ business class was quashed early.

Further to Ken Richards’ comments about Qatar Airways (Traveller Letters, August 31), be warned. My wife and I are halfway through an extensive European trip and chose Qatar business class with high expectations that were first quashed at online check-in when we were quoted an extra $149 each for seat selection. Later, at Sydney Airport, we found we didn’t have access to a lounge either there or Doha, where we had a four-hour layover. Sure, our travel agent should have made us aware of this, but why would Qatar sell a business fare that excludes these typical luxuries? While the cabin service was excellent, a gluten-free meal we ordered was inedible. Fortunately, the return leg does include the lounge but not seat selection.
Paul Sullivan, Northbridge, NSW

Captain’s call

On our Qatar flight from Doha to Baku, Azerbaijan, the galley ran out of steak, which I’d ordered for lunch. I was surprised and grateful when the captain insisted I have the steak meal that had been issued to him.
Ros Stevenson, Shelly Beach, Qld

Letter of the week: Reign in Spain

Grand columns and arches of Plaza de Espana.Credit: Getty Images

Belinda Jackson’s recent cover story on Andalusia, Spain (Traveller, August 31) brought back memories from several years ago when my husband and I visited, travelling exclusively by train and spending three nights in most destinations. We stayed in hotels in the old centres so we were able to walk to places of interest. By lucky chance, we were in the right places at the right times, as spring is festival time. Cordoba had the Patios de Cordoba with squares and courtyards filled with flowers. The locals of Sevilla were celebrating their week-long Feria Primavera (spring festival). Many families travelling in beautifully decorated carriages drawn by up to six horses with the ladies in strikingly beautiful flamenco dresses and the men in formal suits. This was not for tourists – it was an essential part of their year.
Patricia Harrington, Kerang, Vic

How ex-cruciating

Jennifer Saunders (Traveller Letters, August 31) is right – small-world coincidences in our travels do exist. Ten years ago, I was travelling in Uruguay with my now-husband. In Punta del Diablo, we met a friendly group of Brazilians at our accommodation. When I mentioned I was Australian, one of them showed me a photo of his sister who was living in Melbourne with her boyfriend. I couldn’t believe my eyes – the boyfriend in the photo was my ex.
Lucy Owens, East Melbourne, Vic

Class act

Whilst having a morning tea at Harrods, a lady sitting opposite me spoke my name and I realised we were classmates at a primary school in the late 1950s. The catch-up took place in the early years of this century. She introduced herself and I knew the name. We then shared our memories.
Jill Jurd, Lane Cove, NSW

Looks familiar

Many years ago, we bumped into a friend at the Sydney Opera House. Imagine our surprise when, two days later, he walked towards us on Regent Street in London.
Michael Horsburgh, Rozelle, NSW

Neighbourhood watch

Years ago, we were seated at a restaurant table in a New Orleans hotel. There was only one other table occupied at the time, and overhearing their conversation and noting that they were Aussies, we said hello. It turned out they were the best friends of our next-door neighbours.
Christine Harris, Hampton, Vic

Hold everything

I recently bought fuel for a hire car in France and Belgium. On both occasions, I used an unmanned automatic petrol station. I swiped my debit card (no conversion charge) in France for €70 ($115) of fuel. However, a hold of €180 was held on my card and technically withdrawn from my account for two to three days until the actual billing came through. In Belgium, my €20 of fuel had a hold of €350. All worked out in the end, but for those days, until the actual billing was done, I didn’t have access to my full funds and could have had a payment blocked for insufficient funds. The moral of the story? Be aware of the two to three-day hold until the real amount is debited from your card.
Mike Lacinski, Chatswood, NSW

Get your skates on

One thing you didn’t mention in your guide to the seven wonders within the Eiffel Tower (Traveller, August 31) is that in winter, you can ice-skate on the second level of the tower on a large rink. If you’re just watching, you can sit back and observe with a gluhwein..
Elaine Hoyle, Avalon Beach, NSW

Slowly did it

Monks collect alms in the UNESCO-Heritage listed town of Luang Prabang.Credit: Alamy

In response to the question of whether travel is better now, as featured in your “Then versus now” cover story (Traveller, August 24), modern, improved travel is a two-edged experience. Efficient transport means that the remote is no longer remote as we must share our special places (such as Luang Prabang, Laos, which was once reached by cement barges, but you can now take your pick of transport modes). Electronic connectivity means we don’t leave our lives behind, so can never truly be alone. Easy booking provides access to a huge range of accommodation, but it now seems harder to turn up unannounced and find those small, unique (and cheap) lodgings. We once went on longer, less frequent trips and spent time wandering. So, yes, travel is easier and more immediate, but I sometimes miss the charm of slow adventure.
Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW

Saturday flight fever

Speaking of air travel in the good old days, does anybody else remember that the cost of your domestic airfare, apart from being excruciatingly expensive, was dependent on whether you were spending a Saturday night at your destination or not? I’ve never worked this one out.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW

Wheezing and sneezing

I’m an 81-year-old immunocompromised male who recently raided my meagre savings for a 10-night break in Cairns (which I’d never visited). It was a wonderful place, but for four hours or more, I sat next to a woman who (when not sleeping) coughed and sneezed the whole way. I’m now suffering from a bad cold and cough. Airlines should advise passengers with respiratory problems to wear masks – they cost little and could be provided on request.
Jeremy Wheeler, Templestowe, Vic

Tip of the week: Close enough

Padua’s Basilica Santa Giustina.Credit: Getty Images

For good reason Venice is almost always on the mind of first-time visitors to Italy, but for those seeking respite from the hordes of other visitors I suggest basing yourself in Padua, rather than in Venice itself. Padua, with its ancient university, has lots to offer on its own and is only 15 minutes or so by rail from Venice, which makes it perfect for day trips. Padua is also the starting point for day-long cruises along the picturesque Brenta Canal with visits to three beautiful Palladian villas and a substantial lunch at a canal-side cafe. Eventually, the cruise enters the Venetian lagoon and deposits you at St Mark’s Square for your return to Padua. One of the icons of Padua is the large, neoclassical Caffe Pedrocchi which must be about the grandest in Italy. Padua also has good rail connections to other interesting cities for day trips, with lovely Vicenza being a particular favourite.
Stephen Doyle, Hepburn Springs, Vic

Going, going ...

After a spectacular 12 days in Vietnam, organised by Your Vietnam Travel, I have discovered the Vietnamese are the most welcoming and humble people despite the atrocities they endured from the West in the 20th century. It is sad though that some of the crafts that have been in families for up to six generations will soon be no more because the younger generations choose to chase their dreams in the cities. I fear that in a few years handmade noodles, rugs and rice winemaking will dwindle. They need our support, especially as many did not earn any money during the pandemic. A tip: allow plenty of time to apply for your visa as it can take several attempts to complete it with the correct information.
Jim Walsh, Lindfield, NSW

Best in the West

I’m well-travelled overseas, but Western Australia has its own gem for travellers: Casey Tours. For the past two years, I’ve taken wildflower tours with them and have booked again for October. Their tours are well-organised, drivers and guides are very helpful and accommodation is modest but comfortable. They do everything from a number of day trips out of Perth to what they call “Australia’s longest shortcut” : Perth to Cairns. Book early.
Geoff Crowhurst, Thornbury, Vic

Piraeus and us

A sign of future international travel could be an initiative of the tasteful, moderately priced Phidias Hotel in Pasalimani, Piraeus, the port city near Athens. Unsuspecting guests, like us, find a mobile phone in their rooms which one can use freely during their stay for maps and all the other regular features including international calls. We’ve been to Piraeus several times over the years (the last time was in 2019) but on our current visit we noticed a significant improvement in infrastructure including a brand-new metro station, Dimotiko Theatro, in the salubrious residential centre of Piraeus near the luxury yacht marinas. For those who have previously experienced the historical sites of Athens and whose ultimate destination is the Greek islands, you could be better advised to take a breather in Piraeus. The Athens Metro runs from the international airport to its terminus at Dimotiko Theatro.
Craig McCarthy, Castlecrag, NSW

Cashless is more

We have just returned from six weeks in Scandinavia and the UK and used our Wise card seamlessly as a debit card (mainly on the phone app version but also the physical card) to pay for everything from hotels to meals and even bathroom stops. We did not withdraw any cash anywhere. Apart from the initial currency conversions to local currencies at a favourable rate, which incurred a small transaction fee, we were charged nothing other than the direct purchase cost. It certainly seemed to us to be a very competitive option and we have calculated that we saved many hundreds of dollars compared to the alternatives. Not all countries are ready for the cashless society but many now are.
Alistair Cameron, Wollstonecraft, NSW

Straight to the top

Some years ago I was told at Marrakech Airport that I hadn’t paid for luggage even though I had the receipt to prove I had done so. After arguing for a few minutes I had no alternative but to get money from an ATM and pay. I was assured that the help desk at Gatwick Airport would refund me but it was closed when I arrived. Numerous phone calls and letters to customer service (a misnomer) produced only one response – a letter advising me that if I wanted to take skis on a flight I should insure them. Eventually, I found the name of the CEO and wrote to him. I received a refund within a week.
Pam Tuffield, East Brunswick, 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