CLICK BAITING
We’re heading off to New Zealand for a COVID-19 cancelled trip and want to warn your readers about the New Zealand NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). After Googling it, and without really checking, I clicked on the first site offered. I went through the application process for my husband (a German passport holder), as it looked like a genuine NZ government website, and when asked to enter my credit card details, I did so. I thought it was a bit funny that no amount was indicated but knowing the cost was around $20, I went ahead. A day later the eTA was returned by email. So all good? On checking my credit card account (a regular practice) I noticed I had been charged $160. When we return from our trip I plan to ask my bank to refund this charge but, unfortunately, I doubt it will do so as the visa issued was actually valid.
Pat Schafer, Dawes Point, NSW
Editor’s note: Visa processing websites masquerading as official government sites are unfortunately very common. Read more about these scam websites here. The official website for applying for an NZeTA is nzeta.immigration.govt.nz but note that Australian passport holders are not required to obtain an NZeTA to visit New Zealand.
RED CARDED
Following a recent trip to Europe, we returned via Doha, Qatar, to Australia. Our flight involved a 20-hour layover in Doha, so we booked an overnight hotel room and a morning tour of West Qatar. I had been checking Qatari websites for entry requirements which were all concerned with COVID restrictions and visas for those attending the FIFA World Cup; as we were not attending the event we believed these did not apply to us, especially as the event was not beginning for another 10 days. Imagine our surprise when we were stopped at customs and told we were unable to enter the country as we did not have a Hyaa card visa, which it turned out would only be issued to those with tickets to the World Cup. So we were stuck at the airport for the next 20 hours. On the plus side I would like to commend the ground staff of Qatar Airways who made us as comfortable as possible in the business lounge.
Frank Hofmann, Wheelers Hill, Vic
LETTER OF THE WEEK
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
Your great story on Tokyo gastronomy (Traveller, November 19) by Ben Groundwater whet my appetite to return to this great destination. However, may I add my own observations on those cute, cosy inviting “izakaya” to which Ben refers to? They look terribly welcoming from the outside but getting in can be tricky for foreigners. I’ve been waved away by staff as I’ve tried to enter on quite a few occasions with many having a sign up declaring, “No English menu” to further discourage tourists. My advice is to go with a Japanese speaker as they present the best hope of experiencing these fascinating establishments.
Ross MacPherson, Seaforth, NSW
PERCENTAGE GAME
What a ripper of a story about Tokyo’s food scene. The bit about the amazing food halls of department stores was particularly useful, especially for the uninitiated. One other piece of advice is that a lot of the day’s unsold fresh food (obentos, sushi, ready made meals and the like) are sold at reduced prices at the end of the day. The discounts are often between 20 to 50 per cent off, so if you time it well, you can get a fabulous dinner at an even better price.
Margot Pope, Lewisham, NSW
GOING GREENE
Catherine Marshall’s article on “the art of local literature” (Traveller, November 19) took me back to 2008, when I was in Havana. I took Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana to read as I wandered around Havana Viejo, Old Havana. The book was written in the late 1950s and as I was sitting on the wall on the Malecon and wandering in the Calle Obispo time had stood still. What he was describing over 70 years ago still exists today. The buildings in the old part of Havana are still there, the taxis would have been on the streets in the 50s.you feel you might bump into Ernest Hemingway, Frank Sinatra or a Don.
Robert Pallister, Punchbowl, NSW
MOST ACCOMMODATING
I am surprised Michael Gebicki in his column (Traveller, November 19) omitted Priory Guest Rewards in his assessment of hotel loyalty programs. Admittedly, it is not the most attractive or highly rewarding program, however, it does have its rewards and has been accommodating my travel needs (along with others) as a valuable option for many years.
Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook NSW
CHANGE AGENT
I was interested to read the letter, “Rex is better” (Traveller Letters, November 19). I certainly will not be flying with them, ever. I had booked return flights to Adelaide over the Christmas period but had to change the date into Adelaide from Melbourne. Originally booked through Flight Centre for $199, I was stunned when told the cost of changing would be $184 ($154 for Rex and $30 for Flight Centre). Considering I only had to wait less than a minute to be told that the change could be done, how on earth could the charge be justified? The family catch-up will just have to wait until 2023.
Grant Taylor, Malmsbury, Vic
FARE GO
Tony Sullivan (Traveller Letters, November 19) raises a great point about the merits of European bus travel with global.flixbus.com being a terrific provider and offers a massive route map. While key routes may be well served by rail some others beyond the rail routes are better serviced by these secretive bus routes. One limit can be frequency but pre-booking poses no issue. Flixbus clearly indicate stop locations with detailed address information and convenient links to google maps with images of the stop to avoid all doubt. Some routes are direct and avoid rail transfers.
Paul Gerrard, Kellyville NSW
TOP GUNS
I once heard a different account concerning the bombing of Cologne in World War II (Traveller Letters, November 19). Some years ago I was acquainted with a flight lieutenant in the RAF. He came from a family with several RAF connections and told me that an aunt had proudly claimed that the RAF bombing was so precise that the crews were able to avoid damaging the cathedral. My friend was sceptical about this, given the inaccuracy of high-altitude raids especially at night, as undertaken by the RAF. On delving into the RAF records, he found that being a prominent landmark the cathedral had, in fact, been used as an aiming point.
Norman Jessup, Epping, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
When talking of the best beaches in the world (Traveller, November 6) one cannot go past Normal Bay at Tidal River at Wilsons Promontory, Victoria. It’s a magnificent broad beach over a kilometre long – just beautiful (even though the swimming may be tad cold). Add other nearby beaches like Squeaky Bay and you’ve got perfection. And maybe I should add that I met my wife there so no wonder I love the place.
Alan Thomas, Hawthorn, Vic
HEAVEN IS HELLAS
In response to a reader question about visiting Greece aboard a small cruise ship, a friend and I once spent the Christmas holidays in Greece. We obtained a winter ferry schedule from the Greek national tourism organisation in Athens, using it to island hop. The ferries were large and sufficiently frequent; often with cabins for overnight travel. For two weeks we travelled comfortably, visiting and staying at fascinating places such as Samos, Rhodes and Crete among many others. It was a cheap and flexible way to see the islands. Hydra and Mykonos, Santorini and the Cyclades are especially attractive and as we were out of season we had no trouble with island accommodation. Incidentally, we were amused to be regarded as chaperons for solo Greek women who were occasionally allocated a bunk in our large and roomy cabins.
Nola Tucker, Kiama, NSW
POOR RECEPTION
In response to Tracy Mackey’s letter (Traveller Letters, November 19) about her initially disappointing check-in at the Virgin Edinburgh Hotel, I have two stories to tell. We arrived at our hotel in New York at about 8pm after a long trip from Sydney, only to be told they did not have a room for us. I looked the receptionist squarely in the face and said: “You have inundated me with emails in the last two weeks trying to persuade me to upgrade so you can’t say you didn’t know we were coming. I also told you I would be travelling for 24 hours to get here and not contactable during that time. We are not leaving. You can give us the penthouse suite if necessary but you will find us a room, tonight. They did. It wasn’t large and we had to change our booked corner suite the next day but we did get a refund.
Susan Rowe, Epping, NSW
BAD AFTERTASTE
I don’t know who Ben Groundwater associates with vanilla slices in his article (Traveller, November 13) but I have been eating vanilla slices for over 60 years and have never heard of such a disgusting description of them and I wish I’d never had.
Christine Samuels, Casuarina, NSW
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.
The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100. For November, that includes Ultimate Food and Drink Australia; Ultimate Caravan Trips Australia; and Neighbourhood Guide to Cycling Naarm-Melbourne.
See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books.
See shop.lonelyplanet.com