Each week Traveller publishes a selection of rants, raves and travel tips from our readers. See below on how you can contribute.June 6, 2026 — 5:00amTight flightOne reader was left stranded in San Francisco after the connection time was too short.iStockOn a recent United Airlines flight from Canada to Sydney transferring at San Francisco, we were allocated a connecting time of 49 minutes. Consequently, we missed our long-haul flight to Sydney. The airline staff told us to find our own accommodation for the night and apply for a refund when we got home. I had contacted the airline and travel company before our holiday and was told that the transfer time was adequate. My question to airlines and travel companies is, why are travellers given inadequate connection times when delays in the initial flights are common, thus leaving passengers (many of them elderly) stranded in a foreign city late at night?Chris Birrell, Mona Vale, NSWEditor’s note: Our resident Tripologist, Michael Gebicki, recommends a minimum connection time of 60 minutes for a domestic flight and 90 for an international one. An airline allowing just 49 minutes for an international flight seems highly optimistic. Letter of the week: Group therapySmall-group tours aren’t only about the places you visit, but also the sharing of experiences with your fellow travellers. iStockSign up for the Traveller newsletterThe latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.As a regular traveller and one who particularly likes small-group tours, I found myself wondering about what I have enjoyed the most about such tours. The thrill of visiting new countries and cities for the first time is certainly paramount, but also is sharing and enjoying these new experiences with my fellow travellers. From my experience, it does not take long for a genuine camaraderie to develop over the two or three weeks of a tour, and it is not uncommon for genuine friendships to develop, as well – some of which continue long after the tour has ended. It is a shame that this aspect of travel rarely seems to rate a mention in travel documentaries, or for that matter, in Traveller Letters. Where else does one have such a unique opportunity to interact socially with 50 or so people from all over the world, and to do so over a number of weeks?Stephen Doyle, Hepburn Springs, VicComings and goingsI read Michael Gebicki’s article on Europe’s new Entry/Exit Sydney (ESS) and would like to add that we recently entered the European Union through Rome’s minor airport at Ciampino. Like Fiumicino, most of the kiosks were roped off, and we had to use the remaining ones. The fingerprint failure rate was high, me included, and I was sent to a long queue at the desk where I was eventually stamped in. This caused problems leaving the EU in Sweden as my entry was not properly recorded, and I had to produce dates and airline-ticket vouchers to show where I had entered. My husband had no problems and breezed through – so when it works the system is great.Susan MacCallum, Vaucluse, NSW Extra, extraYou may well need a good lie-down after being charged $45 a person to use a sun lounge for the day.iStockMany recent letters refer to airline price gouging, but let’s talk hotels. On recent travels involving fairly expensive hotels I was asked, do you want to park your car? That’ll be $30 to $50 (Australia). An extra pillow? A fee of $10 (Japan). Use the pool? That’s $20 a person for the day (Tunisia). Housekeeping and dry towels was $20 a day (Hong Kong). The most frustrating one was at a worldwide hotel chain recently. We are members of their loyalty program; did we want to sit on our private beach? Let’s have $45 a person to use a sun lounge for the day. Let’s not. None of these extra costs were advertised on the website or in their booking policies.Sue Atkins, Tathra, NSWHigher powerTim Norman, as per your letter (Traveller Letters, May 23), if Westpac are reluctant to refund your transaction, then contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, especially if your matter involves a credit card. I recently had a problem with the Commonwealth Bank which was difficult to deal with, until I contacted the above authority. Often they can redeem the charge from companies like Booking.com. Credit-card transactions carry insurance against this type of behaviour. Make sure you provide as much detail as possible.Michael McKenna, Warragul, Vic Lone rangerTim Richards’ article was all about travelling alone which leads you to meeting many people. I’ve always travelled alone. Except once, when I was planning to go to Hungary and a friend who also wanted to go suggested we go together. After a week or so I asked if she’d mind separating. I just wanted to do my own thing and sleep in solo comfort, not hostels. It means you can do whatever you like whenever. But Tim concludes with “in the end, making connections is what travel is all about”. Isn’t it really about experiencing different cultures and histories? Meeting people from those different places rather than from our familiar Western cultures? Even when struggling with language, lovely connections can be made.Chris Hooper, Castlemaine VicTemple fatigueAs magnificent as they can be, too many visits to too many grand cathedrals can be mind-numbing.iStockBrian Johnston’s great article on finding a tour to suit you resonated with us differently. By replacing the idea of a “tour” with a holiday, Brian’s advice suits any traveller planning a getaway. It has taken us a few holidays to get the balance right between a non-stop, fully packed itinerary versus a pace that offers time to dwell, understand and take in a region, or city. Family holidays, for example, need to be challenged by the ideas throughout Brian’s article, especially when “museums and cathedrals or temples can become too much”. Our girls vividly remember seeing every cathedral throughout Italy to the point of exhaustion with downtime is a must for everyone.Ian Schroen, Beaumaris, Vic Home deliveryHaving been on the same Qantas flight from Norfolk Island as your reader John Brown in March (Traveller Letters, May 23), tied up by an electrical storm for an hour after landing and for another hour at the luggage carousels because of a further storm, there was indeed some confusion. But Qantas baggage services near the carousel should be praised. Rather than trying to get home on the night we chose to stay overnight at the airport and our checked-in baggage (with no electronic tags) was delivered by car a couple of minutes after we got home the next day. So, well done Qantas.Ian Bowie, Bowral, NSW Bear with usOne of the adorable bears guests receive at The George Hotel, Christchurch in New Zealand.In January 2017, I stayed at The George in Christchurch. The George bear – to which Jane Richards referred in her review – came home with me and has given my granddaughter, now nine years old, much joy. The bear still has pride of place with her toys with his authenticity ensured by his name on his foot.Christine Moroney, Berala, NSW.Tip of the week: Fast tracksA ride on Shanghai’s high-speed Maglev train offers a thrilling alternative to a taxi trip.iStockWhy bother with the taxi chaos at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport when it’s much more fun to get a maglev – short for “magnetic levitation” – train. Hopping on, you might feel a slight lurch as the maglev lifts (there are no wheels) and accelerates to more than 431km/h. You arrive at Pudong Airport in a far speedier and easier fashion than you would in a taxi, and the maglev can take you back into Shanghai proper, too.John B. Quinn, Avoca, VicEDITOR’S NOTE: Shanghai’s maglev train can reach 431 km/h but its cruising speed for regular passenger services is a slower, but still swift, 300 km/h.Talking (up) TurkishTurkish Airlines gets a thumbs up for providing clear change and cancellation information at the point of booking.I’m in the process of writing a glowing review of Turkish Airlines. How rare for an airline to provide clear change and cancellation information at the point of booking a flight. It also offers a 24-hour cooling-off period, with a full refund available. I made use of this and received the refund as promised, quickly and with zero hassle. I also changed a flight with Turkish Airlines which was a quick and simple process online. It even takes action and replies to online feedback/requests within 24 hours. Flights with Turkish Airlines have been excellent. After a range of negative (and expensive) experiences with more well-known carriers, I will be trying to book with Turkish Airlines whenever possible.Jacqueline Tow, North Willoughby, NSWEditor’s note: Our own writers have also flown Turkish Airlines and, while our economy class reviewer was as impressed as you, our business class reviewer was less so.Good opticsFibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra in Wentworth, NSW, is an immersive art installation.Thanks to your article, we made a road trip from Sydney to Wentworth, NSW, and to Mildura, Victoria, to enjoy both locations’ amazing lights. We’d been trying to find a destination that was driveable, low-altitude and wheelchair-friendly, and these places ticked all the boxes. Wentworth’s Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO) is incredible. It’s dark and then the music and lights swirl around you, and you feel you are the only people there. Similarly, Trail of Lights, thousands of firefly lights on Lock Island, Mildura, is absolutely magical. Thanks for featuring homegrown destinations.Corinne and Rob Johnston, Gymea Bay, NSW Cutting remarksOne memorable experience overseas travel can provide is to stay in self-contained accommodation and buy and cook fresh local ingredients. Great outcomes are possible, even with limited kitchen facilities. One obstacle to easy meal prepping is a blunt kitchen knife, but this can be overcome by carrying a sharp kitchen knife (in a sheath) in your checked baggage. This worked well for me until a favourite kitchen knife was confiscated from my luggage during routine X-ray security screening before boarding the London to Paris Eurostar train. The Eurostar website confirmed that carrying kitchen knives is prohibited, something I hadn’t considered as the knife was packed in my luggage and not my carry-on. The solution? Leave knives at home and instead carry a small knife sharpener. In a few minutes, you will have blunt kitchen knives sharp and ready for action.Tony Tarplee, Newtown, NSWFun of the fareWestern passengers might need strong nerves for what can be a white-knuckle ride in an Indian taxi.iStockWhile travelling in India, the tip from our driver was that, “Indian taxis need a good horn, good brakes, good luck”. Passengers also need good nerves because often it’s a white-knuckle ride with the no-rules, no-traffic lights chaos of Indian traffic nudging its way forward, only giving way to the occasional nonchalant cow. Amazingly, the traffic flowed and we witnessed no accidents.John Bowman, Ocean Grove, Vic Tossed saladsA few years ago when hiking with a boyfriend, we hit upon the best multi-tool to pack: a Frisbee. It makes an excellent chopping board (the curved sides help to contain skittering carrot and onion cubes), it works as a dinner plate and, after a quick rinse, it’s a fun game to play on rest days.Elizabeth Long, Fawkner, Vic Happy placesEditor’s note: In our series, My Happy Place, where Traveller’s writers reflect on the holiday destinations in Australia and around the world that they cherish the most. We also invite you to submit your happy places. Here’s a selection of your contributions.My mum decided to buy a holiday house down in Cape Paterson when we were in our mid-20s, as a result of some subtle conniving by my sister and I, that it would be great for her health to have a place by the beach. We have now spent each summer on the beach for the last 30 years, initially taking our Melbourne friends down with us. As we made connections we would enjoy leaving our Melbourne life behind to visit our Cape Paterson friends and having a true summer break. As we have all had our own children who have made their own friends, particularly through the life saving club (sometimes described as the greatest life saving club in the world) the summer break (and winter break) tradition has continued. It has been a life-changing experience for my siblings and I, has given our children friends and opportunities that would never have eventuated and 30 years on, I can truly say my mum has never been healthier!Julian Bartlett, Frankston South, VicWhen I found myself just nudging 30 years of age, with an emerging career, some travel under my belt and living in my first teeny tiny (but self-bought) property, I found myself reflecting on ‘what else’? As life often does, things happen in their own time and the universe delivered to me a redundancy opportunity with what seemed at the time a wheelbarrow of money. Enter the gorgeous Tamar Valley in Launceston, Tasmania. After some searching for properties to rent we found ourselves in Trevallyn, in an apartment above the local newsagency and bakery. I’d wake each morning, roll over and take in the cracking views of the river Tamar, inhale the god-sent aromas of fresh bread from the bakery below and head out for my daily ritual of a walk through Cataract Gorge. We spent 18 months in Tassie. We tried living in a few different places in Melbourne upon our return and found ourselves seeking that same sense of calm and peace that Launnie delivered. Finally, we settled in a similarly green part of Melbourne and I have realised that the peace is where you make it – but that doesn’t stop me scrolling the real estate pages from time to time fantasising about an early retirement back in my second home.Rebecca Laface, Croydon Hills, VicThe Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. See hardiegrant.comThe Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. 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