No gift articles left<\/p>\n
You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.<\/p>\n
Close<\/p>\n
AAA<\/p>\n
Class act![\"British](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792344272_330_582be55c8ec0bac164551d7cc689db2816ce053d.jpeg\")
British Airways business class. Helping out cabin crew can have its rewards.Bloomberg<\/p>\n
Some years ago my son upgraded using points for a long-haul business class flight on British Airways. Early into the fully booked flight my son noticed an angry male passenger was causing problems for staff, complaining his entertainment screen didn\u2019t work. My son\u2019s offer to change seats with him was accepted gratefully. Departing from the flight, a crew member gave him a bottle of French Champagne. My son did not have enough points to upgrade to business class for the final leg to Sydney but was delighted to find he had been upgraded when he arrived at the departure gate.
Marilyn Jessop, Forrest, ACT<\/p>\n
Hawaiian happiness![\"Hawaiian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792344274_429_08ec81b813bf5a13fd6103c7e01608f0bad3704a.jpeg\")
Hawaiian favourite: Kona on the Big Island.iStock<\/p>\n
We have travelled to Hawaii many times since 2009 so the recent \u201cMy Happy Place\u201d article<\/a> resonates with us. Our favourite place is Kona on Hawaii island (AKA The Big Island), but we also love Honolulu, especially the iconic Ilikai hotel. We will keep going back and it\u2019s true each time we have a special experience. I may live on the Gold Coast but Hawaii is completely different. Waikiki is very touristy, but I think people need to explore the whole state including the other islands \u2013 it is all beautiful. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter<\/p>\n The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.<\/a><\/p>\n Lighten the load<\/p>\n Whenever I travel overseas and near the end of the trip, I start to give my clothes away or donate them to charity shops along the way. This started years ago on my first trip to Malaysia when I made friends with some locals, and they were thrilled to receive some Western-style clothing. They were happy and so was I \u2013 it means you have less to pack when it comes close to departure time and your new friends have something fun to remember you by. Withdrawal symptoms Can anyone top the ATM fee gouge I experienced recently at Istanbul Airport? I\u2019d never been previously, but I knew that cash was widely used in the city and so wanted to be prepared. Dazed and confused after a 22-hour flight, I readily withdrew 12,000 Turkish lira (about $350) which attracted a fee of 1680 lira, making the withdrawal 13,680 lira in total. Yes, that ATM fee was $49. On the way in to the city it soon became obvious that there are money exchange shops and ATMs, some with minimal fees, everywhere in Istanbul \u2013 so resist the urge to be cashed up before you leave the airport. The savings can buy you many things in this wonderful city. Puffed out<\/p>\n We cop a lot of criticism for Australia\u2019s \u201cnanny state\u201d reputation \u2013 mandatory bicycle helmets, smoking bans and a general sense that our government knows best, and that criticism can be deserved. But, walking past an airport smoking room in Athens, I spotted a young boy playing with his toy car while his father and a dozen other adults puffed away. After my initial shock, I felt something unexpected: gratitude. Back home, this simply wouldn\u2019t be tolerated. We roll our eyes at the rules \u2013 until we see what life looks like without them. Bedside manners<\/p>\n I travelled to Japan to ski earlier this year and unfortunately had a serious accident, which hospitalised me for almost three weeks. In the same hospital, and with a similar injury, was an Australian woman whom I became friends with. We used different travel insurance providers. Hers was one of Australia\u2019s biggest and the difference in the treatment she received, compared to mine, was stark. She was treated appallingly with her insurer berating her daily about the speed of her recovery and her commitment to her rehab program. She was in a shared room with little space and no bathroom facilities. In contrast, I was given a lovely private room, sympathetic phone calls to monitor my progress and keep my spirits up, and a complete overview of my treatment. I was also given a full medical evacuation. My insurer, AllClear, was brilliant. Snappy app<\/p>\n Being an older person travelling to Europe for the first time in 40 years, I approached the UK\u2019s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) application with trepidation. Unlike Dennis Altman (Traveller\u00a0 Letters, October 3<\/a>), I found the process quick and easy. On advice from the UK government\u2019s site<\/a>, I downloaded the ETA app to my phone. Following the steps in the app, my phone was able to detect and capture the required information and was ideally set up to take a selfie when a photo was needed. My application was approved in minutes. While many may not be keen to download yet another app, I can assure you it\u2019s the way to go rather than dealing with the website. Shaken and stirred<\/p>\n I found the article on the German Spy Museum<\/a> interesting. I also visited a spy museum in Tirana, Albania. Called \u201cThe House of Leaves\u201d<\/a>, it was the headquarters of the dreaded sigurimi \u2013 the security police. Inside you will find the types of secret gadgets used to record and film people considered to be a threat to the state. You can also visit the underground bunkers used as jail cells and torture chambers where no one could hear the screams. The museum also notes which hotels in Tirana had recording bugs in every room, which included mine. Sweet asRelated Article My wife and I are just back from holidaying on the North Island of New Zealand. We were there 50 years ago this month, on our honeymoon. A lot has changed in that time, with one exception: the people. The Kiwis are friendly, helpful and ready to have a chat. A local let us use their New World supermarket membership card so we could get a discount on a block of Whittaker\u2019s chocolate. Another provided their card at the petrol pump, in exchange for cash, when our card wouldn\u2019t work. When asked about our travels we shared the story of our honeymoon and we were humbled by some of the enthusiastic reactions. Long-haul flight<\/p>\n Regarding chatting to your neighbours on planes<\/a>. In 1988, I flew from Nottingham to Paris. While on the plane, I chatted with the Australian woman sitting next to me. Almost 38 years later, we are still together. Your say: Hotel breakfasts<\/p>\n What makes a good hotel breakfast? What\u2019s the best one you\u2019ve ever had? Share your thoughts via the box below or email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and we\u2019ll publish a selection of the responses in an upcoming edition.<\/p>\n Last chance to enter: Win the ultimate 100-day world tour for two worth $200,000!<\/p>\n Spanning 13 countries and five continents, from the ancient gorges of the Kimberley to the serene waters of Europe and South-East Asia, the unmissable 100-day World Tour is available just once to a handful of travellers. Enter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n
Fiona Gray, Hope Island, Qld<\/p>\n
Mel Taylor, West Albury, NSW<\/p>\n![\"Istanbul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792344276_140_1c6d39e0c9c82f4b786ded361fb89eb81d9aa75d.jpeg\")
Istanbul Airport: beware the ATMs.iStock<\/p>\n
Martin Pundyk, Coffs Harbour, NSW<\/p>\n
Elle Stanley, Annandale, NSW<\/p>\n
Alan Phillips, Mosman, NSW<\/p>\n
Maree Shandley, Drysdale, Vic<\/p>\n
Con Vaitsas, Ashbury, NSW<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792344277_638_8a9e2ab180b96bf4c7e7bd95791233e9918d6078.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
Peter Mortensen, Mortdale, NSW<\/p>\n
Mervyn Robbins, Coburg, Vic <\/p>\n