TRAVELLER ASKS
What's your advice for the best stopover city en route to Europe?
TIP OF THE WEEK
Candidasa sits on the east coast of Bali and it was there that I loved the interaction with the locals. A trekking guide took me through the rice terraces and then when "off duty" drove me on the back of his motorcycle to a nearby beach and traditional village.
I was embraced by the community and welcomed into the temple each evening to see dancing, singing and even gambling on dice games. When, on the final night, there was a torrential downpour, the locals insisted I go on the stage and sit among the gamelan players where it was dry.
Kylie Doddrell, Shepparton, VIC
GOLD DIGGERS
Travelling in France with children? Take a few moments to collect the gold souvenir medallions on offer for €2 at many popular tourist destinations.
When little people's spirits were flagging at the thought of yet another museum, monument, church or chateau, we had only to mention the possibility of collecting another gold medallion and their enthusiasm was bolstered. It became quite a treasure hunt, from Paris to Uzes to Moustiers Sainte Marie to Annecy.
We came home with a collection of 12 from our month-long travel throughout France. A memento worth its weight in gold.
Amanda Watson, Launceston, Tasmania
ADVANCE WARNING
If you have a seniors card and plan on visiting Sydney, apply for a seniors' Opal card online, at least 10 days before you go. The card gives access to trains, buses and ferries for about $2.50 per day, except the train into the city from the airport.
However, if you wait and try to buy a seniors card at the airport on arrival you will have to buy a full fare card, with every trip charged to the card at the full price. The card is fairly new and the rules slightly confusing, so it's worth checking out the website.
Suzanne Katz, Canterbury, VIC
CUBA CRISIS
Like many Australians, we were keen to see Cuba before it was overrun by US tourists. But our visit in late 2015 did not turn out as expected after Westpac wrongly advised us that we could use our debit cards to access cash in Cuba.
Instead of enjoying the sights of Havana, we spent our week queuing at banks and money exchanges and then at the one state-run phone company for phone and Internet cards to contact Westpac for assistance. Westpac ignored our pleas for help and we were only saved by the goodwill and generosity of an ex-pat Australian who lent us money.
We could have learnt more about Cuba than its idiosyncratic queuing system if our pre-trip research had alerted us to the fact banks and companies with links to the US still cannot operate in Cuba; Cuban ATMs do not accept MasterCard, only VISA; and as we travelled via Mexico, Mexican pesos can also be exchanged in Cuba.
Helen Rushford, Newport, VIC
MIND THE GAP
I offer a travel tip for those planning a working holiday in the UK.
Our daughter applied for a working visa for the UK, paying almost $1000. When it arrived, she realised she had wrongly estimated the start date of the visa, leaving a gap of one day before it could be used.
Among various pieces of information we were given were: they won't let you in until the visa starts, so get a flight to somewhere else and back until you're allowed in; or, hang around in transit for 12 hours; or, you might be told to return to Australia.
All this conflicting advice costs over a pound per minute at the visa section of the consulate in London, and none of it happened. Our daughter walked in without a problem.
Please get the dates right when applying for visas. It's not worth the stress.
Margot Pope, Springwood, NSW
