Travel Wires

Bags not have the smelly dog

The Veronicas’ stoush with Qantas over a cabin crew member’s refusal to help stow their cabin bags — which led to the pop twins being kicked off their Sydney-Brisbane flight — has revealed the crew member was within their rights. The littleknown rule was introduced in March when the Aussie Flight Attendants Association raised concerns about crew being injured lifting heavy bags. Virgin Australia crew will help passengers with carry-on as long as it does not exceed its 7kg limit. Other rules: if you’re eyeing up an empty window seat or row, remember that flight attendants require you to sit in your allocated seat unless otherwise instructed. Many airlines have a clause that passengers with bad body odour can be banned from boarding. Spanish airline Vueling will refuse to carry your pet if it has an “unpleasant smell”.

Too hot to trot

Skip New Orleans, ditch Galapagos and don’t bother with Machu Picchu. That’s the advice from Intrepid Travel. It has added those destinations to its annual “not hot” list, which urges travellers to reconsider places suffering from over-tourism and opt for similar but lesser-known experiences. The 2020 list focuses on North and South America, where tourists rarely venture beyond well-known sites and big cities. Suggestions: don’t visit New Orleans Mardi Gras (1.4 million attendees); choose Lafayette Mardi Gras (about 50,000). Don’t visit Machu Picchu (1.5m annual visitors); choose Huacachina (a few thousand). Don’t visit Galapagos Islands (225,000); choose Haida Gwaii Islands (13,000). Don’t visit Venice Beach (10m); choose Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil (400,000). Don’t visit Seaworld Orlando (4.5m); choose Quadra Island, Canada (85,000).

Like he says . . .

Mallorca has a new hotel solely for women. The 39-room Hotel Som Dona offers massages, beauty treatments, sports and excursions. CEO Joan Enric Capella says it’s similar to women-only spaces such as gyms, co-working spaces and businesses. “Women seek wanderlust destinations and are driven by healthy lifestyle habits, while socialising with other women,” he says.

Open season on Komodo

Indonesia has cancelled plans to close Komodo Island to tourists next year, with the environment ministry saying its famous dragons are not under threat from over-tourism. A new research centre is planned and other tourist spots in the area will be revamped.