Letters to the Travel Editor

Flying under the radar

I enjoy reading your weekly Travel magazine but was perplexed by your reply to a letter regarding travelling to Iran [May 7]. Apparently some people travel to Iran using a soon-to-expire passport then travel to the US on a new passport. This would allow an ESTA-visa applicant to answer “no” to question 9 even if they had visited any of the stipulated countries as their new passport would not reflect this.

You are surely not endorsing this practice, i.e. lying on the visa application form? Sincerely,

Sandra Downey

The Travel Editor replies: I guess I’ll never get my Junior G-Man badge after all.

Treasure your travels together

I am writing to you after reading the article “The pros and cons of mother-daughter travel” in the Herald on Sunday , on May 12.

I did not find it very uplifting or exciting — rather, I found it sad and slightly depressing.

It seemed that only when mother and daughter had wines together, did they actually enjoy being with each other — free from their challenges and getting on each others nerves.

I have travelled many times in New Zealand, Australia and Europe with my three adult girls, both together and separately. I admit that travelling always has its challenges, but every trip has been delightful, fun and rewarding. Perhaps an open and honest relationship at first helps.

I would hate your article to put mothers and daughters off travelling together.

My girls do a lot of travelling independently as well, but we have always treasured our travels together.

We have many unforgettable and special memories, and there is certainly a lot more travel to do yet.

Cathy, Auckland