PRINTS CHARMING
I have only one piece of advice for any traveller. Gather up every single piece of paper, documents, credit cards, traveller's cheques, driver's licence, itinerary, important phone numbers, serial numbers of all electronic items. In fact, anything that is related to your holiday.
When you have them all, email it to yourself. Don't bother with photo copies. With passports, scan and email every page, front and back of credit cards and do the same with your licence. Pick an email address that you know you will be able to access from any computer in the world, such as Yahoo or Hotmail
This way, if you lose everything you know you have it backed up. Just go to a computer and print it all out with the bonus that it will all be in colour, and will save you a lot of heartache.
Tracy Mansfield, Hillside, Victoria
TIP OF THE WEEK: SMALLER THE BETTER
I agree with Simon Tancred's comments in Expert Opinion about there being many fantastic provincial cities all over Italy.
A favourite of mine is Parma in Emilia-Romagna. There's much to see in the city and the surrounding countryside, and the food's marvellous. And, as an alternative to staying in Venice, base yourself in Padova.
You'll want to go there anyway to see the stunning Giotto frescos. It's only about an hour by train to Venice and there's easy access to other great provincial towns in the Veneto like Verona and Vicenza.
Kate McCaig, Surrey Hills, VIC
HOWE WONDERFUL
We, as a family of 12 adults and one baby, have just returned from 12 days staying at the wonderful Pinetrees Resort, Lord Howe Island, hosted by Dani (the sixth generation running the resort) and her husband Luke.
Our accommodation was first-class and set in tropical surrounds. The staff are the friendliest and most helpful folks, for whom nothing is a trouble, from taking dinner to the room for a young mum feeding her baby to supplying cots and highchairs and the strollers for the toddlers.
The food, fresh and from the resort's own gardens, was delicious with a picnic lunch pack available to take on one of the many walks around the island.
There's no Wi-Fi, TV or internet so one talked to family, made friends, read, hired a bike or walked through palm tree tracks to the lovely white, sandy, sparkling-clean beaches.
Moire Berman, Manly, NSW
FOLLOW THE LEADER
The best advice for visiting Santiago, Chile is a free (gratuity appreciated) four-hour walking tour starting 10am at Plaza de Armes and ending at Cerro San Cristobal, stopping for lunch. English guide. No booking necessary, just visit freetoursantiago.cl
Also recommended is a day trip to Valparaiso, a port city about 90 minutes north-west of Santiago. Lunch at the fish markets, which includes lots of small family restaurants, is excellent, .
Cheryl Meade, Penshurst, NSW
SADDLE UP
My wife and I recently travelled to Germany and beyond and accidentally discovered the joy of seeing a new city by bicycle. We joined a half day tour in Munich and had so much fun with like-minded strangers that we repeated the experience in Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Potsdam and Amsterdam.The tours were interesting, informative, safe and delightful.
Jon O'Neill, Waurn Ponds, VIC
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOCKED
Regarding your cover story, "What a difference a day can make", thank you to Ben Groundwater for not suggesting that couples place a so-called "love lock" on one of the beautiful bridges in Paris to mark Valentine's Day.
These locks are not a symbol of enduring love but an act of vandalism and a scourge the world over. Lovers, please leave your locks at home.
Judith Manion, Strathfield, NSW
REFLECTIONS ON CAMBODIA
I'd like to recommend the quirky and arty Reflections Art Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. All of its public spaces and rooms have been designed and decorated by a variety of artists. It's cheap, friendly and conveniently located to the town and its sights.
There's also a free tuk tuk pick-up and drop-off airport service. I hired their tuk tuk driver, Thun, on each day of my stay and he took me to Angkor Wat and its associated sights for just $US20 a day.
Alan Lloyd, Coogee, NSW
WIN A KATHMANDU BACKPACK
The writer of the letter judged "Tip of the week" will receive a Kathmandu Parker Pack v3, valued at $159.98. A tough and durable backpack, it's perfect for travelling and other uses. See www.kathmandu.com.au
