Expect grilling at US airports

* To give you some feedback on travel in the United States: I flew from Vancouver, where I am living at present, to Houston on September 24.

I hold a New Zealand passport, work for a French company and work in the US. I would not recommend travel to America.

I spent the better part of 1 1/2 hours in the immigration office, bags sprawled - I was grilled about my status in Canada and grilled about my work permit for the US.

I work as an engineer for an oil servicing company both in California and the Gulf. The company normally brings me down under the term "training".

With calls to France and Houston I was finally able to catch a later flight.

You need to show photo ID at every gate, bags are checked randomly, and the number of police and special agents is incredible. Touching down in Houston, the hostess said, "Welcome to [etc] ... God bless USA", which is something I have not heard before.

Rodney Garrard.

* Holiday changes

I have cancelled my five-week holiday to India, after considering the US situation.

In was to travel to north-west India, to Dharamasala, for trekking in the area. My destination is close to Pakistan and I feel the political situation there is too dangerous. After all, Pakistan is a no-go area.

I have made alternative plans to visit Tasmania.

There I plan to join a small adventure tour, hiking, biking and rafting and probably wine-tasting.

Roslyn Oates.

* We welcome your letters along with travel-related questions and tips. Send them to travel@nzherald.co.nz or write to: Travel editor, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 32, Auckland.