Letters: A longer stay on Easter Island is best

The only problem with stopping at Easter Island on a cruise is that one doesn’t spend enough time there to see everything [“Going Stone Crazy,” by Millie Ball, April 5].

It is far from anywhere, but a trip there combined with either the Galápagos Islands or Machu Picchu is reasonable.

The airport has a long runway, and there are flights from Lima, Peru, and Santiago, Chile.

We highly recommend the eco-friendly (albeit not cheap) Explora Hotel, where we stayed in January 2013.

The accommodations are comfortable, the bar is open, the staff is friendly, and the guides knowledgeable.

Daniel Fink

Beverly Hills

Slavery truths

I was thrilled to read about the new Whitney Plantation telling an accurate story of slavery and will plan to make it part of my itinerary if I am ever back in Louisiana [“Voice for Those Who Had None,” by Millie Ball, April 5]. I was particularly struck by Ball’s statement that at other plantations, most “guides now mention slavery.”

I was reminded of an overnight that my wife and I had at a plantation turned into a bed-and-breakfast on a drive from Houston to New Orleans about 10 years ago. The owner took us on a tour. The other guests were from England. In response to questions from the Brits, our guide indicated that the slaves were treated well and that there was no reason to believe they were unhappy.

I was shocked that people in this day and age still had such views and embarrassed that the foreigners were hearing this. Whitney Plantation is needed more than some might realize.

Bruce Hirsch

Culver City

Travails at LAX

The last line in Jean Rosenfeld’s March 29 letter headlined “Wheelchair difficulties” says it all: “Disabled travel is inherently still unequal.”

My wife and I experienced this at LAX recently arriving home from a trip to Peru.

The people helping the eight disabled passengers and their companions were dedicated and efficient as they greeted us at the plane door with wheelchairs. The companions had to tote the carry-on bags to a point where the way was blocked by two electric carts. The employees operating those carts were abrupt. The carts were loaded with the disabled passengers, and off we went again, along passages, on elevators, toward an area where, in the distance, one could see signs pointing toward the next steps in the re-entry process.

The carts were too big to proceed, so the disabled people were ordered to disembark and wait for more wheelchairs. Finally, one chair was wheeled out and a person who had completed the customs and immigration forms was taken first. Ten minutes later, another chair showed up, and we were lucky enough to get it.

One hour and 20 minutes later, we got to the luggage carousel, where the only bags left were those of the disabled passengers.

Whoever is responsible for this process should be made aware of the unwelcoming attitude and frustration inflicted upon travelers.

Peter Gibson

Cypress