Open Jaw: Traveller's Guide to Florida's Gulf Coast

Where readers write back

Simon Veness is by far the best travel writer on Florida, but I have noted his rather optimistic travel times before. I can only think that he normally drives very fast. Orlando airport is about 85 miles from Tampa, and to do this in one hour would involve driving well above the speed limit for the journey.

"Aardvark10"

Miami airport vices

My experience of Miami airport is similar to that of your reader, Sandra Bell. I recall a crowded hall with queues of people waiting to confront officials in glass boxes. The sullen person who eventually interviewed me fired questions and listened to my answers with a look of disbelief. Never again.

John Calderan

We went through Miami airport twice this year en route to and from Costa Rica. The time taken to get through immigration and customs was close to two hours on both occasions. The queues for immigration move at a snail's pace. The officials are rude and unhelpful, particularly to people who worried that a connection will be missed. We encountered equal rudeness when our flight was delayed going through JFK last year.

Di Hayes

Madeira's sandy little sister

We went to Porto Santo on a day trip from Madeira in February. The ferry journey was choppy, but we loved the island. The beach is stunning and the people were very friendly. It was quiet, but I expect it will be busier in summer.

Martin Hunt

Istanbul's modern faceThe Istanbul Modern is not a "big art gallery recently converted out of an old Ottoman arsenal on the Bosphorus". It was converted from a dry cargo warehouse.

"Avbet"

travel@independent.co.uk