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Here’s how to score return flights direct to Japan from $1,349 this snow season

Credit: SCM Jeans

Jessica O'Donnell
The Qantas sale also includes discounted flights to Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong and more.

As is typical of most long-haul trips, the most expensive part of the getaway tends to be the airfare. It’s why we take notice when airline deals drop, because less money spent on flights means more to spend in the destination. Which is why it’s very good news that Qantas just launched its Asia Red Tail Sale.

Enjoy discounted flights to Japan

Sunset over Mount Yōtei, which dominates the skyline of Niseko (Credit: Dan Hayward)

With travel to the destination up 105 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, it’s safe to say Japan has earned a top spot on travel wish lists across Australia. Pair that with this year’s lacklustre domestic ski season, and we’re willing to bet early 2027 will deliver an influx of travellers to the snowfields of Japan. 

As of Tuesday, September 15, Qantas has launched a week-long sale spanning 10 destinations across Asia, one of which just so happens to be Japan. More specifically, the sale includes discounts on the flights that take you straight to one of the country’s best ski fields. 

The airline runs a seasonal Sydney–Sapporo service that restarts December 7, with economy fares available from $1,349 return. Flights will be available throughout December and then again from February through until late March, which is the peak of Hokkaido’s snow season. 

From Sydney, the flights will land directly into New Chitose Airport, which turns a journey that’s often north of 17 hours with a layover into an under 11-hour one. Once you’ve landed, it’s a two-hour drive to the ski fields of Niseko. 

You can still nab a discount on flights to Sapporo from Melbourne and Brisbane, but you’ll have to make a pit stop in Sydney on the way. Prices also start at $1,349, so the extended route doesn’t cost extra. 

If you’re more excited by the idea of exploring Tokyo than whizzing down mountains, the sale will also include economy return fares to Tokyo from $1,349 from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with dates available that would get you there to enjoy cherry blossom season between March and early April. 

Cherry blossoms over a lake with the tokyo skyline in the background
The sale doesn’t just include flights to the snow; you could also explore Tokyo during cherry blossom season. (Credit: Torsakarin)

Other destinations included in the sale

If Japan isn’t on your wish list for 2027, Qantas has discounted flights to a long list of other Asian countries.

Qantas CEO Cam Wallace explained that on top of Japan, the sale also offers “great value right across the rest of Asia, from Bali and Singapore to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila and Bengaluru, so whether it’s a week by the pool, a long weekend of food and shopping, or a trip to see family, there’s something here for every kind of traveller".

Some of the highlights include return economy flights to Bali starting from $699 from Sydney and Melbourne or $759 from Brisbane and Adelaide. Or fly return to Singapore from $899. Qantas fares include checked baggage, onboard food and beverage, and inflight entertainment for no additional cost.

Treat yourself to an upgrade

The discounts extend across premium economy to Tokyo and Singapore and business class to all included destinations, so if you’re considering really treating yourself – now’s the time to do it for less.

The sale will finish on 21 September, so you’ve got just under a week left to make the most of the savings. You can explore the full sale online here.

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Jessica O'Donnell

Jessica O'Donnell

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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.