Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 4 November 2025

HOPE OVER HEAD

The Sistine Chapel’s ceiling was unveiled on this day, November 1, in 1512. (November 1 is All Saints’ Day.) Michelangelo had started work on the ceiling in Rome in 1508, and it was revealed to Pope Julius II and other attendees during a special Mass. Five million people a year usually see the ceiling, but it is expected to be more in this Vatican Jubilee 2025 year, announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the 2000 Great Jubilee.

When in Rome, I recommend booking Vatican tickets at museivaticani.va. A full, skip-the-line ticket is €20 ($35.30) plus €5 fee. Better still, on the same site, book a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Full-price tickets for the two-hour tour are €40 and it includes the Pio Clementino Museum, Gallery of the Candelabras, Gallery of the Geographical Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries (Renaissance art), Raphael Rooms and Sistine Chapel.

Also on this day, in 1945, Australia became a founding member of the United Nations.

SKY-HIGH PRICES

And on this day in 1990, the Australian domestic aviation market was deregulated. Which is interesting given this story from Emma Kelly. Airfares have risen sharply in the Asia-Pacific regions, and Oceania is now the world’s most expensive region for air travel.

FANCY CARRY-ON

Carl Friedrik’s new Dark Olive luggage has made appearances on TV shows like Succession and The White Lotus. The Carry-on X is $1300. But looks aren’t everything. Designed to be “ideal for up to five days of travel”, the Carry-on X cabin case has an integrated hard-shell front pocket for getting to a laptop and travel documents. It has an aluminium frame, impact-resistant polycarbonate shell and spinner wheels. (It is also available in other colours.) It has 30 per cent off its range (with no discount code needed) from November 26 to December 1. carlfriedrik.com

NICE DEALS

We’re always looking out for good deals, for example, Travelmarvel’s “companion flies free” to Canada and Alaska in 2026. Travellers who book select Canada and Alaska 2026 tours receive a free flight for the second traveller. Contact Bicton and Claremont Travel on 9339 5199 or info@bctravel.com.au.

JAPAN A CHOICE

Direct flights, a favourable exchange rate, the ease of booking and getting around, and the drama of the contrasting seasons in Japan continue to lure us. The Japan National Tourism Organisation has just reported another month in which arrivals from Australia have increased.

In September 2025, 96,600 Australians visited Japan — a 12.8 per cent increase compared with the 85,667 in September 2024.

Year-to-date arrivals have risen 18.5 per cent, with 755,200 Australians travelling to Japan. For the same period last year, 637,273 arrived.

Andrew Coombs, JNTO’s media and marketing manager, says there is growing interest in regional and seasonal travel among repeat visitors.

TASTE OF INDIA

In conjunction with the Armadale Hills Arts Trail 2025 there will be a celebration of Indian art, craft and culture in Perth Hills on Saturday November 15 and Sunday November 16.

Performances in a natural bushland setting, conversations, immersive workshops and demonstrations are being planned. There will be stone carving, palm leaf art, textile traditions and classical dance and music.

This event, by Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya Institute, is at Art Sanctuary Foundation, 1 Cockram Road, Kelmscott, from 2.30pm each day. The program is at artsanctuary.org.au.

ME & JET LAG

A reader who says she is “an avid follower of your segment, which I look forward to each week” has requested a story about how to address jet lag when returning from Europe. She says: “So many of my friends have all commented on how difficult it is to adjust when returning back to Perth and who better to ask than yourselves, such seasoned travellers.” She is travelling at Christmas to Norway, London and Paris.

I set my watch to “the time of arrival” and work on convincing myself that really is the time. When I arrive, I studiously go with the time of the destination — breakfast, lunch, dinner, bed, then get up, all at the new time.

If you do that 3am wake-up, just lie still and rest. I don’t drink alcohol, which helps (I think), and there’s Meladozz, from the chemist, if you feel melatonin may help you.

RECOVERY TIPS

Recent research shows that meal timing and light exposure are important for readjustment for jet-lag sufferers. Generally, I suggest:

Set off well. Get lots of sleep before you go so you are well rested.

Eat meals to match the new time zone. This can really help to speed recovery.

Consider melatonin (with caution). Melatonin can aid sleep, but consult a doctor or pharmacist.

Limit caffeine and alcohol. They can disrupt sleep patterns, and alcohol can add to dehydration.

Stay hydrated. With low humidity on planes, drink plenty of water.