Cookiew

I am mentally preparing for my first trip to SEA, and while experienced with jet lag heading to Europe and back, this will be a first. I leave in the AM from Boston, Mass, head to LA, then to Tokyo, then to Bangkok for an 8 hour layover before going to Siem Reap the following early morning. I did plan to try to stay up all night before I leave Boston hoping that changing my sleep schedule would help. I do have Ambien, plan to take aspirin each day, know to avoid alcohol and drink alot of water and normally can get by nicely on 5 hours sleep a night. But any and all hints from you serious SEA travelers from the East Coast of the USA would be appreciated. (PS, I don't have the option of changing my plane schedule so my 8 hour layover is the best I can do for "downtime". Thanks!

rkkwan

Do you have a hotel in Bangkok? If so, you'll sleep fine there. But don't plan too much stuff at Siem Reap on the first day. You'll feel a little tired by afternoon that day.

But overall, jetlag isn't as big a problem going there as coming home.

Craig

I live in Connecticut and we have had itineraries similar to yours flying Hartford - Chicago - Tokyo - Bangkok and then onto Bali one time and India on another. I am assuming you are flying economy which won't be much fun - perhaps the Ambien will help. I hope you decided to get a room at the in-airport hotel during your 8-hour layover - you will be very tired and sleeping in a bed will do you good. Try to take it easy on your first day in SR - by day 2 you'll be fine.

julies

rkkwan--

I too am interested in your response because this will also be our 1st trip US to Asia. I'm intrested in your comment that getting home is the worst as far as jetlag. I also find this to be true when we return from Europe, so it can't be the direction one is traveling in. My theory is that one can keep going because it is vacation & interesting. Returning home is coming back to the same old routine, so one can then give in to the fatigue.

But, here is my question about what to do, expecially since you say that returning is the worst. We leave Hanoi at midnight and get in Seoul at 6:00 am where we have a 6 hour layover before catching a flight to Chicago where we'll hop on a plane home to Minneapolis. We are not people who sleep well (or at all) on planes, and we'll be flying coach. I think Seoul has an in airport hotel. Is it worth it trying to get a room there for the 4 hours I'll basically have, or should we just keep wallking the airport hoping to make ourselves so exhausted (I'm assuming we won't have slept on the Hanoi to Seoul leg) that we'll crash in our seats and sleep from Seoul to Chicago. Thanks to all who reply.

veracity

Since the itinerary is usually overnight. I take an Ambien (or your choice of sleep aid), sleep 8 hours on the plane and I am good to go on arrival.

The adrenaline of being in Ankor will be enough to keep you going. Usually your guide will suggest you rest in your hotel from 11-2PM anyways.

rkkwan

julies - I've been back from Hong Kong/China for over a week and I'm still suffering from jetlag. I agree with you it's because of the activities. Back at home, I can take a nap right after work and then do photos and trip reports in the middle of the night.

But I don't have a good answer with your flight via Seoul. It's horrible either way, and that's one reason I never even consider taking Korean or Asiana to Hong Kong. A red-eye flight + 6 hours layover is just too gruelsome. One would be totally exhausted even before getting on the long flight back to the US.

But if I would have to choose, I'd probably go into the city, especially since I have never been to Seoul (except for old Kimpo airport). I know I would be totally wasted by the time I get on the Trans-Pacific flight, but at least I got to see something and hope I'd be so exhausted that I could actually sleep some on the next flight.

Cookiew

Thanks to all of you. I do have a room booked at the Novatel for my 8 hour layover which after picking up luggage then getting back in Security lines the next day really equals maybe 5? But I'll take what I can get. Yes, yuck, I'm flying coach which won't help but it saves me thousands of $$. I've been to Europe twice recently and had basically zero jetlag going over and a day of jetlag after getting home so I agree with the activities, excitement, adrenilin rush etc. I read somewhere, maybe here, that Ambien use promotes blood clots (DVT) but since I planned on 80 mg of aspirin for a couple of days prior to and arriving in Siem Reap (for business, no temples for a few days) I assume that will counteract any issues with the Ambien.

LeighTravelClub

Forget the pills. Make sure you have a GOOD hotel booked for your arrival in BK. And arranged transfer from the airport to your hotel. This will stand you in good stead for the rest of your trip. I have done this trip many times and this is a GOLDEN rule. Obviously you just want to book the airport hotel. I believe you can book a short stay at the airport hotel.
OH DEAR, that 8 hour layover is not ideal but the same advice applies when you get to Siem Reap.
On one occassion we arrived at Siem Reap but my wife's luggage did not.She was not happy. Remember that losing your cool with Cambodians will get you nowhere. They see this as a character shortcoming (to put it poltely) but they will allways endeavour to help. My wife's luggage turned up 12 hrs later, delivered right to our room and I breathed a huge sigh of relief!!!

Cookiew

Thanks but why do you say forget the Ambien? I have taken it many times over the years, take only 5 mgs and as long as I can stay asleep for 5 hours I'm fine. Luggage loss will be a pain but I'm going for business, already have people who will take care of me there so I'm not that worried about a delay in my luggage. I tried the short stay at both Louis Tavern Day (where I found that you CANNOT make an advanced reservation) and the Novatel (which will only offer a day rate if you are there literally during the day)- so I'm booked at the Novatel for under 8 hours for about $170- stinks but being my first trip to SEA, I'm gonna bite the bullet and pay up for some piece of mind (they have a shuttle at the airport to their door, 24/7)

mrwunrfl

I would skip the Ambien. And I would try (try, mind you, but not likely to succeed) to get a good night's sleep the night before the trip. After about 24 hours of traveling you will probably be arriving in BKK at night. You will be tired and you will sleep, on local time.

Get a good night's sleep the night before your trip, or several hours of good sleep, so that you are alert enough to get to the airport and onto the plane with all your stuff.

Gpanda

Cookiew-we've flown Bos-BKK 5 times. the jet lag coming to Asia is not too bad. You can do stuff the first day, just be prepared to take a nap in the late afternoon. Don't agonize too much. Going to Asia is fine. Returning to Boston is when the jet lag effects us more. I keep waking up 2:30 A.M.. Again, don't sweat it too much, you will normalize back to Red Sox time. Go Patriots!

veracity

A lot of people take sleep aids to get through a long flight. That doesn't fight jet lag per say, but it does help you get rest on a noisy flight. Jet lag is due to circadian rhythm in your body. There really is no cure for that feeling.

I would consult your doctor on which sleep aid works best for you. Only he/she can advise you on the risks and benefits best.

mrwunrfl

Yes, and a lot of people DON't take sleep drugs to get through a long flight. I use sleep aids like an eye-mask, pillow, ear plugs.

Seems like some people take sleep drugs not to sleep but to escape the boredom of the long flight.

julies

I'm one of the unlucky ones for whom a mask, ear plugs, travel pillow, taking my shoes off doesn't work. I'm not normally a big fan of drugs, but Ambien does help and I at least will get some sleep on a flight.

Never having flown US to Asia before what is the typical routine on the flight? I know on US to Europe flights they pas out the meal and then try to let people sleep before serving a breakfast before arrival. But, we leave the US for Asia in the late morning arriving there in the afternoon. What is the routine on thie type of flight?

pat

just flew back from bangkok, via narita to LAX. Ambien is the only thing that saved me. I wouldn`t have slept a wink otherwise, but would have just been tense and not relaxed.

rkkwan

julies - You get served a full meal right after takeoff, then a midflight snack, and finally breakfast before arrival.

Since your flight departs kind of early, most people will be staying up for about 5-6 hours. It'll get dark after then, and after the snack you'll get a nap for 4-5 hours. It'll soon be daylight, but the shades will be kept open until about 1.5 hours before arrival. Lights will be turned on, people get up and breakfast is served.

Elainee

I'm another one who does not sleep on planes, even Business Class. I've done the ambien, but I am concerned about my alertness when I land so I no longer take it. Get a hotel room for the 8 hour layover. I have reserved rooms at the old Bangkok airport, have not flown into the new one yet. I would urge you to get a room for the layover. The shower and the bed will be the best you have ever had!! Don't bother staying up before you go...you need all the rest you can get prior to losing sleep on the plane. SR is HOT so take it very easy the first day. I do what everyone says not to do...I get where I'm going and go to bed. I have flown to Asia 8+ times from NYC and I am always too tired to do much when I first get there. But I do take Tylenol PM the next few nights. Works for me. You will have a great trip!

mrwunrfl

whatever works for you. I would like to point out that the OP is planning to stay up all night before a long flight, and instead of sleeping in their own bed at home is proposing to take a drug so as to sleep in a coach seat on an airplane. After that "sleep" in the airplane, they will arrive at 10PM.

mrwunrfl

I'm with Elainee. Unfortunately, I forgot the Tylenol PM when I went to Vietnam this month because I didn't get enough sleep the night before my trip. After the first three nights I did take melatonin.

jules, it sounds like you are going to Japan but I though you were going to VN.

marmot

I've probably made 75 trips between the US and Asia and though I wouldn't begin to call myself an expert on jet-lag I know what works for me.

First, I always find adjusting in Asia easier than adjusting in the U.S. I found that to be true when I lived in New York and traveled to Asia as well as now when I live in Asia and travel to the U.S.

I don't like to mix travel with medication of any kind, including mild sleep aids. I know a lot of people do without ill effect, but I just like to remain clear headed in case of emergency. I have always felt this way, but now even moreso after 9/11.

When on business I have no choice but to get onto the business day. This is actually a good thing as it forces adjustment. Sleep when everyone else is sleeping or forget about it.

Leisure travel offers that wonderful option of the midday NAP. Take advantage of this most valuable jetlag tool. Two hours sleep in the afternoon can help the transition to another timezone immeasurably. Just be sure to have a wake up call and expect some grogginess (crankiness, maybe) after waking. A post-nap swim helps.

A special note on the tropics -- heat and humidity can really wear you out, much more than you expect, even if you like warm weather. This is doubly true in Southeast Asian cities where the pollution and noise exacerbate the heat.

Take it easy on yourself. Take a taxi. Stay out of the noonday sun (NAP!). Hydrate gradually but constantly. Seek aircon. Have a massage. Slow down to tropical speed.