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How long does it take to adjust to time change from USA?

How long does it take to adjust to time change from USA?

Old Sep 29th, 2010, 12:39 PM
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How long does it take to adjust to time change from USA?

I'm trying to plan our trip to Australia, and wonder how long it will take for us to adjust to the time difference between the USA (midwest) and Australia. We arrive in Sydney at 6:30am and wonder whether we should stay there for a day (or several days) before renting a car to head to Hunter Valley. Or, should we get the car and head out right away? I'm also wondering what we'll do between our early arrival and check-in for wherever we stay (especially if it's in Sydney!)

Thanks!
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 01:45 PM
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Often you can get an early check-in if there's a room available, why don't you put in a request ahead of time?

I really would not drive on that first day, even if your jet lag is only mild you will still be very tired from the flight you will be a danger to yourselves and others on the road.

I find the first two days to be the worst, but just returning to Australia from Poland recently I kept waking up at 3 AM for about 10 days! Try to get out in the sunshine, I find that really helps, with the very early arrival you may also find a brief nap in the afternoon helps you to adjust to the new time zone.
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 01:55 PM
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You might not like my advice but this is what I do when I travel - sleeping tablets! My doctor does it as well. So whatever time you arrive you stay awake until it is night then every night you take a sleeping pill. This puts you in 'sync' and more or less forces you into the local time zone. So straight away you are sleeping when everybody else is and you wake up ready to go like everyone else but you've had the benefit of an uninterrupted night's sleep. There is nothing worse than waking up at 3am all bright eyed and bushy tailed as Susan experienced above.

You can get over the counter tablets but I don't always find them to be as effective as prescription.

You do have that initial problem of your arrival but we arrived at 6am into London and didn't go to bed until around the 10pm - we just got out and walked and did sightseeing etc you just have to force yourself to stay awake - I agree though that I wouldn't drive a car that first day.

Well, that's what I do and I find that I never waste a precious minute of my holiday.
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 02:25 PM
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Coming from the US is a bit easier than some other countries as your flight leaves the US at night and therefore as long as you can sleep, it's morning when you arrive.

I often go to work that day without feeling jetlagged, but I woulfd not take an afternoon nap, they have a habit for me, of turning into a 4-5 hour sleep and that's when the problems start.

Definately no driving on the first day, you'd be getting into Sydney during rush hour and it's another 2 -3 hours to get to the hunter valley

Geordie
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 03:03 PM
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Also remember that we drive on the left hand side of the road, and that needs extra concentration for a while.

So I'd suggest not driving on that first day.
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 03:46 PM
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I travel from the midwest to Oz frequently and find that the flight leaves at midnight or so from LA so you are in a sleep pattern. I would stay in Sydney for the first day and night and drive out the 2nd day at the earliest. Talk to a hotel about early check in so you have day use of room -probably have to pay but it's worth it. I recommend not sleeping as time clock gets worse. Try a rest in the afternoon with an alarm on after an hour.
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 04:13 PM
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I agree with everyone else, don't drive the first day and possibly stay in Sydney for 2 nights so you are well rested. You will be driving on the left, in an unfamiliar car on unfamiliar roads so you want to be alert. We find jetlag - as in being awake the middle of the night and slightly disoriented - lasts about 3 days on average. Drinking lots of water on the plane helps, also getting fresh air and walking once you've arrived really helps.

I would suggest dropping your bags at your hotel and checking in if possible. Then go straight out before you are tempted by that comfy looking bed! Get a map and just walk and enjoy the sights, stop for breakfast or lunch and have a really early night. Hopefully you will sleep through and wake up refreshed in the morning (or you might be awake and starving at 3am because of your body clock, that's happened to us). Have another sightseeing day then collect your car the next morning.

I don't know Sydney that well but you could walk down around the Opera House and Circular Quay and The Rocks.

Kay
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 05:35 PM
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Kay gives good advice! We Aussies live near the Hunter Valley, and always rent a car to get us home from Sydney, after an early morning overseas arrival. Traffic can be heavy, and confusing, even when we know the way. You must drive right through Sydney, or negotiate tollways and tunnels where you need to prepay (no cash accepted, though you have a couple of days to pay electronically afterwards - it's just a nuisance). The Harbour Bridge, however, is free northbound.

I would suggest, as others have, you enjoy Sydney for a couple of days, or else maybe take the train to Gosford or Newcastle, and rent a car from there, thus missing Sydney traffic altogether.
Am not sure if you have been to Sydney, but there is MILES more to do and see there than in the Hunter Valley!
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 06:32 PM
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Great advice from everyone above. An early morning arrival is wonderful because you can drop your bags at your hotel, have breakfast down near Circular Quay/Opera House and then either take a walk through the Botanic Gardens, or hop on a ferry for 30 minute trip to Manly. Walk along the beach - perhaps have some lunch & by the time you get back to the city, your room will be ready.

There are lots of shorter ferry trips around the harbour - nothing like a bit of sea air to freshen you up!

You might also consider the hop-on, hop-off bus for a few hours to give you some perspective of the city.
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Old Sep 29th, 2010, 09:07 PM
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I've done that flight a number of times (going from the U.S. East Coast). What works the best for us is to take our bags to our accommodations right away. Sometimes we've been able to check in, but when we haven't, they have always stored our bags for us until check-in time.
Then grab a bite to eat and start WALKING! Go to the Opera House, the Botanical Gardens, the Rocks, Darling Harbour, the Queen Victoria, Building, etc. If you weren't able to check-in in the morning, you can go back to your room to do that in the afternoon, but DON'T take a nap. Force yourself to stay awake until at least 8pm (which isn't hard to do because you'll be excited to see all the iconic sights of Sydney for the first time).
You may find yourself waking up extremely early on that first day, but that's normal. Try to sleep a few more hours and you should be pretty much on the local time within a day (or two at the most.)
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Old Sep 30th, 2010, 02:49 PM
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I think we are all in agreement. No naps, plenty of fresh air, sunshine and personal movement. Drop your bags at the hotel, get yourself to Circular Quay and take a ferry to Manly and back. Have dinner and go to be slightly early, if you like. You will feel much better in the morning.

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Old Sep 30th, 2010, 03:46 PM
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I've done the trip a number of times (from the US East Coast). It usually takes me 4-5 days to adapt, no matter how much sleep I get on the flight over. Waking up very early in the AM is a pain, as is feeling very tired around dinner time Down Under. For the first few days, plan to do your sightseeing early!
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Old Sep 30th, 2010, 06:41 PM
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Thanks to everyone for your collective travel advice!
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Old Sep 30th, 2010, 07:52 PM
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One more piece of advice: when outside take your shades off for at least ten minutes. It is the changing quality of the light in the morning, at noon and in the afternoon that helps reset your body clock.

A nap in the afternoon seems to do me no harm but I often do that anyway, having got up early and running night tours too.
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Old Sep 30th, 2010, 09:17 PM
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I also think a nap is OK, sometimes I just can't stay up and a two hour nap is really helpful, this is particularly the case going from an Australian summer to a European winter. I just make sure I set the alarm so that I get up for dinner.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2010, 06:12 PM
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I would also agree with a nap, and also heartily agree with checking your bags at your hotel and then WALKING around Sydney for a while. Take the stately ferry from Ciruclar Quay to Manly and enjoy a lunch along the beach somewhere. I like to do that on a first day of arrival, along with the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) and Darling Harbour and a stroll down the shopping street... the name escapes me now.

Oh, and don't spend quite a sum of money to buy tickets to an opera your second night! I did that, and I had to leave at intermission as my eyes would NOT stay open, and I did not want to embarrass myself by snoring in the opera!! (this was maybe my 3 trip to Australia... you'd think I would have learned by this time) I'm also from the midwest USA. And yes, it can take days to adjust to the time. Please do yourselves a big favor and do not try to drive right after landing.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2010, 06:17 PM
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I found I was zombie for the first 48hrs even to showing up a day late for a ferry. This time I know what to expect. Any suggestion for dealing with jet lag
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Old Oct 3rd, 2010, 11:01 PM
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It really depends on the individual. I have never been jet lagged. Others find changing to daylight savings hard. The rule of thumb is a day per hour. This was on some travel or sleep documentary.

I suggest that as you cross each time zone you change your watch and put your mind into that new time zone. That way you are only changing and hour or so at a time. Once you get on the plane stop thinking of what time it is at home and start thinking about what time it is where YOU ARE and where you are going.
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