No sitting down. Other than that, whatever you care to do.

I suspect it is too late, but I avoid this type of arrival day schedule. For example, if Amalfi Coast is in my itinerary, I would rearrange the sequence of visit to go straight to the first destination. I could then convert the time to kill into time to travel and by the time I arrive at the first destination, it is time to check into the hotel. The high speed train seats are more comfortable than cafe or park benches and it is usually also safer to doze off than in an open public place.

NO SITTING DOWN? WITH A 70 YEAR OLD? HELLS BELLS!

I've seen no sleeping recommended but these poor people will be on their knees if they can't sit and have the odd cappucino. and not a good start for granny.

amya - you probably won't get through passport control, bagagge collection and customs until after 8am, when i would sit down and have breakfast at a cafe in the airport. then get the train to Termini and get to your hotel to leave your luggage - by now it's probably gone 9am. [BTW, have you tried asking your hotel if you could check-in early? they can only say no!]

so you've got about 5 hours to fill, which with plenty of breaks for drinks to replenish your fluids after the flight, and a decent lunch, is probably about the right amount of time for a gentle stroll through the centre of Rome - campo dei fiori [first, because the market will shut by lunchtime], Pantheon, piazza navona, trevi fountain, spanish steps. if granny runs out of steam, you could leave her in a cafe whilst you and your son do a bit of exploring by yourselves.

there - many of the major sights and all it's cost you is a few euro for drinks as you walk along, plus lunch - which you had to eat anyway. feeling tired but don't want a drink? - pop into any church that you pass and see what you find in there. We've done this often in Rome and they rarely disappoint.

PS - do make sure that you take the opportunity to use the toilets when you stop for drinks. there are few public toilets in Rome, and your mother is not likely to enjoy using the few that there are!

We arrive early too--in the morning from the US around 10 am. There is a Segueway tour of the highlights we are planning on taking in the afternoon. Thought it wouldn't be too tiring. It is not hard to get the hang of--we have done one in another city. Your mom may like it, but the boy may be too young. Don't forget, you are going to be happy and excited to be in Rome and that may carry you for a while. Have fun!

What is all of this fussing about "granny"? She is, according to the OP, an active 70 years old. She should be fine but none of you should push yourselves too much.

The best thing to do on arrival day after a long flight is to stay outside in the fresh air and stop for refreshment when you are hungry or thirsty or need to rest. Choose outdoor cafes if it is a nice day. Don't push yourselves but try to say active. When you can check into your hotel, try to resist the temptation to take a nap. Have an early dinner and go to bed early. You should be much better by the next day. The suggestion above to wander around the Piazza Navona area and the Pantheon is a good one. Or if your hotel is not in that area, walk around your neighborhood to become familiar with it.

We have found that, while we are pretty tired the first day, if we follow this pattern we are usually fine by the second day.

No sitting down? Good luck! For me that first day is a good one for open air bus tours. Although there is one in Rome, I don't think it's like the one in Paris or London. I would also not do a segwey tour that day. When I haven't slept my reflexes are slow and I have actually fallen down stairs once.

The best thing is to give yourself a break, try to stay in the sunshine, and take it slowly. You can probably drop your bags at the hotel, even if you can't check in right away.

We do just about what mamcalice recommended.

We let the hotel know about our early arrival and they usually give us a complimentary breakfast or, at the least, coffee and some pastry. We let them know that we don't want any old available room just because we arrived early.

We leave our luggage and go out and walk around and try to get into the time zone. Napping does not work for us for some reason and makes us more tired and less inclined to go out and get fresh air or stay awake for dinner.

I wouldn't try to do too much or visit something that requires a tour or a long visit - make it a leisurely few hours of walking, resting, indoors and outside and you should be okay.

Have a great trip!

What is all of this fussing about "granny"? She is, according to the OP, an active 70 years old. She should be fine but none of you should push yourselves too much>>

well how many 70 year olds do you know who would fancy walking round rome for at least 5 hours without sitting down?

in fact, Mamcalice, we seem to agree about everything, including having plenty of stops for drinks/rest. i was just being considerate - we don't want the trip to get off on the wrong foot, do we?

You don't say where your hotel is. You want to be close to it because sometimes your hotel will let you check in early if they have a room ready, or at least will let you crash in their breakfast room. Last time I was in Rome I spent my first jet-lagged day wandering around Trastevere. It's great just to hang out around Santa Maria in Trastevere. If you have the energy you can always go to Santa Cecilia as well (though prepare to get lost). However, unless you are willing to take a taxi, I wouldn't recommend it. Too hard to get lost.

When I head to Europe, I plan on the first day of being outside and in the sun (or shade). This helps your body adjust to the time zone difference. You don't have to do a lot, just find a park and watch the world go by.

I also take melatonin on the plane. I will usually add a sleeping pill not long after boarding the plane.

I usually find that I have little or no jet lag if I stay outside. I also make it a point to stay up until at least 9PM on the first day.

I do violate all the other 'rules' about light food, no alcohol, etc....

Are you going in summertime?

If so, it will be very hot. I would scope out a few places near your hotel that are very cool -- literally. Churches are cool. So are museums. I realize with your young son that you will have to choose which ones will be most amusing to him, but that is what I recommend.

I also recommend that you not stray too far from your hotel, because the front desk is likely to be able to fix up your room for you before 2pm. You won't get into town until 9am, and you should have a lunch spot picked out (near your hotel) for 12:30 pm. So you really only have 3 hours -- at most -- to fill the time.

Where is your hotel? People here could probably recommend some air conditioned or cool spots nearby of interest to a 10-year-old.

For what it is worth, my mother -- who is older than yours -- flew to Europe on a 10 hour flight, didn't sleep a wink, and was fresh as a daisy all day long upon arrival. But everybody is different -- including your son. You might all need a nap that day. Drink plenty of water on the plane and in Rome if it is hot when you arrive. Both young people and older people sometimes need more water than middle-aged people on flights.

So where is your hotel?

zeppole - I disagree. One really needs to be outdoors the first day or one won't be able to minimize jet lag.

Naps will screw the body up even further.

Force yourself to stay up and jet lag will be minimized.

Having take over 30 trips to Europe, and having learned the hard way, it's something that works for most people.

I've learned the hard way after many trips to Europe, that there's no good way to plan that first day. Yes, find a place to have lunch near the hotel. But after that, see where the day takes you, There may be no escaping a nap, especially if severe grouchiness sets in! One time, my 16-year-old son nearly fell asleep in the middle of lunch. We sent him back to the hotel, and they were able to get a room ready for him midday. Anyway, those first few days are rough going. Just get through them the best you can, but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't all go according to plan.

Rasta,

I'm an American who lives in Europe, so I take several trips to the US every year and fly back.

People are individuals. There isn't a dogma about this. Zillions of travelers like myself take naps upon arriving in Europe. "Forcing yourself" isn't the way to go for everybody.

Now people have heard both sides, and adults will make up their own minds. Listen to your body, not people with funny fictitious names who post fictitious dogma on the internet.

I've always written off the 1st day after being up 24+hrs.

In general I'd be in my Rome hotel ~1PM, shower and then nap for ~4hrs.

Relax for a while and then go out nearby for dinner with a good bit of wine.

Back to hotel to watch TV and asleep by midnight.

Next morning I'd feel great and my bodyclock was now on local time.

That's what worked for me YMMV. Regards, Walter

I know people will jump on me for this, but I have more than once, and especially when traveling with my young son, bought an extra night in a hotel or apartment so we'd have it available for early morning arrival. Not having to cart him around half the day in who knows what shape or weather( or ourselves either) was well worth the cost. That way we could rest or not and do what we needed to do and our trip started smoothly.

Don't assume you won't be able to check into your hotel. By the time you get there it will be 9 am or later and they may well have a rom available. Even if not yuo can check your lugage and they will often offer yuo a free breakfast at this point.

If not, I would walk around the immediate neighborhood of the hotel, explore for shops, restauants, churches (yes, go in an sit down) and hae a light, early lunch. I would then go back to the hotel, check in, unpack a little shower and nap for a couple of hours. Then go out again to do a little light sightseeing (piazza Navona or Pantheon would be fine and have an early light dinner. Then a nice long night.

It' important to get some sunlight on the day you arrive - but I don;t agree with pushing yourself all day and not sleep until 10 or 11 pm - when you are that exhausted is still makes problems with your circadian rhythm.

I've never travelled to Europe with a 10 y.o. or a 70 y.o. (although I can almost see 70 from here!). I only know what works for us (coming from the U.S. West Coast).

If we take a nap or even think of just stretching out on the bed "for 10 minutes tops," then we're toast and have trouble getting on local time for days. We must stay awake until at least 9-10 p.m. the first day. We eat light, drink lots of water and little alcohol but on the local schedule.

We don't plan anything very ambitious for that day. (I agree with you about the Colosseo.) We mostly just stroll around and orient ourselves to the city/neighborhood, especially if it's a new destination for us.

Where is your hotel located?

jubilada's idea works well if you think anyone will be dead on their feet, want a shower, etc. One room would be enough to get you to the 2 p.m. check-in time.

We will be arriving at 7:30 AM which might be 9:30 AM because Italy sprung ahead 3/24. I arrived in London once about the same time and was ready for a nap by noon. Ditto for Stockholm. There we got off the plane and got on a tour bus. I was looking for a bench to take a nap. That trip taught me never to join a tour upon arrival. Better to fly in a day or two earlier, clear one's jet lag, rest, and be ready to tour when the others show up. PARADISE gave excellent advice about renting a day before arrival to accomodate your son and Mom to say nothing about you. If you can do it now, it will be worth the extra money.

plan #1 -- use the kid and the grandmother to your advantage. make sure one or more of them is crying as you drop off your luggage at the hotel. if loud enough, there's a very good chance that the staff will let you check in right away!!

plan #2 -- do the hop-on, hop-off bus and get the lay of the land. i think that i recall that they are air conditioned. you can see a lot of the sites of the city and just relax. mid-way through (by a site your son is particularly interested in, hop off and have a gelato or lunch.

hotels will almost always let you check in at least a little bit early-- so try back when you come back around to your hotel on the bus.
i hope it all goes well-- and that you somehow arrive in rome well rested.
kawh

zeppole, my travels have taught me that it's the long trip (sun-wise) that's usually the killer.

I have less problems going East to Europe than going West.

For Asia, I have less problems going West than going East.

I definitely feel there's a sun orientation involved, as well a timezones.

I won't bore you with my wife's follies, but it took her 5-6 trips to Europe to try the stay up routine and have some outdoors to help her make it through the day.

I know people will jump on me for this, but I have more than once, and especially when traveling with my young son, bought an extra night in a hotel or apartment so we'd have it available for early morning arrival.>>

jubilada - i was thinking the same thing. once in Venice we had a 6pm departure and I paid for an extra day in the apartment - it was worth its weight in gold. no trapsing about with luggage, somewhere to nap, store our food purchases, have our last lunch on the terrace [aahh!] and our last cup of tea before we went.

we are taking my 80 year old mum to Holland at the end of April, and we are adapting our travel style accordingly - taxi to the airport, extra-comfy and central hotels, a gentler pace. Everyone needs to have a good time, and compromise [and a bit of extra expense] may be necessary to achieve this.

I guess I'm in the minority, but take a short nap in the afternoon on arrival day. I'm good for the morning through early afternoon, but I'm a zombie by 2. I sleep for about an hour and a half and then I'm good for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I go to bed at a normal time and take a benadryl to help get me to sleep. I'm fine the next day.

We have done 2 european trips this way - we take "no jet-lag" tablets and drink lots of water on the plane (always try to book seats near - but not too near - the washrooms). The best thing to do is to push yourself to keep moving until 8pm and then crash - We're usually okay the next day. We also take melatonin throughout our trip & for about a week after we get home to help regulate our sleep patterns - we are early 50's, but the kids can take this as well - check with your doctor. The jet lag while on vacation isn't too bad - it's worse when you get home and don't have exciting things to do every day.

The best thing to do is to push yourself to keep moving until 8pm and then crash - We're usually okay the next day. We also take melatonin throughout our trip & for about a week after we get home to help regulate our sleep patterns - we are early 50's, but the kids can take this as well - check with your doctor.>>

it's not the 10 year old that would worry me, but the 70 year old [who apparently I'm not allowed to call "granny"]. i am in no way suggesting that she is anything other than fit for her age [though we don't know this} but pushing any 70 year old to keep going until 8pm is fraught with problems - i wouldn't want to risk ruining the whole trip by doing this.

my advice to the OP is to take it slowly and see how well everybody keeps up. lots of stops, lots of fluids, and if possible [and the budget will take it] one room at least booked to be available when they arrive.

What works for some people will not work for all - esp if yuo have some people that are used to going to bed early.

We find a 3 hour or so nap in the afternoon let's us stay up until 10 or 11 without getting really cranky (me) or exhausted and zombielike (him). And starting day 2 we are fine. But then we never take any sort of sleeping stuff (I suspect we both have permanent sleep deprivation, since we never have any trouble sleeping - at any hour.)

>>>>>>>The best thing to do is to push yourself to keep moving until 8pm and then crash...

I agree 100%. And for me, it's more important to walk a lot than to see important things. If you get very little or no sleep, it is also harder to encode experiences into long-term memory - - so take lots of pictures. I also find it important to take each step and movement slowly, because reflexes and coordination can be off. The thing I do most slowly and carefully is put travel documents in the moneybelt - - very thoroughly, very systematically. And all day, anytime money or documents are involved, to be very aware, concentrated and precise with them.

I also say keep moving but make it an easy day. Hydrate and hydrate some more on the plane and all day. Certainly, coffee, gelato, whatever sounds good to keep you interested, is worth it. I always feels rejuvenated after I get out and start exploring.

Stay up until bedtime inRome and you will acclimate pretty well. Don't bother to make big dinner plans...we have done that and are usually too tired to really enjoy it!

You'll be fine...the excitement you get on the ground will help you power through.

jubilada, When I can, I often book a hotel for the night before so that it's ready on arrival. But I do it not for a child, but for my husband, who is a complete grouch by about 2 or 3 PM on the day of arrival!

My recommendation would be to reserve a room for the night before, with a guaranteed late arrival. This way, you can check in, freshen up, whatever. Even if you do this with one room only you'll be glad you did.

I started doing this for business travel and will continue for personnel travel.

Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I have almost always been able to check into my hotels in Rome when I arrived mid-morning. Then I do what suits me and take a nap. Awake in early afternoon, shower, lunch. Walk until dinner, crash early and ok the next day.

Hi,

I highly recommend you to spend your time in the area around of Pantheon. It is very convenient because you could reach the Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori as well. It is wonderful for walking a little bit, after exhausting trip, and you could always find some cute restaurant or bar to relax in the beautiful streets in this quartiere. If you don't feel so much tired you can also go by walk to Castello di Sant'Angelo (The Castle of Saint Angel) and to Trastevere as well.

husband, child--sometimes, no difference. Just a joke. We couldn't keep up with DH's 70 year old parents--if you've got it, you've got it. It will take some time to get through customs and from the airport.

jubilada, I think that's a smashing idea. But, if folks are pooped, most hotels would at least let you park yourselves somewhere on the premises.

As others have said, each of us has different first days. Hub and I were always so stoked about being there, we had enough adrenaline to carry us until about 8 p.m.. We tended to walk around the hotel's neighborhood, grab a bite and explore. If there was a place to get info, tickets or bus plans handy, we'd do that too.

I would go to Pompeii and then back to Rome for dinner. Watch out for pickpockets on the circumvenusia train, especially if you're sleepy.

Thank you everyone for your replies.
My mother is in quite good shape and will probably out do my son and I!

We are staying at the intercontinental at the Spanish steps arriving on april 15th.
We have a transfer from the airport so not sure if we can stop for something to eat
While there.

I think we will try our best to keep moving until 8pm
And appreciate the suggestions on where to go.

I considered an open bus tour but have heard you spend a lot of time in traffic.
I am prone to motion sickness so we will just have to see how the flight and ride to hotel goes.
I am leaning towards the Pantheon or maybe the churches at "pilgrims Rome". Or just getting our
Bearings around the hotel's neighborhood.
We have requested an early check in.

Have a rainy day back up plan. My suggestion is walking over to St Peter's.

Actually, if it is raining, I suggest the metro from the Spanish Steps to Lepanto, and then both the Castel Sant'Angelo and St Peter's for indoor activity. You'll be able to find umbrellas everywhere.

But I wish you sunny skies -- which are typical for April in Rome. But it is good to have some rainy day options if you can't get into your hotel room.

We have an up coming trip to Rome...with similar situation....and I read all comments on this forum regarding the jet-lagg problem,..I also check google to find out what Science and Doctors have to say..there are several videos on youtube about the latest findings....what they have concluded is that,there is a relation between eating times and sleeping times...and they suggest not to eat anything during the flight,and preferably sleep ,with the help a sleeping pill if youu have to.and behave as if you are already in the time zone of the destination....but do not eat...and eat bearkfast as soon as you get there in the morning and continue eating according to the new time zone....there will be no waking ups at nights.and

Most international airline crew members will tell you that if you can when you arrive in any foreign city-take a shower;lay down for no more than 2-3 hours(otherwise you get in a deep REM sleep and feel terrible);then get up and have some type of coffee or coke with a snack and get outside.This helps you to readjust and also to enjoy the late afternoon and early evening hours with a fresher mind in your new city.
If you arrive and cannot get into your room right away, I would suggest dropping your luggage and seeing the earliest you can check in.Then go out and get a bite to eat and drink with something with caffeine to keep you awake while sitting in a outside cafe. Keep moving-shopping or just walking around. Don't plan on sightseeing;tours or anything that requires brain power as you won't be playing with a full deck.

lay down for no more than 2-3 hours(otherwise you get in a deep REM sleep and feel terrible);>>

does this involve the use of an alarm clock? else how can you guarantee that you won't carry on sleeping?

We carry an alarm clock and set it for 2 hours. We are useless without a nap.

By the way, as an active 77 year old, I can tell you that the jet lag is going to last longer for grandma. (She is one, after all) It takes days for us to get over it. And even being an active 70, she will tire faster than the OP. As for the kid, we were surprised about 10 years ago that on the day after arrival, after falling asleep in the car after lunch, we could not wake our grandson up when we got back to the hotel. We literally sleep-walked him to the nearest chair, where he slept for two hours with his head on the armrest!

I can't imagine taking a 2-3 hour nap. I would wake up disoriented, in a foul mood with a dreadful headache. We always keep going, preferably in the fresh air and sunshine, until late afternoon when we take a shower for an early dinner and go to bed at about 9:30 or 10:00. We're awfully tired at 10:00 but fine the next day after a good night's sleep.

I quess through my years of flying overseas every week that if I stay up when I get there after already being up close to 20-24 hours-I will probably be sound asleep in the piazza by 5pm snoring!
If you have a coffee or coke when you wake up in your hotel room,you will feel alot better when you get back out in the sunshine for the rest of the day.

The Jet lag is not just a distruption in " sleeping cycle " ,it is also a distruption in " Digestive cycle "...and they both are enter-reletive ..
Dp not eat during the fight heading to the destination,only water...and sleep on the plain as much as you can.....this is all preparation..and when getting there start eating at the same time as locals do.....try to saty up..but do not push it...if you must take a very short nap...but other wise,drink lots of water and stay out door..and go to sleep early.

I struggle with jet lag no matter which direction I'm going in, whether I nap or not, whether I eat or sleep on the plane, or not.. you get my drift..

I have discovered that I'm usually so anxious/excited the night before my flight that I don't sleep, so I can generally manage to fall asleep on the plane, and this helps me adjust to the time change(just a little).

When I arrive at the hotel I can usually get my room, or they atleast store my luggage. I then go out and wander around, get my bearings in the neighborhood, peruse the restaurant menus. I'll eat an early dinner and head back to the hotel, take something to help me sleep through that first night and then I'm usually good to go the rest of the trip. I still fight jet lag but I found this method greatly diminishes it, at least for me.

I would let the hotel know in advance (as already suggested) that you'll be arriving early to drop of your luggage. They'll likely have rest room you can use to freshen up.

I never make plans for the first day. "jet lag" has already set in for me upon arrival, because I never sleep on the plane so am facing the huge time change with 24+ hrs lack of sleep. I'm always a mess.

I like to just walk around with no particular agenda. Get a street map and explore the area around your hotel. Have breakfast, walk, have lunch, sit in a park, walk some more, check into hotel.

Once I get my hotel room I take a 2 hour nap. Then get back up and go out for dinner. Get to bed early, but on the local time.

I don't think you need to cater to an "active" 70 year old any more than a 40 year old or a 10 year old, as long as everyone's healthy and in good shape. But any for any age, taking it easy, lots of fresh air, light exercise, good food is a perfect first ('recovery') day.

Jet lag impacts everyone differently, and with the disparity of ages in your group... who knows!

A friend of mine who suffers from terrible jet lag came up with a solution that worked for her. She books her "arriving hotels" one day earlier than her arrival date. She then informs them she would be getting there about 8 AM in the morning after the first night of her booking... and thus she has a guaranteed room to crash in. No worries about whether her room is ready!

Granted, it's not the cheapest option but she says that based on what she spends on a trip... and the challenges she has with serious jet lag... it has made all the difference in her trip experiences! Good Luck...