To beat Jet Lag, were getting separate Hotel Rooms in China!
Mar 31st, 2010, 04:38 AM
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To beat Jet Lag, were getting separate Hotel Rooms in China!
My wife can not believe how cheap you can get a nice hotel in China. We are finding four star hotels in the heart of Beijing for under $70. We decided to get our own rooms when we travel in China next month.
Last time the two of us traveled to Asia we had one room, one Queen bed (hard as sleeping on the floor), and a terrible case of jet lag. We did not sleep very well the first five nights. Much of the problem was my wife not being able to fall asleep and she would constantly be moving and asking me if I were awake. (I sure am now!) We were so jet lagged and tired we did not want to be in the same room.
This time we are getting our own room so if she is not sleeping I do not have to worry about it and I can attempt to fall and stay asleep on my own schedule. We will also have a place to escape constant togetherness. I think it is worth the small extra cost.
What do you think of having your own room when traveling to Asia as a way to adjust to jet lag and sleep?
Last time the two of us traveled to Asia we had one room, one Queen bed (hard as sleeping on the floor), and a terrible case of jet lag. We did not sleep very well the first five nights. Much of the problem was my wife not being able to fall asleep and she would constantly be moving and asking me if I were awake. (I sure am now!) We were so jet lagged and tired we did not want to be in the same room.
This time we are getting our own room so if she is not sleeping I do not have to worry about it and I can attempt to fall and stay asleep on my own schedule. We will also have a place to escape constant togetherness. I think it is worth the small extra cost.
What do you think of having your own room when traveling to Asia as a way to adjust to jet lag and sleep?
Mar 31st, 2010, 04:43 AM
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Who gave the hotel in question 4 stars? The hotel booking site often exaggerate their ratings so I would be cautious as a 4 stars often mean a 3 stars or below kind of place.
There are only a few Western or non Chinese hotel chain that have beds that are not as "hard as sleeping on the floor" so I hope you will find such a place.
My recommendation - if you and your wife are opting for 2 rooms get a connecting room at least.
There are only a few Western or non Chinese hotel chain that have beds that are not as "hard as sleeping on the floor" so I hope you will find such a place.
My recommendation - if you and your wife are opting for 2 rooms get a connecting room at least.
Mar 31st, 2010, 05:46 AM
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Having two rooms doesn't help with jet lag, but it might help you sleep if part of the sleep problem is disturbing each other.
But for $70 a night, I doubt you are getting anything you'd describe as a 4 star, and it's likely a Chinese-owned hotel which will have hard beds. If it were me (and it isn't) I'd opt for a hotel that would give me a really comfortable king-sized bed. We do usually get a suite, which means if one of us can't sleep, we can get up and read in the other room without disturbing the other person.
Jet lag and lack of sleep are two different issues. Jet lag is a sleep phase shift and can contribute to difficulty falling asleep and awakening at odd hours, feeling like it's time to get up.
There have been plenty of posts here about jet lag - do a search.
But for $70 a night, I doubt you are getting anything you'd describe as a 4 star, and it's likely a Chinese-owned hotel which will have hard beds. If it were me (and it isn't) I'd opt for a hotel that would give me a really comfortable king-sized bed. We do usually get a suite, which means if one of us can't sleep, we can get up and read in the other room without disturbing the other person.
Jet lag and lack of sleep are two different issues. Jet lag is a sleep phase shift and can contribute to difficulty falling asleep and awakening at odd hours, feeling like it's time to get up.
There have been plenty of posts here about jet lag - do a search.
Mar 31st, 2010, 09:42 AM
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This solution will give you a break from each other which may be what you need. In any event, it will give you a controlled experiment in which you can determine how much of your post-arrival discomfort is due to each other, and how much is due to the fatigue and disorientation inevitably occasioned by travel and jetlag. (One often leaves home exhausted from the pre-departure crush of responsibilities as well.) It may be worth paying for two rooms just to get that information.
My own preference, echoing that of others above, would be to put additional resources into getting a better quality shared room. Separate beds would likely help if tossing and turning are disruptive. Less expensive than two rooms is one twin bed room in a nicer hotel and an agreement that an awake party will head out to the lobby to read.
If the real problem is the hardness of the mattresses, then you may want to stay in a western hotel with softer bedding.
If one of you likes to turn on the television when the other wishes to sleep, of course, then two rooms may suit.
If you adopt Hanuman's idea of connecting rooms, you have the flexibility to decide whether you want to have the solitude of your own separate rooms or, if circumstances warrant, use one room for sleeping and the other for waking activities. Before paying for that kind of space, however, I would want to know what kind of deal I could get on a suite.
Just two other comments in passing.
Your post suggests that this might be a second trip to Asia. If so, you may find that jetlag and adjustment are less monstrously challenging the second time around. That first tme you fly for so many hours and make a 12 hour (or so) time shift is brutal, but subsequent trips can be less horrid because you know the drill. If you go to Asia often though, this comment will be meaningless.
Second, a $70 so-called four-star hotel in Beijing isn't likely to live up to your wife's idea of a four-star hotel so buyer beware.
Good luck figuring out what will deliver the most comfort in your particular circumstances.
My own preference, echoing that of others above, would be to put additional resources into getting a better quality shared room. Separate beds would likely help if tossing and turning are disruptive. Less expensive than two rooms is one twin bed room in a nicer hotel and an agreement that an awake party will head out to the lobby to read.
If the real problem is the hardness of the mattresses, then you may want to stay in a western hotel with softer bedding.
If one of you likes to turn on the television when the other wishes to sleep, of course, then two rooms may suit.
If you adopt Hanuman's idea of connecting rooms, you have the flexibility to decide whether you want to have the solitude of your own separate rooms or, if circumstances warrant, use one room for sleeping and the other for waking activities. Before paying for that kind of space, however, I would want to know what kind of deal I could get on a suite.
Just two other comments in passing.
Your post suggests that this might be a second trip to Asia. If so, you may find that jetlag and adjustment are less monstrously challenging the second time around. That first tme you fly for so many hours and make a 12 hour (or so) time shift is brutal, but subsequent trips can be less horrid because you know the drill. If you go to Asia often though, this comment will be meaningless.
Second, a $70 so-called four-star hotel in Beijing isn't likely to live up to your wife's idea of a four-star hotel so buyer beware.
Good luck figuring out what will deliver the most comfort in your particular circumstances.
Mar 31st, 2010, 12:27 PM
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I was just in China for 20 days. Staying at HOLIDAY INN hotels in Shanghai and Beijing does give you nice comfortable beds, without being too soft( try Renaissance in Tiajin for stupid soft beds).
If you go onto the Holiday Inn website and pre-book and pre-pay, you can get very good rates as well.
I was also in Jiayuguan and Urumqi, and I still have bruises on my back from the hard beds.
If you go onto the Holiday Inn website and pre-book and pre-pay, you can get very good rates as well.
I was also in Jiayuguan and Urumqi, and I still have bruises on my back from the hard beds.
Mar 31st, 2010, 12:51 PM
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We can't let beth read this thread. we'd end up with rooms in different hotels.
In truth, separate beds in the same 4 star hotel room would allow for the best sleep. It won't prevent jet lag, but would give the best chance for the most sleep.
I would be very wary of $70 4 star accomodations.
In truth, separate beds in the same 4 star hotel room would allow for the best sleep. It won't prevent jet lag, but would give the best chance for the most sleep.
I would be very wary of $70 4 star accomodations.
Mar 31st, 2010, 03:37 PM
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Have you thought about taking Melatonin for jet lag. It was recommended several years ago on this forum by Kathie and we have used it sucessfully on about 10 overseas trips. It's a lot less expensive than 2 hotel rooms, and really works well for us.
Apr 1st, 2010, 07:45 AM
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You need TWO beds more than two rooms. Jet lag is jet lag. The body's internal clock is messed up and it takes however long it needs to get happy again - usually just in time for your return flight home!
Apr 1st, 2010, 05:17 PM
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From the OP again:
The suggestion of two beds is sincere but that will not work because I will still hear my wife toss and turn and ask me if I was awake. If I am in my own room I do not have to worry about her making noise or if she is asleep or not.
It is nice to have some space too on a long trip together.
The suggestion of two beds is sincere but that will not work because I will still hear my wife toss and turn and ask me if I was awake. If I am in my own room I do not have to worry about her making noise or if she is asleep or not.
It is nice to have some space too on a long trip together.
Apr 3rd, 2010, 05:16 AM
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WorldTraveler, if you can afford it, enjoy! TV noise, snoring, heavy breathing, bathroom visits, light from a reader (who HAS to read to fall asleep, and then leaves the light on), all these can make for discomfort and lack of sleep. A little separation and space sounds pretty nice.
Apr 3rd, 2010, 06:46 AM
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Have you tried talking to your wife about this? I dunno but I would rather have a beautiful room than two so-so ones. Maybe it is not my place to say this, but something about separate beds on vacation makes me sad...
