We are getting into London at 7:30am and eventually going to Austria. I can't decide if it would be better to stumble around London in a fog and fly out a day or 2 later, or just jump on another plane and visit London at the end of the trip. I'm thinking since we couldn't get into a hotel room that early and we're going to be tired and in want of a shower anyway, we might as well keep traveling. Any advice?

Keep going. For me, if I cave into the jet lag thing I end up being worse off for it, suffering from its effects for several days. If I just keep going I have one foggy day and then I'm fine for the rest of the trip.

Keep going...definitely keep going. I made the mistake of stopping when I went to Amsterdam. <i>Stopping</i> just for a half hour cat nap to get my head &quot;refreshed&quot;, I said.
I ended up <b>sleeping</b> for 3 days!

I agree with StCirq. I pick one activity (preferably outdoors) and stay up. We have supper early and go to bed by 8 p.m. The next morning we are up bright and early, and are truly on local time. By all means, do NOT think about what time it is at home - this will certainly cause jet lag.

We too keep going and find that works for us. I'm always amazed when I hear of those who promptly retreat to their rooms for a long nap. Also, don't get anywhere near anything that resembles a bed because your body will be telling you it is time to sleep. One trip we landed in Iceland and were, of course, tired. We kept to our routine and spent the day touring around. In the afternoon we visited a recreated historic homestead. the tour guide told all of us in the group that we could sit on the beds while she kept on her description of the place. Big mistake on our part to sit on those beds! We could hardly get up again to leave after about 10 minutes on the beds.

Thanks, all, but I know I need to stay awake. I'm asking whether we should sightsee or fly onward that day.

Nope, keep going - not me. We keep going when we arrive, but by around 1 or 2 I need to take a 2 hour nap. We set the alarm clock, get up shower and go again. Works for me.

I'll ditto on the keep going. The other thing I do before I leave (say, starting a week before) is start going to bed 1,then 2,3,4 hrs early, and get up early. That way when I land, my body is a little less time-desycnhronized. I'd rather sacrifice a bit at home, than not enjoy my trip because of time zones.

bd--I have no experience with this yet, but I plan to fly into Rome and continue on to Perugia the same day by bus (2-3 hour ride, I think). I figure we may as well be traveling since we'll be too tired to enjoy Rome anyway. So, we'll see Rome at the end of our trip.

And don't schedule any bus tours on the first day Walking around, snacking, bed by 10, next day you'll be fine.

We've done both. This trip we're doing the same thing you are--flying into one place and then moving on--but deferring our flight until the next day as I am too apprehensive about booking separate flights when there is a possibility that my original flight might be very late. The problem it seems to me is that you need to decide how big a risk you want to take if you might miss the 2nd flight due to a delay with the first flight. Then you also need to consider how much time you have to build in as a fudge factor if you do decide to keep flying the same day. Then you need to think about how much tine you are willing to just stay in the airport killing time waiting for that next flight. On the other hand, it can be time-consuming and expensive to travel into the city for just one night too.

Michel -- it's not really a bus tour for pleasure. We're getting right off the plane onto the bus, so I'm looking at it as an extension of our flight. We have to get to Perugia to drop off extra luggage (that daughter needs later for school) before we travel anywhere else.

bd,
I <i> was supposed </i> to train it into Belgium the day after arriving in Amsterdam. As I said, we landed...I slept...we spent three days in bed in Amsterdam!
Fly onward. Get it over and done with...sightseeing won't be that much fun while your head is foggy. You might fall asleep in line!

I hate those 3 day naps! I hope you managed to have a good trip once you woke up.

I'm leaning towards traveling onward, but I guess it depends on flight times and which airport we're flying out of.

Thanks for all the advice.

I would look for an onward flight from the same airport you arrive (Heathrow?) allowing a 3 hour layover. That's how I always get to Switzerland from west coast USA. I don't see any advantage (and several disadvantages) to spending 1-2 days in London. You can take a shower at the airport if you have time between flights.

Personally, I'd stop in London. It's a great walking city... .so many stimulating things to do. I think you'll be quite fascinated and won't even think about sleeping. I always find the worst part of arriving in Europe is that 2nd flight leg. No matter what I do, I fall asleep on the plane and wake up feeling just horrible.

Hi bd, if it was me I would fly onto Austria and save visiting London until the end of your trip.

Having said that I agree with suze, fly to Austria from the same airport you arrive to. I also like three hours between flights.

Why I vote no is two reasons:

1-2 days is not sufficient for me to get over jet lag, so I'd just as soon grin &amp; bear it and get myself to a place I will be for at least 5 days while I'm on the plane/at an airport.

To stay in London, it will take time and money to exit the airport, get into central London, check into hotel, then do it all in reverse only 1-2 days later. I can't see the point. Especially since you've said you'll have time there at the end of your trip.

I can think of a couple of advantages, though:

I wouldn't have to worry about a making a connecting flight, if my transatlantic is late.

Chances are I'm not going to be able to find a flight leaving 3 hours later from Heathrow, so I'll probably waste more time in the airport waiting for my connection. (Do they really have showers?)

Flying out of a different airport wouldn't be as difficult because we could arrange to stay at a hotel near a subway line to the other (cheaper) airports.

The part about the time and expense of getting into central London isn't really an advantage because I'd have the same issue at the end of my trip.

I do appreciate everyone's opinions.

would i lie to you

yes they really have showers at heathrow -LOL