First of all, thanks for everybody's help so far. I've learned so much in this forum!
We're arriving in Rome on Sunday June 18 at midday.
We plan to rest, may be take a nap, and have an early dinner.
The next day, we are planning to go on a tour (approximately 5 hours' lenght) to the Vatican at 10:00 am in the morning, which would help us to sleep in a little more the next morning we arrive.
In your opinion, what do you think of this plan? I'm thinking of Jet Lag , and the reason I wan to do this tour on Monday is because this company I like do tours to the Vatican only on Mondays and Thursdays.
Opinions please?

10 am isn't that early, and you shouldn't have any problems falling asleep to get enough rest, so long as you don't sleep during the day when you show up. That nap can be very dangerous, when it turns into a 4 hour nap from the half hour you intended. I'm of the school of thinking it's better just to tough it out until night and let your body wake up adjusted in the morning.

From my experience (and I travel a lot) it is not advisable to take a nap or rest if you arrive in mid day. On the contrary, wash your face and go out! See a few sites, have dinner, and only then return to the hotel. You will be so tired you'll sleep. The next morning you'll be like new. There is absolutely no problem going to the Vatican the day after arrival.

I agree, skip the nap, that is what will make it difficult adjusting to the time change. When you arrive in Rome, drop off your bags, freshen up and go for a walk in the sunshine. Enjoy some gelato, eat dinner (finding an early dinner maybe difficult as most restaurants don't start serving until 7:30 or 8:00), then go to bed. The next morning you will be glad you toughed it out.

Thanks for your wise advice!!
I won't take a nap!

Everyone copes differently... I do take a nap that first afternoon, it is really beneficial to me (having tried it both ways on numerous occasions). For me, would never plan a major tour on the very first day of a trip. I allow myself at least 3 days to get adjusted. Sometimes I even fly into one extra city just to do the get over the jet lag routine so I can go on and fully enjoy the next couple weeks.

..I think it is doable given that the tour is the next day. I like Suze am a nap person after a transatlantic trip. I usually have something to eat and then get up at 5-6 walk for an hour or 2 hrs and then have dinner (with wine)..and am OK the next day. I think you will work it out for yourself. I too travel extensively- this works for me on a usual trip BUT I am convinced that you eventually find something that works for you.

I am with the majority that napping is not a good idea. If you are not bringing along an alarm clock, make sure that you request a 'wake up' call from the front desk personnel of your hotel.

So, where are you going to have your first dinner in Rome?

Anna Roz

H ItalyLove - How I envy you on your way to Italy. I agree with those posters: don't take a nap. Instead, as the plane arrives in Rome, drink a glass of Emergen-C (which you should have been drinking for the previous two weeks, at least twice a day to boost your immune system) and you will find yourself awake and ready to have a good day. Then when you fall into bed around 8:00 p.m., you will sleep soundly until 7-8 the next morning and be thoroughly ready for your 10:00 tour. FYI: Friends have laughed at me about the Emergen-C drink, and so they napped in the lobby while I was off having fun. It works!! (and I took photos of them sleeping w/their mouths hanging open.)

Shanna
Guess what?? I've been drinking Emergen C (orange)for over a year! And believe it or not, I've haven't got a cold since then.
Thanks for the advice!

Suze,
This exactly what we all were trying to emphasize: This is reason it takes you 3 days to adjust! Try once the advice so many of us gave. DON't take a nap, get really tired. You'll sleep like a baby, and be as good as new the next day.

eri..totally disagree. I am of the nap school.but with a long walk late afternoon, early evening. I have to function well as when I travel, I am often working. In the last year, I have been to Greece, Dubai, India, Sweden, Russia, France twice, Italy twice, Germany twice, UK 3x and Austria..I don't count Mexico and the S.A. as there are not the big time zone shifts..so I think I have experience as to what works for me..and I am convinced that different schemes work for different people so I think it is wrong to be dogmatic.

I agree that everyone is different. There is no way I can stay up all night on a flight and then stay up all day too. I just shut down. I don't doubt that other people do better without a nap, but for me that is impossible.

The up side is that after a nap I can stay up and have an appropriately late dinner, go to the theater or out to hear music, enjoy the night life. By the time I have adjusted to the time change, I am too tired for late night activities, but for the first night or two it is great.

That said, I still would go on a tour the day after arrival at 10 AM.

This is the routine that works for me as I have never feel jet lagged upon arrival to Europe: get to the hotel mid-morning, take a shower, take a two hour nap (never to exceed). I get up, fresh new clothes, walk around with my water bottle in hand, stay up till at least 9-10pm. This routine always allows me to truly enjoy that first day sightseeing fully aware. Drink water as it does makes a difference.

I forgot to include the following advice on my previous post: NO alcohol in the plane. Also, many travel companions (both business and leisure)throughout the years have noticed that I do not get jet lag and have copied this routine successfully. Hope it works for you.