Paris is not our destination, but this might be relevant anyway. My husband and I have different approaches. Before the trip I try to get to bed earlier each night. My husband does not.

On our overnight flight I drink two glasses of champagne and then fall asleep. My husband drinks two or more cups of coffee and stays awake. At breakfast he drinks as many cups of coffee as they'll give him.

We pick up our rental car and head for lunch, about a 2-hour drive. After a big and wonderful lunch, we fall asleep in the car, then drive to our B&B and nap in bed till around 17:00. We eat an early supper, go for a walk, and then early to bed. We've had all the fun we can handle on our first day and the next day we're back to normal.

Rule 1: I set my watch (or whatever) to local time at the arrival point the moment they close the door of the plane. Even though this means that on the plane they will be serving dinner and sometimes breakfast at totally weird hours, you have to keep concentrated on local time.

If you absolutely must take a nap the first afternoon, it should not exceed 2 hours at the very most. Stay up until at least 10 p.m. on your arrival day. You will probably still wake up around 3 a.m. or something like that, but just bear with it and try to go back to sleep. However, you should get up no later than 8 a.m. the next morning -- do not sleep in under any circumstances. Get up and get out as fast as possible -- by day 2 you should be back on the correct cycle.

I love K's Rule 1. Even when I only fly to Calif (just 3 hours difference from the east coast) I set my watch as soon as I sit down in the plane. Maybe it's just psychological, but it seems to help.

SS

<< After a big and wonderful lunch, we fall asleep in the car, then drive to our B&B and nap in bed ...>>

You fall asleep in the car? I think that's one thing most of us are trying hard to avoid!

Doesn't everybody nap after a big French lunch? This particular place is a very restful spot to nap in, under an allee of plane trees leading to the local chateau.

No, we walk off lunch.

I have traveled for years, I find that if you do not sleep when you arrive (if it is daylight) force yourself to stay awake and go out and do a little sight seeing. No matter how tired you get just keep up (without coffee) then when it is around 7:00pm or later, go to bed and wake up refreshed. Or you can take the pill No-Jet-Lag from travel stores all over and you won't feel and thing and it will make you act as normal. I have done both and they work. But if I take a nap, I will be up all night and never get to sleep. Personal experience. Good Luck.

<<Doesn't everybody nap after a big French lunch?>>

No. I make it a point NOT to have a big French lunch the day of arrival. I'm not inclined to have anything more than a light snack that day, as it would mess with my system and slow me down. I eat very sparingly the day I get there and just stay outside as much as possible and keep moving, albeit slowly with frequent café stops.

We try not to eat large meals at lunch - since it makes us too sleepy for afternoon activities. We prefer to have our major meal at night - as we do at home - and go for a nice stroll afterwards.

IMHO better than wasting half your vacation sleeping afternoons away.

I find returning home more difficult - since it's a daytime sleep - so chance for sleep is nil - and you have to go right back to work - without a couple of days of adjusting times as you go.

In the southern European countries: Italy, Spain, etc., afternoon is the time for the siesta. Stores and offices close for a few hours, as everybody goes home for lunch and a rest. Not so much any more in big cities but certainly in smaller towns, and especially car rental offices.

As tourists, after a morning of sightseeing, we have a biggish lunch, go back to the hotel for a rest, then go out again about 5 PM. We prefer bigger lunches and light dinners, so, in the evening, tapas in Spain, gelato in Italy.