I have never been on a plane for more than a few hours and find it hard to sleep on them and reading gives me an instant headache. I have a 9 hour ride to Rome to look forward to. Any ideas on surviving this?

Can't sleep, can't read...consider drugs!<BR><BR>US

Ambien<BR><BR>For some it works like a dream!!!!<BR><BR>For ME, I zonked out in 10 minutes and woke up feeling utterly refreshed.

.<BR>Second on that drug suggestion. I've found Sonata helpful.<BR>

Here's a hilarious thread on favorite things to do on a long plane flight...sure you'll find something! If nothing else, just thinking about whack a mole will keep your spirits up during the flight!<BR><BR>Anne<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...ses=39&start=0

Valium. Take 1 before boarding. Another 1/2 after the meal. A couple cocktails or glasses of wine. (I still can't sleep on the flight but I feel a whole helluva lot calmer!)<BR><BR>Take a good book you have already started. Hope you have a plane with those little individual tv screens and watch the movies.<BR>

Consider getting a Nintendo Gameboy or something like that, and a really addictive game. Tetris got me to Paris and back a few times...it flew by. Just don't forget to mute it or wear headphones.

On long-haul night flights, don't forget to also drink lots of water and to get up, stretch & walk around frequently. I've found that I'm in better shape and a bit more alert upon arrival if I do this than if I sleep most of the way.

I have tried the drugs, but still can't sleep. Then I just feel worse on arrival--- tired AND hung-ver. If you are lucky enough to be going first or business class, you can choose from lots of movies and the time goes pretty fast. If not, just watch whatever they show, flip through the magazines, and work the crossword puzzles. Don't forget to get up and move around. Eating does provide some diversion. And drink LOTS of water. I had a flight attendant tell me years ago that most jet lag is due to dehydration, and I really believe that.<BR>TRY not to drink much alcohol, because that is very dehydrating.

I always take two tylenol pm's and a glass of wine. It does not give me a hangover feeling like most sleeping drugs.<BR><BR>Also, if you are flying on a decent airline, most of them have individual tv screens with selection of movies in coach also. I know British Airways and Virgin have them as well as another few.