dsm22

I am really going to proactively try to head off jet lag in my upcoming travels. I think that part of my problem is that I am so stressed out about traveling that I am just making it worse. I don't eat much the day I travel either. Actually through my entire trip I eat very light.

I am a poor traveler, I wish I weren't because there are so many things I want to see! They need a teleporter! Instantaneous travel would be just swell for me!

The other part is that I have never been able to sleep while flying. I just cannot get comfy.

Also flying upsets my ears and makes me terribly dizzy. It sometimes goes away quickly sometimes it doesn't. It also happens to my in elevators. So that doesn't help when you stay in a hotel.

I now put my carryon bag under the seat in front of me. I put my legs on that so that my circulation in my legs does not get cut off. (I am short) I ordered a neck pillow and this seems like it may work! I am excited to try it out.

I try my best to keep going when we get there. Stay up and not nap. Last year our travel to England was a killer. We left a 9am on May 16 to head to the airport. We got to our hotel at 11 am on May 17th. I did not sleep on the plane. EEK!

I did end up taking a nap that afternoon. I had no choice I could not function. I slept well that night and was fine by the next day.

Las Vegas last year I never set my watch to local time. I don't know why. I won't do that again. My crazy friend told me that she did not and It work just great they were up early and got so much done. Well It may have worked for her, but I like the tip of setting my watch on the plane to my destinations time.

Great thread.

mr_go

We hit the ground running. No matter what time we land, we keep going until bedtime and try to normalize our schedule to local time for the rest of the trip.

A good way to make this work is to schedule a top-tier, "E-ticket" attraction for day one. Sure, that makes Westminster Abbey a little less enjoyable and memorable, but it keeps you on your toes.

Now, in the case of Greece (or in my case, Capri, which is coming up next month)...it may be harder to define a top-tier attraction. We'll probably do a bunch of hiking to keep the blood moving.

But the main thing is to keep pushing till bedtime. Then crash hard and wake up fresh.

maitaitom

We always try to stay up until at least nine or ten. Last trip, even though we both almost fell asleep with our heads in our dinner soup, we made it....barely. By staying up the first day, I have never had a problem with jet lag.

allisonm

We travel from the east coast and usually arrive at 6 or 7 am. If we are in Ireland, we pick up the car and hit the road. I have found that it really helps me to set my internal clock (since it's really in the wee hours on my old body time) by getting some breakfast! If we are in a hotel, we will check in or walk the neighborhood until we can check in, then freshen up a bit and start walking the city. We never nap! Then dinner at the usual time, collapse in bed by 9 pm, and we are raring to go in the morning!

crefloors

I fly from the west coast and other than being tired, I have had no problem with jet lag getting to Europe. I fly over night and when I arrive I check in, freshen up a bit and "hit the streets". I have a light dinner and get to bed at around 9 or 10. The only problem I have had, if you want to call it that, is I am awake VERY early the next morning. I was up about 4:30 a.m. the first morning my last trip. Went out and took a walk but my big issue was there was NO coffee that early!!! Oh no!!!!! I have a much more difficult time coming back home. The second day I'm home I find myself totally crashing about 2 in the afternoon. Takes me a couple of days to get myself back together.

Marsha

We fly from the Midwest. I never can sleep on the flight because I am so keyed up and excited, but my husband and kids usually get a nap. When we arrive, we go to our hotel or apartment, drop the luggage, freshen up, and set our watches on local time. (I will not let them discuss what time it is at home - that just makes us all tired.) We go out for one activity in the afternoon (e.g., we might visit the Tower of London or walk to Notre Dame), eat an early supper and go to bed at 8 p.m. We always walk as much as possible, and avoid bus tours or car rides so we don't fall asleep. The kids even seem to adjust well to this schedule.

beachbum

We live on the west coast, and do the same as most here; stay up until our normal bedtime 10:00pm or so, regardless of timezone. Even though neither of us sleep well on the plane, the adrenaline rush of being on vacation in Europe carries us through the day.

You really should ask about the return trip!

gomiki

I have tried napping and not napping depending who I am traveling with. (I live on the east coast). Either seems to work for me. I just returned from Europe Monday evening and am still tired and sleeping 10 hour nights!! It's much harder for me on the return.