For redeyes, the time to start managing the jetlag is before the plane even pushes back from the gate.
While passengers are boarding, your head should be on a swivel surveying for any empty rows of seats on the plane. If there are any, POACH them before any one else gets the same idea. As soon as wheels as up, flip up the armrests and lie down across all the empty seats (bulkhead row seats have fixed armrests). Possession is 9/10ths of the law. I managed to score an “economy class layflat bed” this way twice last week.
While the other passengers sat upright, elbow to elbow for 12 long miserable hours on a flight to Amsterdam, I slept 9 horizontal solid hours one way and slept 7 horizontal solid hours flying back. If you don’t want to be awakened by the flight attendant during turbulence, make sure to fasten your seatbelt over the blanket.
For redeyes, always skip the 1st meal service. Bring a neck pillow, earplugs, eye shade, and put them on as soon as wheels as up and go to sleep. A good neck pillow is essential if u have to sleep sitting upright in your seat. Don’t forget to close your window shade first before u sleep.
When u land, get a cup of decent coffee in the airport. Drop your bags at the hotel and then try to get outside to get SUNLIGHT.
Drink lots of water when you’re aboard the plane, and drink lots of water when you’re at your destination.
From my experience, the best way to execute @GMTplus7 's strategy - a very good one - is to get a seat toward the back 3rd of the plane. It’ll increase your poaching potential.
Thanks for starting this. My long anticipated trip to Rome is next weekend! I’m excited and terrified all at the same time lol! Mostly terrified about the flight. I have a hard time sleeping when I’m not laying down, I do not like to sleep in the car.
So even though I’m not the op, thanks for all of the tips. We have a connecting flight and an 8 hour layover. It was not booked that way, got to love best laid plans. I’m jealous of those who can fly direct, it’s hard when you don’t live near a big city.
Been to London several times (always landing in the morning) and we drop off our luggage (or check in if they let us) and then hit the sightseeing. We say we will take it easy the first day - but never do - end up walking all day! (have done the same on trips to Paris) One time we had tickets for a show the first night - the show stunk and we both fell asleep!
London during the holidays is fabulous (they do it big and the stores are decorated early in November). The streets are packed with holiday decorations, lights, and shoppers.
The planning is part of the fun too. I have the first 4 days shaping up, 3 more to go. I don’t plan every second, just listing out the highlights and reserving what I need to ahead of time. Deciding if I want to take just one trip outside the city or two. We’re taking a tour to Stonehenge and the baths. I am toying with cotswold or okay, don’t judge, highclere castle.
I plan it all and is always so happy when it all just magically comes together. As long as I get him a few pints and fish and chips he’ll consider it a good time. He’s very easy about just going along.
I’m also in the power through camp, but don’t get much jet lag (I’m always too excited and we plan on an early dinner the first night, so we can crash if we need to.) Last time we had an English breakfast in some local spot, then headed for St Paul’s because virtually no old church ever bored DH and we could sit, if we needed.
I’d actually call the hotel, rather than wait til you get there.
I’ve done the same flight four times now. We’ve always been able to get into our hotel room early. We freshen up and then head out. Sometimes my mom stays in the room to nap, but she’s a daytime napper, anyway! You will have so much fun!!
both the walks and the day trips are fantastic! reasonably priced, and the guides are wonderful! (They also do some interesting pub walks in the evening, or at least they used to.)
Pretty much the same as many others. Settle down for sleep as soon as you board the plane. I usually take some sort of mild sleep aid - Benadryl, melatonin, valerian, something like that. Drink lots of water, avoid the booze. Then when you land, stay awake as long as you can. If you can make it to 8 or 9 in the evening, you’ll be over the worst of it. Have a MARVELOUS time! You will love it.
Caution - see if Benadryl works for you first. Benadryl knocks me out in 20 minutes, but it winds other people up. You don’t want to find out which you are for the first time on this flight!
Wear super comfy clothing on the plane and wear more layers than you normally would to keep you warm. Planes can be chilly and that will affect your ability to sleep.
Even if you can’t sleep, lie there with eyes closed and breathe deeply.
Normally I do agree to drink lots of water on a flight, but for this flight I’d go to the bathroom right before getting on the plane, and I wouldn’t drink a lot til I got to the other side. No sense in having bathroom urges wake you up if you manage to sleep. I would then drink a lot once you got to the UK and started your day.
Eyeshade and ear plugs or noise blocking headphones. These are often (usually in my experience) provided by the airlines but I’ve had a couple flights recently when they weren’t suppled.
Forgot to add, I struggle with the drink-water-to-stay-hydrated or not decision also. I generally follow Pizzagirl’s routine of lots of on the other side. I do use a saline nasal spray which helps with dryness and has prevented the colds I used to get following every long haul flight.
I am the worst when it comes to sleeping on the flight over to Europe. I have tried everything except taking a prescribed pill. We flew from Boston to Amsterdam last month, with a connecting flight to Copenhagen. A friend told me he used Advil pm so I asked the pharmacist and he told me it was the same thing as Benadryl , plus the ibuprofen …I tried it at home and slept pretty good , but when I took it on the flight, I got jittery and unfortunately had the middle seat. My brain was tired , but my legs wanted to run
I did crash on the connecting flight , but it wasn’t enough. The airline lost our luggage and we were staying outside of the city so we went to the hotel ( they let us check in early , thankfully ) and we took a nap. I am cloudy on the times that day , but I really have to take a nap , then try to get to bed as close to a normal , local time to adapt as quickly as possible. That seems to work for me because I was perfectly fine the next day and no jet lag
If you do wind up napping in the afternoon, just set your alarm so you take a short nap, then get up and get moving again. You’ll screw yourself up if you take a long nap, because then you won’t go to sleep til very late / early the next morning and then you’ll lose your next day.
I feel like I generally lose the first day. I really don’t recall what we did besides driving to the hotel and taking a nap…I think it was about two hours sleep and then we grabbed a beer , dinner and got back to our hotel just as our luggage arrived . I agree with keeping any napping short and try to go to bed close to a normal time , local that is
If you like castles, you might look into staying at night in one. We stayed at Thornbury Castle with our kids. It was the highlight of their trip (my D was very Harry Potter at that age and it was perfect). It’s not too far from Bath.
