JET LAG

larissa · Veteran Member

JET LAG

tony2phones · Guru

One reason our transatlantic visitors pay so so so much more for Car rental Insurance is because some get off a redeye and drive a strange car in a strange land on the wrong side of strange roads.. Go ahead you'll be insured.

larissa · Veteran Member

Oh dont worry Tony, we are driving to the Band B and resting the first day. No extensive driving for me the first day. We have mutually agreed that we should stick to walking activities the first day :)

Geno · Guru

From many trips over to Ireland, I think the most important thing that first day is to make certain to stay awake throughout the day and then go to bed early that evening. When I do that, I wake up the next morning and am back on the right cycle. I have known people to travel all night, not get sleep, and then immediately take a nap the morning they arrive and be messed up for days.

For us, it always works best to not drive far, stay active the first day, turn in early that evening, and get ready to roll from that point on. smile

tony2phones · Guru

" I want to wake up able to drive for the entire day " sort of gives the impression that warrants my earlier answer. Unfortunately there are those who do just that..sensible folk just pay for their mistakes,

Andi · Senior Member

I agree that the best thing is to stay up the first day and go to bed early on your arrival night. That's my own experience; even if I sleep on the plane, the arrival day is difficult. If you can be outside and keep active I think it helps.

larissa · Veteran Member

Thanks everyone! Gives me a better idea about what to expect the first couple of days :)

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Everybody handles Jet Lag differently.

The usual caveats apply -- Try to sleep, stay hydrated, avoid caffein and alchohol.

My wife and I travel a similar distance as you will. My wife usually sleeps a couple of hours, enroute. I rarely manage to sleep more than a few random minutes at a stretch. What works, for us, is to 'Push Through' until about 2:00PM (Irish Time), check in to our hotel or B&B, shower and take a nap of NO more than 2 hours. That gives us the energy to stay up until 10:00 PM or so and puts us on to the 'New' schedule.

Oddly enough, I've found that heading West is harder to adjust to than heading East. We traveled to Hawaii one year and it took a couple of days after arriving to recover. Like wise, RETURNING to the US seems to have a longer recovery time. Dunno how much that has to do with 'Initial Excitement' versus 'Post Vacation Let Down', but I've seen a couple of articles that suggest our East / West phenomenom is NOT unique.

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

I find the same thing as Bob. When I return home from Ireland it takes longer to adjust that flying to Ireland. Everyone is different. What is right for one person is wrong for another. Do what your body is telling you. I am outside the "norm". I do nap the first day, get up and have dinner for a few hours, get a good night's sleep and am ready to go next morning. So you see, whether you power through with no sleep or nap like me there is no right or wrong way to do things.

larissa · Veteran Member

BTW I drove from pickup at Airport until we pulled into Tir Na Nog b and b at 8pm. I was fine. I slept on the plane around 5 hours and woke up fresh as a daisy!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Glad to hear you got some sleep on the plane and arrived refreshed in Ireland. No matter how comfortable my seat on the plane, I can never nap for more than an hour. I suppose that is why I need to nap on arrival.

Now, we would love to hear your entire trip report if you have time. wink

Michele Erdvig · Host

I haven't flown Aer Lingus across the Atlantic in ages. Looking forward to your photos!

larissa · Veteran Member

Oh Michelle, the Aer Lingus seats where terrible...but with the help of Melatonin and a good friend who didnt sleep on the plane, I was able to get some ZZZZ's. She was beat that afternoon at the B and B, but she said it was worth it. We got to enjoy our first day instead of being exausted. My blog is a work in progress, at the moment I am working on adding all the pictures, but I will definitly post the whole trip here for everyone to enjoy.