Tips for Beating Jet Lag

Jet lag, defined as disruption to the body’s normal rhythms, is caused by high speed travel across time zones. Symptoms of jet lag may include extreme sleepiness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, or stomach problems. West to east trips worsen jet lag because the body “loses time.” The next time you travel far from home, try these tips and tricks to manage jet lag.

In any language, it's water! Drink plenty to stay hydrated and
to help with the jet lag.

Simulate your new schedule. In the days before you depart, move your body into its new schedule. This can be done with bedtime and mealtime adjustments. It will throw you out of sync with the rest of your current life patterns, but it will ease your transition into a new vacation time schedule.

Drink plenty of water.  Water keeps the body hydrated and is vital to combat the dry air on airplanes. Drink plenty during your flight and also once you arrive.

Sleep on the plane. If your trip includes a night flight, sleep on the plane. When the flight arrives in the morning, you’ll have had sleep and will be ready for the day’s activities. This also prepares your body for bedtime in your new location. An eye mask and noise cancelling headphones can be helpful for sleeping on airplanes.

Set your watch to the destination time. As soon as you depart, set your watch to the current time at your destination. This adjusts your mind to the new local time.   

Avoid caffeine while in flight. Don’t consume caffeinated beverages while flying. They disrupt the body’s cycles and can make it difficult for you to sleep.

Use alcohol with caution. Some travelers like to use alcohol as a way to aid in sleep or to relax the body. Use these drinks with caution, especially ones that you don’t often consume. Avoid intoxication, and be aware of alcohol’s effects on your body.

Don't do too much on the first day, such as hiking
in the mountains!

Embrace the new time zone. Upon arrival, eat meals and sleep according to the local time, not what time it is at home. On the first day of a trip, try to set your bedtime after 9:00 p.m. These patterns help get your body cycles adjusted to the new time.

Keep the first day’s activities light. Don’t plan a heavy schedule of sightseeing on the first day. Plan the day so activities are flexible and a nap can be had, if needed. Keep the nap short, just one to two hours. Exposure to large amounts of sunshine on the first day can also help the body clock adjust to its new time. 

Try new medications before your trip. Some travelers use melatonin or sleeping pills to help regulate sleep. If you’re planning to use a medication to help you manage jet lag, try the medication at home. It’s better to experience side effects before you’re on vacation. An upset stomach, headaches, extreme sleepiness, or extreme stimulation may be worse than the jet lag.

Plan an extra day to recover. Your body will need time to readjust once you’re home. Plan an extra day off work, or return adjacent to a weekend, so that you have time to manage the jet lag at the end of the trip.

Jet lag affects each person’s body differently, and you will have to find a strategy that works for you. The farther you stray from home, the more intense jet lag will be. Be prepared and manage it to minimize the impact on your vacation. Whether it’s a trip across the country or across the ocean, don’t let jet lag put a crimp in your plans.

Start Summer Travel Planning Now!

It may be winter right now, but summer is around the corner and with it comes the summer travel season. Here are 6 tips to get you started with your summer travel plans.

1.  Pick a destination. Start with a map and begin to brainstorm. Compile input from family members. Conduct research on the sights and activities that various places have to offer. Consider additional requirements of international travel, such as passports. Make a wish list and then start to whittle it down. A major component of the whittling-down process will likely be...

2.  Transportation. Drive or fly? It’s the age old question every family asks when planning their summer travel. Perhaps you immediately know that flying is cost-prohibitive and therefore out of the question. This may immediately cut several destinations off the list of possibilities. If you’re on the fence about flying, look to the Internet and start to research. It may be too early to book tickets, but you can get an idea of prices and routes. This will help you determine whether or not flying is an option. If you must drive, then factor in the price of gas and hotel stays between here and your destination.

3.  Pick your dates. Look at the family calendar and mark adults’ vacation time and kids’ summer responsibilities. Depending on the age of your children and their level of summertime commitments, you may not have a large window of travel time available to you. Focus on several different chunks of the summer calendar in which you could book a vacation. The amount of time available will help you further pare down that list of destinations.

4.  Research hotel or lodging options. City accommodations will be quite different than beach accommodations. If you’re looking to rent a beach house or condo, then its availability may finalize travel details such as dates and transportation. Rental properties typically need to be secured earlier on the calendar than hotels do. Use a website like Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com) to fully understand what each lodging spot has to offer. A website like Travel Zoo (www.travelzoo.com) is a great place to search hotel and airfare deals for major cities.

It's never too early to start making summertime travel plans.

5.  Set a budget. After viewing preliminary prices on airfare and hotels, start to lay down a reasonable budget. Don’t forget to research the cost of attractions you want to visit, as well as food. This will likely be the final deciding factor on your choice of destination. It all comes down to money in the end.

6.  Pull the trigger when the time is right. After you conduct your research and make your decisions, be ready to act when it’s time to buy plane tickets or book hotels. Don’t be afraid to make those purchases or reservations when you see prices that fit into your budget. Airfare can be notoriously tricky. If you can’t begin to make heads or tails of it, then enlist the assistance of a travel agent. Also use a travel agent to book a cruise or to plan a complicated trip with many location changes.

7.  Apply for a passport. It takes awhile to secure a passport, on average 4-6 weeks. If your destination is international, get moving on this. It can be expedited for an additional fee, but the sooner you can start the process, the better. Visit the state department website at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/new.html to find out more.

Even though summer still feels far away, you can get the jump on planning an enjoyable vacation by starting the process now. Sunny skies are right around the corner, and you’ll definitely want to make the most of your summer travel time.

Airport Etiquette Tips from Frequent Fliers

My husband has been a business traveler for over 17 years, and his least favorite time to travel is the summer. The airport is packed with vacationers who don’t travel often and don’t understand the etiquette of air travel. So, in the spirit of business travelers everywhere, and with input from a group of business travelers I know, here are the top things business travelers wish vacationing folks knew about air travel.

Be prepared for security. The business travelers had a lot to say about people who do not understand the procedures at security. All passengers should check the TSA website regularly to better comprehend what cannot be carried through the security checkpoint. Vacationers also need to realize that certain items, such as belts and shoes, will have to be removed before passing through the metal detectors or body scanners. When in doubt, watch the business travelers in the security line, and follow their lead. That business traveler in front of you may be going through security for the fifth time that week, so don’t argue about removing your watch, just go with the flow. Also, the TSA agents don’t care if you miss your flight, so be sure to allow plenty of time.

Plan ahead for your children and keep them entertained
while flying.

Mind your children. Another oft-mentioned topic from the business travelers regarded children. Most business travelers like children. However, nothing upsets the flying experience like an unhappy child. Make sure you have plenty of supplies for your children. This includes snacks, entertainment, extra clothes, and all the baby gear that is required for the trip.

One business traveler told the tale of a baby with a diaper blow-out in the early portion of the flight. The mother didn’t have the required wipes and diapers to manage the situation which made the flight unpleasant for all the passengers. Plan ahead for your kids! Keep them happy, clean, and quiet for everyone’s sake.

Be aware of others. Air travel isn’t glamorous. It’s more like riding the city bus these days. Unless you’re flying first class, expect to be crowded and uncomfortable. Making it even worse is the lack of courtesy sometimes shown by other passengers. This includes pushing through the plane aisle to get off first, stowing many small bags in the overhead bins instead of under the seat, placing carry-on bags in the front instead of closer to the passenger’s actual seat, and crowding the jet way while waiting to pick up planeside-checked bags.

Other annoyances include travelers who throw their seats back as soon as they sit down and those who block the plane aisle to remove items from their carry-on bags while people are still boarding the plane. The use of headphones, or the lack thereof, garnered another honorable mention from the business traveler panel. Either headphones aren’t used at all, which means surrounding passengers are subjected to video game noise for the entire flight, or folks crank up the volume to disturbing levels.

One amusing anecdote from the business travelers involved PDA, personal displays of affection. Even though it might be your honeymoon, your fellow travelers don’t want to see this played out in an airplane seat or in the terminal waiting area. Keep your hands to yourself, please.

Be realistic. Delays happen. Weather happens. Luggage gets lost. You’re not the only one who’s being inconvenienced by these annoyances.  If you’re mad about a delayed or cancelled flight, think of the business traveler whose paycheck and livelihood may depend on making an appointment five states away. Realize that some people need to fly because it’s how they make their business work. While your vacation may be important to you, a delay in your plans only affects you and your family. A delay for the business traveler potentially means lost money.

Delayed Plane? It's bound to happen. Know the airline
policies and be realistic about compensation.

The business traveler panel discussed those passengers who become irate because the airline isn’t compensating them. The airlines aren’t required to pass out free flights every time a plane is delayed. The business travelers recommend studying airline policies regarding delays, cancellations, and lost luggage so that you won’t be surprised when you’re faced with an interruption in your plans. Understand that delays will happen. It’s inevitable.

In short, remember your fellow travelers when you’re flying. Common courtesies go a long way to making the trip more pleasant for everyone involved. Be prepared, be informed, and be flexible.