Plan out Day One – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When traveling across time zones, have an itinerary upon arrival: take a walk in the park, grab a coffee, and familiarize yourself with your temporary stomping grounds on Day One. Not only does this make the most of your time, it also combats jet lag and keeps your mind stimulated, allowing you to go to sleep at a regular hour.

Best way to start: go online and look at websites for your destination. Pick out a few low-key places you’d like to visit, and write down their addresses and entrance costs, if applicable. Keep this sheet with your other travel documents, and pull it out when you reach your destination.

How to deal with jetlag

by Gadling Staff on

Jetlag is a familiar problem for me. As a flight attendant for one of the nation’s largest airlines, it’s something I’ve had to get used to. I’ve crisscrossed the globe, jet-setting from one side of the world to the opposite side in a matter of days. Sometimes I feel like a time traveler. Especially when a flight from Tokyo to New York that departs at noon arrives twelve hours later at eleven in the morning the same day. Such equations are why jetlag puts us in a fog. But there are simple steps you can take to mitigate and alleviate the symptoms of jetlag.

First, it’s important to understand what jetlag is, and what its causes are.

Your body relies on cycles of darkness and light to know when you should sleep and when you should eat. This cycle becomes disrupted when you suddenly become displaced in a different time zone with light and dark cycles to which your body is not accustomed. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself craving dinner at breakfast time, and wide-awake when you normally would be fast asleep. This is jetlag.

Drinking lots of water while traveling will help you recover from jetlag faster. The humidity on an airplane can be as low as 10%. On long flights this can become a big problem.

Jet lag affects you differently depending on how many time zones you are crossing and in what direction you are traveling. Let’s say that Sally and Tommy are meeting in New York for business. Sally is in Los Angeles and Tommy is in London. Sally leaves LA at noon and arrives in New York at 9pm. Because it is only 6pm back on the west coast, Sally isn’t tired at all, and can’t get to sleep until 1am. She arrives at the meeting tired and restless because of her poor night’s sleep. Tommy leaves London at 5pm and arrives in New York at 8pm. By that time it’s already 1am in London, so he’s exhausted and goes to bed right away. Because he went to bed early by New York standards, he arrives at the meeting well rested and ready to take on the day.

This example is assuming that neither of them slept during the flight, which is the most effective way to prevent jet lag. I know this because I experience jetlag more when I’m working and have to stay up the whole time verses when I’m a passenger and can sleep at my leisure. If Sally had taken a nap on her flight, she would have already caught up on some of the hours of sleep she’s going to miss that night. For Tommy, he would have been able to stay up on his arrival in New York and maybe enjoy some of the sights before retiring at a reasonable hour.

Of course, we can’t all sleep on planes, especially in economy. If you aren’t able to sleep on the plane, there are things you can do to help reset your clock:

  1. When making travel plans, give yourself a day to recover before you jump into your business meeting or vacation.
  2. It’s ok to be off balance when you first arrive. If you’re not tired even though it’s dark, stay up (the bars in New York are open till 4am).
  3. If you are tired even if you get there in the middle of the day, go to sleep.
  4. Be sure that you are exposed to the natural light and dark cycle of your destination. This means that when you go to sleep, keep the curtains open. When on a layover I usually sleep with the curtains open, and I find that I wake with the sun, even if I didn’t get the same amount of sleep I normally do.
  5. The next day, go to sleep at a normal hour. It sounds like it might be difficult, but if you do what I say and make sure you keep the curtains open, you should be able to adjust to the new time zone easily. Also, make sure that you keep yourself busy during the day. If you’re on vacation, make plans to do some light sight seeing.

Jetlag doesn’t just cause disruption in your sleep cycle.

When you experience jetlag, you also experience hunger cravings at odd times. The simple solution to this is to snack. If you feel hungry in the middle of the night, eat something like a granola bar to hold you over until breakfast. I’ve had many nights in Narita where I was starving in the middle of the night when all the restaurants and grocery stores were closed. Most countries will allow you to bring in dry goods such as trail mix or dried fruits. Avoid bringing fresh fruits or dairy as these items could be confiscated.

Finally, drinking lots of water while traveling will help you to recover from jetlag faster. The humidity on an airplane can be as low as ten percent. On long flights this can become a really big problem. Most airlines serve a beverage at least every hour-and-a-half to two hours on long haul flights. You should supplement that by bringing your own water on board. I recommend at least thirty-two ounces. You can either buy a bottle inside the terminal or fill up your own bottle (Nalgene bottles work great) once you get past security. Avoid caffeinated drinks or alcohol, as these will dehydrate you.

Next time you travel you can be rest assured, or assured of rest, by following the simple guidelines I’ve covered. First and foremost, try to sleep on the plane. If you can’t make sure that you plan your trip so you have a day that you can rest. Keep yourself exposed to the natural light and dark cycles of your destination. Drink plenty of water, and make sure you bring some snacks along for the midnight hunger strike. It’s easy, and in no time you’ll go from jet lag, to no lag.

Travel to France for free on the Jet Lag Study

by Grant Martin on

If you’ve always wanted to go to France but have never had the money or means, your opportunity may have just come knocking. Clinilabs, a New York City-based team focused on the study of sleep disorders is sponsoring a study on jet lag, the feeling of lost sleep and incorrect body time when you cross into a different time zone. And to complete the study you have to spend time in both of their research facilities — one in New York and one in France.

They’ll pay you up to $2,500 for your work, including a few days in Midtown New York and a few days in France.

Right, you say, what’s the catch? Well, from what I’ve read of first hand accounts, here’s how things loosely go: you basically have to get to the City two or three times on your own for some initial tests and an overnight stay. After that, you come back to NYC, catch a private Gulfstream jet out to a facility near the French – Swiss border then hang out an in a lab staring at the bucolic countryside with electrodes attached to you for a few days. Two weeks after you get back, you get a check in the mail.

So will you be sitting in Paris cafés sipping Champagne, eating baguette and staring at the Eifel Tower? Nope. But will you get to fly in a private jet, see some of the French countryside and make twenty five hundred bucks? Yep. Heck, I would do it.

Rumor has it that they’re taking applications again in January. Check out the site here for more info.

10 tips for smarter flying


What strange things have been found on planes?


Talking travel with jetlag guru Ted Ray (plus anti-jetlag formula giveaway)

by Jerry Guo on

For anyone traveling this Fourth of July weekend, Ted Ray is the guy you’ll need when you touch down at that beach resort–with the worst headache in the world. He’s a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who’s a travel consultant to high-powered Silicon Valley execs, especially on how to get over jet lag. (He’s designed an all-natural concoction to help do the same, which has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Time Out, and Business 2.0).

Giveaway: Ted’s been nice enough to offer five free bottles of FlyRight to Gadling readers (including shipping). Each bottle is enough for a one-way international flight or roundtrip domestic flight, and valued at $24.95. Go to the bottom of the Q&A for contest details.

What’s the longest flight you’ve been on? How bad was the jetlag? Do you ever get it these days?

I flew to Adelaide, Australia which took around 18 hrs. I may still be jetlagged from that trip. Not sure as it was many years ago. Now, I don’t get jet lag because I actually take the advice I give my patients: I stock up on sleep in the days preceding, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and religiously take my Jet Lag Formula. There is no “magic bullet”, but if you do enough things right, you can arrive feeling pretty good.
What are the top 3 steps people should do to help prevent jetlag?

  • I like to plan international trips to arrive sometime before noon in my destination. I will do everything humanly possible to check into my hotel early or find a location where I can take a short nap (20-30 minutes) so I can function better and stay up until the local bedtime.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydrating substances like alcohol, soda, and coffee. For those lucky enough to fly in the front of plane, avoid big meals- they’re hard on your digestive system.
  • Take creature comforts- warm comfortable clothing, iPod, DVDs, an eye mask, ear plugs and a comfortable neck pillow (I use mine backwards to keep my head propped up. If you can afford it, get some noise-cancelling headphones. Then you might actually get some sleep on the plane.

Besides your FlyRight concoction, are there other herbal remedies out there that you would recommend, and why?

Umm, no. I’ve searched high and low for a jet lag remedy and have asked my patients who travel frequently what they use. I finally decided to make my own. Of course, there are many single herbs that work well to address various aspects of travel, like rhodiola to support the immune system and calm the mind¸ but jet lag really requires a comprehensive approach.

Explain how FlyRight works? Is this really just the placebo effect at work? What’s the science behind it?

It’s actually pretty straightforward. Look at the various aspects of airline travel and create an herbal formula that addresses each of them. As an example, we include ganoderma (Reishi mushroom) because it supports the immune system of improves energy. Avena (Wild Oats) offsets dehydration and promotes tranquility- ideal for the airplane environment. Ginkgo (Ginkgo leaf) has many well-documented effects including improving mental clarity and offsetting free radical damage to brain cells. Scientific evidence does not exist for all 12 herbs in the formula, but their use is well supported by the tradition of Chinese herbal medicine that I use in my practice

What are some myths about jetlag?

  • Pilots and flight attendants don’t get jet lag–Not true. Sleep researchers have found that constant travelers, including flight crew members, are more accustomed to jet lag’s weariness, but that doesn’t make them immune to it. According to a 1994 survey, more than 90% of New Zealand-based flight attendants suffered from jet lag, saying they felt some combination of fatigue, energy/motivation loss, and sleep problems.
  • Sleeping pills prevent jet lag–While sleeping pills may help you get some shut-eye during the flight they don’t prevent jet lag. And if you want to go the all natural route, check these off your list. Avoiding jet lag requires more than sleep; jet lag symptoms (fatigue, headaches, nausea, anxiety, etc.) have many different contributors-and it takes a multi-faceted approach to deal with them.
  • Jet lag is only caused by time zone travel–While your “body clock” can be disrupted from multi-time zone travel, many factors cause jet lag. From the pressurized, dry-air nature of airplane cabins the cabin environment to the amount of much coffee you drink, jet lag can occur regardless of how many time zones are crossed. Another major factor affecting jet lag is exposure to gamma radiation (from the sun) and electromagnetic radiation (from the plane itself). This radiation damage leads to mental fogginess, headaches, and general fatigue.

How about massages as a jetlag remedy?

Well, I think massages are always a good thing as they help calm the mind, improve circulation, and ease the stiffness caused by airplane travel. If you add acupressure to a massage, you can even help restore the digestive and immune systems more quickly.

I recently came across a study about jetlag, Viagra, and hamsters . What do you make of that?

Kudos to Pfizer. They’re employing a basic tenet of company growth: Sell more products to existing customers or find new markets for existing products. They seem to be doing the latter. But seriously, I think it would be reckless to start prescribing a medication guaranteed to have side effects for the mass traveling public.

Suppose if I’m flying from New York to Beijing. It’s a 12-hr time difference. Am I absolutely screwed?

Yes. I recommend you send me your ticket immediately! Actually, you should be fine. Take my advice above and allow for some unscheduled time to rest (if you need to) on the day you arrive.

For long flights, I usually book myself to get there in the morning, stay awake on the flight, continue staying up through the day once I land, and then I’m usually good. Do you have any advice on scheduling flights and sleep patterns for combating jetlag?

It’s hard to say as everybody is different. Your plan is a good one, but it won’t work for everyone. Some people can sleep on the flight as well and should. I would do my best not to arrive at night, as it’s important to get some light exposure to reset your body clock. Also, do your best to stay awake until the normal bedtime at your destination.

Contest details

  • To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us what you do to fight jetlag.
  • The comment must be left before Friday, July 11 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Five winners will receive a single bottle each of FlyRight, valued at $24.95.
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.
  • Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Anti Jetlag Diet — another way to prevent jet lag?

by Grant Martin on

People are always trying to figure out ways to get around jet lag, the discomfort felt after traveling several hours on an aircraft. With symptoms as varied as loss of appetite, nausea, headaches, fatigue, irritability and depression, I suppose they have a reason to study the phenomenon.

Jet lag affects everyone, which is part of the reason that it’s so difficult to diagnose and treat. Everyone seems to have their own way to combat it and a variety of holistic, word-of-mouth and downright ridiculous methods are out there to get you through your ordeal.

Take the Anti Jetlag Diet. Invented by Charles Ehret, a scientist at Argonne National Laboratories, just outside of Chicago, the diet claims to relieve the stress of jet lag by preparing your body for the new time zone that you’re about to be in. Travelers are recommended to eat in a feast and famine style for several days before departure, gorging oneself one day, then eating trim the next — all on a adapted schedule that should hopefully integrate with your destination time zone (once you get there).

The thought is that by preparing the body for food cycles properly prior to departure you’ll have more ease adapting to the new system.

But will it work? I dunno. I’ve always felt that jet lag cures were like weight loss pills: it’s more in the body and mind than some trick or medication. Lots of sleep, physical activity and a gallon of coffee per day work just fine for me.

I guess what scratches me the wrong way about antijetlagdiet.com is how much they stress their ties with Argonne Labs, who are not generally commercial entities (think Sandia or Los Alamos). It makes me think of all of those weight loss pills that were “developed by doctors” but not approved by the FDA.

But hey, I’m just a kid who writes articles. Someone give the anti jet lag diet a try and let me know how it goes — especially if it works well.