How bad is the jet lag when flying to the west coast?

[oceanscape]

We are flying to Las Vegas this summer (and home from Los Angeles) and I was just wondering if anyone could share how badly the jet lag affected them?

Thanks!

 

[wickesy]

We have been to the West coast twice and I didn't find it any different to the East coast.

Generally I change my watch to the destination local time as soon as I get on the plane and from then on start thinking in 'local' time. When we get to the other end I stay up until the normal time I would go to bed and although I still wake up very early in the morning I don't feel tired at all and generally get back to a normal wake-up time after a day or so.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

As someone who has no problem at all with Florida, each time I go to the West Coast it is a nightmare!!

It seems to take me forever to get used to it - I struggle for about 4 or 5 evenings when I arrive - falling asleep at the dinner table one night!! And even though I don't allow myself to go to bed before 9pm, I'm still up at about 3am!!!

On the plus side though, it didn't seem to effect me so much coming home - As long as I get straight back to my usual routine (even if I have a few free days at the end of the trip - I try to still get up early), then things normally get back to normal quite quickly.


But its all worth it - the West Coast is fantastic and Vegas is amazing - where are you staying???

I hope that helps a bit!!

 

[AlanUK]

I've only ever done it once on a business trip to Vancouver.

I never really feel the effects of Jet Lag going East to West so when I got there, although it had been a long day and I was tired, after my first nights sleep I was fine. I didn't feel that this was any different to my experience of flying to Florida.

On the way back I would say I was a little more tired upon landing than I usually am but I did have the advantage of travelling by train rather than by car and basically slept the whole way back from London which made things a lot easier

 

[CustardTart]

Found it fine - no problem going out and longer flight so more time to sleep on the way back.

 

[Joanne UK]

I didn't find it a problem once I got to LA but once I got home I had real difficulties. I was actually so tired on the first night back that I went a bit delirious. I can't sleep at all on planes though so coming home is always generally worse for me, but I did find it worse than coming back from Florida.

 

[Minniespal]

I found it ok on the way out ~ The return flight I was so tired.

 

[Claire L]

When we went to SF in 2003 we made a mistake and took a 'nap' after arriving at the hotel and slept through to 3am and then went back to sleep til morning but wow were we hungry! Last year we made ourselves go and eat in the hotel restaurant and stayed awake til about 9pm. It was much better last year after staying up a bit longer and eatting even though we didn't eat a great deal.

Claire

 

[oceanscape]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. It seems like it varies greatly from person to person. We'll just make sure we try to stick to local timings as soon as we board the plane.

But its all worth it - the West Coast is fantastic and Vegas is amazing - where are you staying???

We're staying at The Signature at MGM Grand in Vegas, then going to Loews Coronado at San Diego and finishing up at the Disneyland Hotel in LA. We're sooo excited!

 

[Claire L]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. It seems like it varies greatly from person to person. We'll just make sure we try to stick to local timings as soon as we board the plane.


We're staying at The Signature at MGM Grand in Vegas, then going to Loews Coronado at San Diego and finishing up at the Disneyland Hotel in LA. We're sooo excited!

Oh sounds great Coronado is one place I'd like to stay

Claire

 

[CustardTart]

then going to Loews Coronado at San Diego...

Ooh that's on my shortlist for summer 2008! Let us know what it's like!