How DO you manage to sleep on planes

[Mrs Dazzle]

One of the main drawbacks of flying back - from anywhere - is that I cannot sleep. No matter how tired I am, I still cannot sleep and I get so fed up with it By the time we've landed in London I'm like the walking dead with those wide, vacant staring eyes (not much change there, then). And boy do I get nasty when I'm really tired.

Even in PE with a bit more room it makes no difference

I don't really know what the problem is . . . I put the eye mask on, ear plugs in - all to no avail. I've even got one of those neck cushion thingies. OK, so I've got a big bum , but in PE that's offset by the larger chairs . . . still doesn't make any difference. I'm not a nervous flyer, just can't figure it out.

The one thing I won't do is take any sort of medication/drug.

Have any of you struggled, but now found a wonderful way of being able to sleep on a plane?

 

[FEEBEE]

Hi

i really struggle with this too, I have tried having a couple of early nights at the end of the hol to try and get back into UK pattern as we usually go for three weeks so I am well and truly embedded in US time, although i have never been succesful yet is getting more than a couple of half hour naps, and to be honest I tend to feel worse wking up with a bad neck and kids and husb leaning on me!
I had a Baileys about 4 hours in last time which relaxed me some!but like yourself dare not touch medication.

What do you do on return, try and keep going till evening or give in to a nap through the day? decisions.......decisions!

Oh well its all worth it! I see you like Marco too, did you do the Snook?!?

Good luck on finding some answers, I will be viewing with interest!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Feebee - we loved Marco so much last year we're back there for 10 nights this October

See you're staying at the Hilton - that's where we've been/going. Have you been before - if not I can tell you all about it, if you have you'll know

What's the Snook? I'm intrigued now. Something to do for later this year maybe?

Actually, what's even more strange are 2 other hotels you've been to - we've also been to both The Grosvenor and The Radisson on Sand Key . . . It's a Small World afterall (arrrrrggggghhhh, anything but that tune ).

Annie

 

[vernon]

I've given up trying long ago. Occasionally I'll grab half an hour or so, but full/deep sleeping just never happens. I never used to even manage the nap so I think that maybe thinking how much YOU WANT to sleep actually acts as a hinderence to being able to doze off.
My ex used to get plenty of sleep by getting completely mangled on the free wine/beer/alcohol ( but then she never needed much excuse to do that on the ground ROFLMAO )

 

[LINCLAIRE]

Hi Annie.
If you are finding it hard to sleep, you are welcome to borrow my son who talks non-stop for the entire flight!!!
He usually sends me to sleep anyway!!
He will tell you all about Beyblades, Star Wars and Power Rangers.
Bless his little cotton socks, He's only 7.
Lin xxxxxx

 

[julieannbabe]

whoever has the answer to this million dollar question - please let me know.

if i could PE or business class i would gladly pay in order for a bit of rest and comfort.

for me it is the lack of space mainly and the air pressure makes me feel terrible.

i always feel a bit crappy going on holiday but that is okay.

just that rat b******d return flight home is yuck.

 

[FEEBEE]

Hello Again,

sorry I havnt put dates against my sig, but we did Marco in May, and isnt the Hilton lovely. forgive me if I'm telling you something you know, but quick tip, I phoned them before hol and said that I had never been to the states before and that it was a special occasion (pinnochio!!) and asked about room upgrades, I then said "Oh thats a shame its a bit out of my price range" the girl refered to her manager and upgraded my room for FREE!! we were in room 910 which is basically prime spot up at the top on the end over the beach. I may have just been lucky but I will always try this in the future, it is worth noting that the hotel was very quiet though.

Aha the Snook!! heading from the hotel out of Marco when you come accross Bald Eagle Drive (I think!) turn left I think there was a Walgreaves on the corner. go for a couple of miles till you come basically to a dead end go into the car park and veer to the right , it looks like you are going the wrong way but you will see the Bar at the bottom.

we stumbled accross this by accident, and I think it is a real find, the locals eat and drink here (the younger ones not the retired's) It is very informal, great live music, you sit at the side of the water with local fisherman pulling up on there Boats and having a pint or 3! there is nothing posh about it, but the food is lovely all of the local fish and great salad bar and home baked bread. you will either love it or hate it, but try it, its different. Ask the concierge for directions to check mine!

BackWater Nicks on the Isle of Capri was also good. the Oyster Soup is a must!!

hope this helps! Enjoy1
When you cant sleep on the way home at least you will have some good memories!!

 

[peewakio]

Why not try to stay out as long as you can the night before then get back to your hotel/villa and chill out with a bottle of Jim Beam.
Then get up as early as you can and have a huge Breakfast followed by a couple more JBs then have a nice lunch followed by the obligatory couple more JBs, then it's off to the airport, straight through customs and into the bar for a few more JBs.
You will be so sloshed that they wont let you on the plane, so it's back to the hotel for a good nights kip. Problem solved.

Seriously though, I am also terrible when it comes to the return journey. I have always found the films to be rubbish on the way home also.

 

[Muppet]

I've never had a problem sleeping on the plane. I don't use medication or alcohol. Once I'm asleep then I stay asleep and Nic wakes me up about 30 minutes before we land.

I'm the one who drives in the UK to and from the airport so sleep is very much needed.

 

[steve_rob]

Sorry to have to do this to you, but I don't think there's an answer. You're just one of the people (like me) that will never be able to sleep on a flight. I've tried for years without success, and even on four cross-Pacific flights of 14 hours+ have never managed more than half an hour, and on two of them not even that despite the fact that I'd been awake for 18 hours even BEFORE I'd got on the flight.

And believe me, I've tried everything (except alcohol, but then that would be difficult as I don't drink!). Nytol? I might as well have been taking Smarties for all the effect they had! And it's not the seats either - yes, it is difficult to get comfortable in economy for someone over 6 foot, but I didn't fare any better in Business Class or Premium Economy.

I put it down to the constant drone of the engines and level of background noise that stops me. After all, I can't sleep at home if there's a fan on in the room on anything other than the lowest setting (so it's been tough this summer!)

It just means I have to pack my Discman, a load of CD's, my Gameboy Advance and at least three books in my hand luggage to help while away the hours...

 

[julieannbabe]

steve_rob i am with you all the way - i can't sleep either.

i sit there with my eyes closed and they even dim the lights and i still can't sleep.

then my eyes sting real bad when we land as i have (and i suspect most people) have been up for 24 hours.

i have my music too to chill but after a while i get very irratible and ratty...

to all them people that st there asleep - are they really asleep or just pretending like me? always amazes me that one.

but at least it is coming home than rather than going on holiday - imagine how the poor Americans must feel.

 

[stevefry]

I've never managed to nod off on any flight. - Not even when we were delayed at the Airport by seventeen hours!
I'm always too uncomfortable. We usually get the extra-legroom seats, but it makes little or no difference. The cabin-pressure results in me feeling 'bloated' and I just can't get comfortable.
On our '98 journey, by the time we got to Orlando, we'd both been awake for around thirty hours! - We got to the villa and simply crashed out on the bed for the rest of the day
Steve.

 

[DisneyAli]

The one and only time i slept solid for nearly 4 hours was on our last trip home last november when we got upgraded to firstclass. Boy do those seats recline, what lovely pillows and blankets and so quiet................oh to win the lottery, but on other trips it has just been a doze here and there. DH can drop of anywhere, he works in the engine room of a ship so noise is nothing to him.

 

[WDWfan uk]

..... I'm just the same! I CANNOT sleep! I take Dramamine to avoid nausea and most people say these put them to sleep but they don't do that for me, but I do find they at least put me in a more zombie like state for the flight so I don't get restless, LOL!!

....... by the way, don't you love it when you see your family nod off, and you can see from their open mouths and bent neck that they are sound asleep, but they assure you at the end of the flight that they haven't slept a wink either

 

[Bug Juice II]

Has anyone tried lavender oil's ?

They are meant to aid sleep. There is a good range in Bath and Body Works in Pointe Orlando. About $5 each.

C

 

[Astrid]

Oh the joy of seeing that other folk have trouble sleeping too, I was under the impression every on aeroplanes could drop off at the drop of a hat apart from me!!

I bought Melatonin in one of the US Stores last year and take that and have to admit that I did manage to get some shut eye when I flew home in June but whether that was because of the Melatonin or the fact I was in TCD Sunshine First and was virtually fully reclined I will never know!

If anyone figures out the perfect way to sleep on planes please let me know!!

Astrid

 

[davrov]

My wife takes some nighall and a glass of red wine...seemso do wonders for her!

 

[Goofyish]

I can't sleep on planes either - especially on the return flight.

Although this trip I did manage to get to sleep - only to be woken up after 10 minutes by the nice man in the seat in front as he reclined his seat crushing my knees!

I couldn't get back to sleep after that (nor could the chap in the seat in front either - especially as I kept 'accidentally' knocking his seat every few minutes)

 

[UKDEB]

Another sufferer here, Annie

I also have trouble sleeping at home and I did buy some Melatonin in the US a few trips back. As a last resort (i.e. when I just <i>know</i> that I'm unlikely to sleep at all) I take one and I'm usually asleep in about 30 minutes. I find that it's not particularly restful sleep, though, which is why I only take one as a last resort, plus the fact that I'm not entirely sure what they're doing to me. I know they're sold as a food supplement in the US and I think Melatonin is a substance created naturally in your body when it gets dark to help you sleep. I bought both 3mg and 1mg versions, but only the 3mg dose has any effect.

I've never plucked up the courage to take one on the plane. I take Diazepam to help with my fear of flying and I just wonder whether the Melatonin as well would be one muscle relaxant too many! I'd be like that Senator Whathisname in the X-Men!