Jet Lag

[tlynk]

Hello, my DH and I will be traveling to Europe in 2017 to go on a Disney cruise and I was wondering about jet lag? We are traveling from the West Coast of US (overnight flight- US time) to Barcelona and due to arrive late afternoon (Barcelona time) 2 days prior to cruise. We will only have one full day to tour Barcelona and I'm considering using a well known tour company. I'm worried we will be super tired, so I wanted to get feedback from fellow disers that have flown overseas. Do you think we should book a whole or half day tour? What was your experience or tips?

 

[TACK]

I find that the sooner I adjust to the time zone, and get into a regular sleep schedule, the better. I normally stay up no matter how long it takes until my regular bedtime.

Since you are arriving afternoon, it may be easier to fall into your regular sleep pattern. I know everyone is different, my daughter can sleep at anytime, anywhere and in any position, whereas I have trouble falling asleep. I have to say that my best sleep was in Barcelona before my cruise but that could be because the room was the size of a closet (I was in the very tiny bed) and dark so it was cave like.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello, my DH and I will be traveling to Europe in 2017 to go on a Disney cruise and I was wondering about jet lag? We are traveling from the West Coast of US (overnight flight- US time) to Barcelona and due to arrive late afternoon (Barcelona time) 2 days prior to cruise. We will only have one full day to tour Barcelona and I'm considering using a well known tour company. I'm worried we will be super tired, so I wanted to get feedback from fellow disers that have flown overseas. Do you think we should book a whole or half day tour? What was your experience or tips?

I usually adjust fairly well to time changes, but on our Med cruise (flew from LA to Barcelona), the first day onboard the ship (a sea day, thankfully), I pretty much slept that day away.

 

[Gilland18]

We got to our hotel late morning two days before our cruise. We pushed thru that day with a short nap in the afternoon. We went all day our full day there. Up for breakfast at 8, Parc Guell by 9:30, Sagria Familia, Picasso Museum. We walked all of this with taxis at the beginning and the end. I plan to do something similar next year.

 

[MelInAZ]

I just flew from LAX to London Heathrow, we arrived around 3pm local time. My husband and I stayed up once we got there - dropped our bags at the hotel and went out to dinner then hit the Tube and visited a few tourist sites then went to bed at a normal time - about 11pm local time. We ignored what time it was back home and just used the local time to guide us and after that first night we were both good to go for the rest of our vacation!

 

[GPaLarry]

We did the last Med cruise of this year on the Magic before we b2b the Transatlantic. Living in Oregon, we had the same time challenge flying to Barcelona. Being in our 70's, we valued our sleep. However, we wanted to make every minute of our trip/cruises counted. DCL arranged the flights and hotel (Renaissance, which was centrally located). Got to the hotel by late morning, checked in with hotel and Disney desks. We walked past Gaudi's Casa Battlo, on to and through his La Pedrera (not enough time to go through both) and on to our 3 pm reservations at Sagrada Familia. No afternoon nap for us. We felt we could get sleep on the Magic later. The next day the hotel staff helped us book 1 pm tickets for Park Guell (much needed) prior to our 3-hour walking tour of Old Town and Picasso Museum scheduled for 3pm. We went to the park early because the bulk of it is free...only the heavy Gaudi influenced part needs a ticket. We took the bus to the park, finished there, I got pickpocketed in a shop across from the entrance (nothing serious, but they are good and everywhere), then we took a cab to Catalunya Plaza for our Old Town tour. We had booked this tour and the Familia one from home a month earlier. The next day we boarded the ship. Between cruises, back in Barcelona, we took the shuttle bus to the harbor and hiked most of La Rambla, and saw Palau Gull (too early to be open) before getting on the Magic again for cruise to NYC.

 

[bumbershoot]

No matter what ds and I do we hit a wall 3 days into a trip with jet lag. Get onto the timezone, go gently into the new time; doesn't matter.

Going east like that is better but sleeping on the flight is key. And I have a hard time sleeping on planes.

Going back home, though, is worse for many in terms of jet lag. DH could get onto an eastbound time in one day but he was messed up for 5 days coming home.

 

[MelInAZ]

No matter what ds and I do we hit a wall 3 days into a trip with jet lag. Get onto the timezone, go gently into the new time; doesn't matter.

Going east like that is better but sleeping on the flight is key. And I have a hard time sleeping on planes.

Going back home, though, is worse for many in terms of jet lag. DH could get onto an eastbound time in one day but he was messed up for 5 days coming home.

We got home Sunday and Thursday night/Friday morning was the first night I slept through like normal.

 

[Flossbolna]

I would suggest to go with the full day. I find that the more active I am in a new time zone, the easier it is to asjust to it. Being out and doing things you forget that your body thinks it is time to sleep. However, slowing down and sitting around (especially in my office chair after the trip...) I feel like I can't move at all.

The key is to try to sleep as much as possible on the plane coming over and then to try to live according to the new time zone as much as possible.

 

[Dug720]

Add me to the "no sleep til bedtime once landed" club.

IF I can get into my room when I get to the hotel I will take a shower to get "travel grime" off, but then it is into clothes and off to stay busy until at least 8 or 9pm.

 

[cheermom2four]

We are also flying over to do a Med cruise but we will have our dd5 (will be 6 then). We arrive 2 days before and land at the airport around 9:30am. She usually can sleep on planes and I" hoping she will this time as we plan on going going going till our room is ready and we will take a very small nap about 3pm local time for no more than an hour to help adjust. counting on melatonin to help

 

[ludari]

I have done two WBTA cruises and I've flown from the West Coast (LAX) to Barcelona. For me jet lag is not an issue as long as I sleep on the plane and the two times I've flown to Barcelona I was ready to explore the city once I dropped off my luggage at the hotel. I would recommend that you book your half day tour and if you still have the energy you can explore the city on your own because there is plenty to see and do by walking around. I would recommend that La Sagrada Familia should be on your must see list of places to visit. I would also suggest the Barcelona City Bike Tour (Fat Tire) which was really fun, informative and so much more enjoyable than the city bus tour. I hope this helps.

 

[starvenger]

I don't really have anything to add about jet lag. Sleep a bit on the plane, try to sleep at a normal time the day you arrive (since it will be early evening by the time you check in) and be active the next day.

If you go to La Sagrada Familia make sure your tour guide can get tickets as they do sell out. Other places you can visit are Park Guell (you will need to buy tickets in advance if you want to look in the Monumental Zone) and Montujic Castle. As pp said, you can walk around pretty easy, but alternatively the metro is quite efficient so you can consider that option.

Mercat de la Bouqeria is a fun experience. Some of the stuff can be overpriced (especially at the stalls near the entrance) but the seafood area is very cool and there are some bar/grill areas where you can eat, drink and people watch.

Finally, beer is quite cheap in Barcelona. If you are planning on bringing some aboard, ask the hotel front desk where the nearest supermarket is.

 

[ldo]

5+ trips with kids all ages. The 1st day is brutal--either take a nap for only 2 hours and then go to bed normal time or stay up and then go to bed about 9pm. We have always gotten a good, hard sleep and then pretty much adjusted to the time the next day. I highly recommend Fat Tire bikes tours, if you want an active 1/2 day option. Excellent and fun way to see the city. I would recommend for kids 13+, under that, it's a bit unnerving cycling thru the city.

 

[pjacobi]

Conquering Jet Lag

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/health/jet-lag

 

[tlynk]

We took the bus to the park, finished there, I got pickpocketed in a shop across from the entrance (nothing serious, but they are good and everywhere), then we took a cab to Catalunya Plaza for our Old Town tour.

I'm sorry to hear you got pickpocketed! What did they take? This is one of my fears?

 

[tlynk]

Thank you for the great suggestions and tips! I think I might do a half day tour and play the afternoon by ear. l look forward to this trip!

 

[starvenger]

I'm sorry to hear you got pickpocketed! What did they take? This is one of my fears?

The problem is that they are quite good. Take the usual precautions against it, and try not to carry anything too valuable.

 

[jrabbit]

per Rick Steves: Sunlight beats Jet Lag - so get outside after the long flights. Get Moving, Breathing Outside air. Stay awake until "bed time" local time (this could be earlier than normal the first night).

per Rick Steve: Pickpocket prevention: Be aware of your surroundings, don't be stupid, have a money belt with your "bank" and a wallet with the money you need for the next couple of hours (and be prepared to have it taken).

My experiences:
Jet Lag: From the west coast we typically leave in the early afternoon and arrive in London or Barcelona around noon the next day. Try to sleep a little (well try to sleep a lot, but..) on the plane. We usually can make it to 9 or 10pm local time, then off to bed and we are good to go. We have had several trips and have spent about 2 months total in Europe. Our kids were 14+ and they adapted easily. One tip is about caffeine, try to not have any for 48 hours prior to your flight - Even the sneaky caffeine: in tea or chocolate etc. None on the flight. Then you can partake once you've reached your destination. Oh yea, try to stay hydrated with WATER on your flight.

Pickpockets: Like others have said the pickpockets are VERY GOOD!! You can do everything right and still be a victim.
Moneybelts: Please note: put on your underwear, put on your money belt, put on your pants (skirt, shorts, etc). I have both seen and heard of people wearing their moneybelts on the outside of their clothes!! confused3: That does not protect your money. Also, don't pull it out in public so everyone can see you have one.
Distractions: Where people are distracted, pickpockets are there working. "Fights" breaking out is a typical distraction. in Barcelona, La Ramblas IS a huge distraction, kids wanting you to sign a petition is a distraction. Crowded public transportation - where there's no personal space are prime pickpocket locations. Some buses in Rome have more pickpockets than potential victims. And my pet peeve - there are signs warning tourists about pickpockets and I see people walking past these, read the notice then point everyone in the vicinity to exactly where they are carrying their money. And Yes I am guilty of this as well.

 

[starvenger]

Money belts worn on the outside used to be called fanny packs...