Bad Jet Lag Advice



I get very jet lagged when I fly Eastbound. When I lived in Spokane, WA I used to joke that I got jet lagged just driving to Montana (90 miles to the East). I have unsucessfully tried many of the recommended ways to avoid jet lag, but haven't found one that really works for me. On a recent trip to Dubai, I ignored most of the advice I have heard and it really worked out well for me.

I flew overnight from SeaTac to Amsterdam and arrived there early in the morning. I was meeting up with the rest of my group there and we had booked some day-rooms at the Park Plaza hotel near the airport. It would be about three hours before the rest of the group arrived and another 10 hours after that before our flight to Dubai would depart, so I decided to sleep the day away. I typically do not sleep on airplane flights, so I was ready for some shuteye. The hotel was comfortable and very quiet. It had room-darkening shades so the daylight didn't illuminate the room. Most of the jet lag advice would have me staying awake during the day to help my body clock adjust to the new time zone, but my desire for slumber was overwhelming.



Park Plaza Hotel Room

I slept for a few hours then met up with the group for lunch. Afterward, I was contemplating taking a walk and exploring the area around the hotel, but the lure of the comfortable, quiet room was too much and I bedded down for another 5 hours.

We had another overnight flight to Dubai and, of course, I was jet lagged. I recovered in a couple of days like I normally do. I don't remember how bad I felt while for those first few days in Dubai, but I do remember that nice day of sleep I got in Amsterdam!