Travelling to and from Europe

Please note that BidOnTravel.com does not necessarily endorse all the tips Dallas gives here. You may wish to consult a physician before taking any medicine or natural remedy.

Travelling to and from Europe can be a joy or a pain depending upon the details of your journey. Delays, cancellations, an inability to sleep and numerous other factors can have a profound effect on your voyage and consequentially on your experience at your destination. Knowing a little bit about the dynamic of flying back and forth across “the pond” can go a long way in making your trip as enjoyable as possible.

Flight Times, Logistics & Costs of Travel

If you have never made the trip across the Atlantic before, you should know that depending upon where you are flying from and where you are going to, it can take anywhere from around 5 to 13 hours (that typically does not take into consideration layovers and other forms of lag time).

Flying from the west coast may take longer than from any other origin of departure in mainland USA, and that may take around 13-17 hours or even more. One way to cut this down might be to stop over in New York, or somewhere else on the east coast for a night or 2, which would give you a chance to explore those areas if you haven’t already.

If you’re based in the central region of the states like me you probably will need to put a little planning into getting to your nearest major airport (mine was Chicago). Living in a small town 5 hours from the nearest city with International flights, I found that it was more cost effective to take an Amtrak train to the city (around $36 one way), book a cheap hostel for the night, than paying for connecting flights from a more localized airport to Chicago. Generally, I find that one has the option of either paying for a more expensive, more direct flight to the destination, or else a more roundabout cheaper flight (a greater number of layovers in other airports). Booking in advance also usually allows for a better deal and provides you with the peace of mind that your trip is locked in place.

If you happen to be on the East Coast then you’ve got it good. The closer proximity to your European destination will simply make the overall journey shorter, and more affordable. JFK has regular flights to most European destinations.

It’s all in the Details

Once you’ve got your ticket situation all worked out you can put some attention on the finer details of your trip. Flying to Europe from the states means flying “against the sun” and generally seems to have more of an adverse effect on your body, create more jetlag upon arrival than the return trip. While I am not a medical expert I have had the chance to fly overseas to Europe on several occasions, and feel qualified to offer some general advice/opinions.

It may be obvious, but in my experience what makes the biggest difference in minimizing jet lag is to get as much sleep as possible during the big flight. For some people this may be difficult, in which case you might consider taking some sort of natural sleeping aid, such as a formula with valerian root. Those who really want to get some shuteye but feel that soft herbal remedies won’t be an effective solution might consider a small dose of melatonin. This helps you fall asleep and also is repudiated to help “reset” your biological clock. My mother, who is not much of a traveller, does this often and it seems to work well for her.

Other helpful tools which are usually available free of cost on the plane include a mask for your face and earplugs. Neck pillows can be found in airport shops and can increase the comfort of your trip significantly. However they will likely sell for much cheaper at your local retail store.

When flying back from Europe to the US you are flying “with the sun” and you will want to readjust to the setting of your previous “biological clock”. Therefore staying awake for most or all of the flight is usually not a problem as long as you get to bed early that first night of arrival. However, don’t be surprised if you wake up earlier than usual the next morning since your body may still be on “Europe time.”

The No Jet Lag formula

I have also taken “No Jetlag” homeopathic pills in an attempt to really ward off any effects of jetlag. These seem to have some effect in minimizing the effects, but it’s a bit hard to tell whether or not they really work because I always sleep and drink lots of water (the next most important technique) when I fly overseas. This comes at the cost of visiting the toilet more frequently, but I find it to be worthwhile.

The “No Jet Lag” pills certainly don’t seem to have any adverse side effects (key ingredients include arnica and chamomile among others) and only cost a few dollars, so it might be worth to try them out on your next flight.

Rick Steves, an author of travel guides in Europe has a good site with additional information and commentary on minimizing jet lag.

Sometimes when I can’t sleep I will lie with a mask over my eyes and try to just rest as much as possible. I find it works particularly well to try and sleep when the rest of the plane is. This is usually between the hours of around 10-11 (U.S. time assuming you’ve taken off at around 7 PM), up until around 2 hours before landing. During this period most of the lights in the cabin are turned off and everything is usually pretty silent.

During my most recent trip to Europe I travelled with Air France. This in contrast to my previous flight to Europe was remarkably peaceful, the former of which was with Air India. During the latter I endured a packed plane full of noisy people, babies crying, grandmothers talking, and generally a great deal more commotion, which kept me awake for much of the flight. I did however buy the round trip ticket for those flights for somewhere around $600! So there always seems to be a trade off.

Once you’ve crossed the greater portion of the Atlantic the lights in the cabin start to turn on and the stewardesses bring the food carts down the aisles and began offering you coffee, tea, juice and some breakfast. I always find this to be a special time, as you are (hopefully) newly refreshed after your night’s sleep and you know that you are nearing your destination. It’s a little bit like the magical feeling one has being a young child at Christmas when waking up to open presents….magical.

I usually hold off from drinking the coffee and tea on the plane, as I know that which awaits me on the streets of Europe is some of the best in the world. Plus there are many who say that drinking caffeine is one of the worst things you can do if you’re trying to minimize jet lag (ironically these are also the people who advocate drinking a bottle of wine on your first dinner). Ultimately the choice is yours and you know what your body wants and needs.

Don’t Sweat It

All too often I see people travelling to or from Europe who seem to be stressed about their voyage. This seems a bit contradictory to the purpose of crossing the Atlantic Ocean for a VACATION in one of the most culturally rich regions on the planet. While this ultimate destination is likely what has driven you to make the journey, don’t forget that the travel time is part of your vacation too, and you owe it to yourself to kick back, relax, and enjoy every minute of it.  Airport massage parlors, bookstores, and even cafes are becoming more and more prominent nowadays and can help to add little pleasurable details to your trip. Try and make sure your have the funds to be able to spend more freely when travelling to Europe…it can make all the difference in the world!