Last month I asked, can you solve jet lag? Here are all the replies I got from Mobal Member's about cures for jet lag:

Cure 1.

Tom Murphy sent me this interesting story about jet lag cures involving hampsters and viagra:

http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9217789&fsrc=RSS

Cure 2.

Travelling back to back from far east to middle east and Latin America I try to assume the time zone I am going to immediately upon getting on plane, even if it means sleeping at noon because it is 10pm at my destination

Also, plently of liquids on plane and an established exercise program

Bill

Cure 3.

To help with jet lag ---

Eat at the times of day you will be eating in your new destination a few days before travel. Your stomach will be acclimated and this is a component of jet lag – not just the sleep issue. The US military, I understand tells their troops to do this.

Thanks, Wes McDonald

Cure 4.

Hi,

The only thing that works consistently for me is to put myself on the time zone of my destination as soon as I get on the airplane. This involves changing my watch and, if it is bedtime, going to sleep. This last part is tricky and often requires that I take a light dose of Ambien (5 mg) to pull it off. I'm a bit of a health nut; so, avoiding jet lag is the only time that I take a pill -- and it is very worth it. I also try to schedule my flights so that I am traveling during my destination's sleep hours as it is easier to begin by sleeping during their sleep hours than it is to begin by trying to stay awake during my sleep hours!

Take Care,
Rosemarie

Cure 5.

What has worked for me is staying awake. If you can sleep during the
destination's night, then things aren't so bad. The brochure they gave me
on the plane said to avoid alcohol. I took a different approach. I drank
everyting that was free, spent a lot of time on my feet so that I wouldn't
pass out, and got to my destination ready for the morgue. So even though it
was morning in New York, I slept like the dead in Hong Kong's night.

Cure 6.

Hi, Michael!

It took me a few trips to figure it out, but I think I have the solution to the jet lag problem.

First of all, as with any long flight, no alcohol or caffeine. Period. And be sure to hydrate, drinking at least a liter of water before you board.

If you're flying eastbound, sleep. My usual modus operandi is to drink my water, get on, settle in, eat dinner, and then go to sleep. When I wake up, my body thinks it's a new day and I'm off the plane and running. True, you get a little fuzzy toward afternoon, but the key is NOT TO SLEEP ONCE YOU GET THERE. Go to bed right after dinner the first day, and you're completely acclimated.

If I'm flying westbound, I stay awake. Whatever it takes. Caffeine is okay on this flight. I'm a little dingy when I get to where I'm going, but if I go to bed at what would be a normal time in that time zone, again, I'm right as rain the next day.

It works for me!

Michael P. Martin
Attorney and Counselor at Law

Cure 7.

Make sure you have an ambien prescription filled prior to travel. Drink water on the flight, keep alcohol consumption to a minimum, or, preferably, no alcohol at all. The same night you arrive do not consume alcohol. Take ambien. Wake refreshed. I also live in Alaska and travel intercontinental and cross country quite regularly. This works for me. Hope it works for you.
A Joshi

Cure 8.

I don't know if this would work for Debra because she is traveling West, but going W>E (USA>Europe) it's always worked for me.
I try and get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to my flight. Since the flight is always a night-flight, I take a sleep aid (Melatonin or Ambien, etc) and sleep flying across the big pond. I wake up refreshed and ready to go. After landing and getting to my accomodations, I force myself to stay up until at least 2200 hours. Next day I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to hit the street!
It worked for me for 20 years in the military and continues to work today! I just went to Prague and the day after I arrived we were cruising the streets with no fatigue!
Good luck to all who follow this tip!!
Mike Kaminski - North Carolina

Cure 9.

I take an Ambian, a prescription medication, as soon as I am settled in my seat and I go right off sleeping through meals, movies, etc. I wake up about six or seven hours later in the right time zone and without any drowsiness. Caution, try it at home first so you know how you will react.
marolson@citlink.net


This month's question...

Do you think it's safe to carry your travel documents?

I've had quite a few travel tips suggesting about making copies of your travel documents and keeping copies in all your luggage so you're never caught without them...

but...

I've also had people suggest that this is unsafe as there's more chance that they could fall into the wrong hands.

Email me your replies...

How do you carry your travel documents and why? (and do you know any horror stories?) email it to me at michael@mobalphone.com and I'll publish it next month

Here's A Lesson In European Logic (And Why You Always Need To Be Prepared)

If you've ever been to southern Europe, you'll know that it's a charming but often chaotic mix of bueacracy and inefficancy. Things just often don't make sense.

Well, Mobal Member Bill McGough found this out first hand on his trip to Italy when following the rules doesn't always work...

"Michael -

I was in Rome last fall with a friend and we had an 8:00 am flight and we were told to be at the airport 3 hours early. Naturally the train to the airport did not run until 6:00 am and we couldn't get bus service that early in the morning.

We finally found a private taxi driver who would pick us up at 4:30 am. Well, the hotel we were staying in did not have a night manager, and we didn't have an alarm clock, so we were worried about not waking up on time.

We called my wife back in the states and had her give us a wake-up call on my Mobal World Phone.

It worked perfectly.

She was seven hours behind us and a 9:00 pm call was not an inconvenience for her. Luckily, the taxi driver showed up with his wife and took us to the airport.

Wouldn't you know it; the terminal didn't open the doors until 6:00 am.

Bill McGough"

1. Ever Wanted To Follow Your Dreams And Live Abroad?

It's a damn big world out there, full of adventure and opportunity. So many of us dream about moving abroad and seeing what the world has to offer, but so little of us do it. This website gives you all the information you need about making that move abroad. Whether you're a dreamer or a doer -- find out about your dream-living location at http://www.internationalliving.com/

2. Sorry Chaps, This Travel Website Is For The Ladies!

I hope you can answer this question quickly... Are you a lady? If so then this is the travel website for you -- written for women by women. (And chaps, you may want to check out this website and gain a bit of insight into what's important to the lady in your life when it comes to travel, and earn some points on your next vacation!)

Ladies, check out your kindred spirit at http://www.journeywoman.com/

3. Is This The Most Incredible Restuarant In The World?

I won't spoil the suprise, but this looks like one very cool restuarant, and I for one would like to eat there (now I just have to book a flight to the Maldives).

If you want to see this incredible restuarant for yourself, check out http://www.been-seen.com/article.cfm?id=10231

4. The worlds 10 most dangerous holiday destinations of 2007

Now, I thought I'd been in some dangerous situations -- Israel when the president was assasinated and Equador when they called a State of Emergency, but these have nothing on the places on this list! If you though the world was getting a crazier place, here's some more fuel to feed your paranoia...

Check the world's 10 most dangerous holiday destinations of 2007 here: http://www.nmg-uk.com/blog/holidays/10-most-dangerous-holiday-destinations.html

Mobal Members Chuck and Mimi Zentgraf sent me these cruising tips:

1. Why you should always book excursions through your cruise company

We always try to book any excursions on line as soon as possible. These can sell out quickly and we want to be sure to get those we really want.
We also count on the cruise line sponsored excursions. This is for a couple reasons. The main one is that, IF something were to happen, such as a bus breaking down, which would cause us to be late returning to the ship, the cruise line is responsible for getting us back onboard, or even hold the ship. If we book ourselves on land and something were to happen, we would have to get ourselves to the next port to re-board the ship. This usually entails far more than renting a car and driving, and in some cases (Alaska is one and when traveling overseas, the ship travels to a different country) this is not even possible. A second reason is, the cost is frequently less than getting a trip while on land, but not always. But, those trips assure us we get what the description tells us.

2. How to cope with illness on a cruise

Because of the recent outbreaks of various intestinal and stomach viruses on ships, it is no longer possible to purchase even simple Pepto Bismol in the ship's store. This would now cause notification to the ship's doctor who may then quarantine the passengers involved for up to 48 hours to be sure they are free of any virus. And it may be nothing more than a simple case of indigestion. SO, please take any and all medications you think you could possibly need in foreign countries.

3. The hygienic item you should never forget to take on a cruise

Some cruise lines have hand washers at each dining facility entrance, but some do not, so we always carry a small purse size bottle of Purell or the individually wrapped wipes. These we use not only before eating, but EVERY place on and off the ship and quite often.

4. The quickest way to address your post cards

We have another travel tip which anyone can use.
I always print address labels for those to whom I want to send cards. So much easier to pack one flat sheet of paper then books or lists and then just stick on cards when purchased. Print more than one copy of each name if needed.

Mobal Member Bruce Stenman sent me these tips:

5. The best way to dry your hair when traveling

buy a cheap hair dryer that is already for 240 volts. The power converters are larger and more costly for high wattage appliances and a hair dryer is the only high wattage appliance one carries. Some sold through marine suppliers can be used with a cigarette lighter socket in cars.

6. The most efficient way to charge items when traveling

Instead of multiple voltage converters I take a 2 foot long extension cord with three standard USA outlets and one adapter for the country's electrical outlets I am visiting. Often there is only one outlet available and the cord turns it into three outlets. Often the outlet is difficult to access or attach both a socket adapter and a power converter and the appliance. Much easier with a short extension cord where they can all lay flat on a shelf or the floor.

7. How to make any meal a bit more tasty

In many European countries the food can be rather bland so I take small plastic containers with spices from home (Tabasco, red pepper, etc.) which I can add to the food.

8. A clever way to increase your amount of carry on luggage

If I am concerned about a particular airlines carry-on luggage restrictions I wear a photographer's vest and stuff all the pockets with gear. I have an empty bag stuffed into the carry-on bag and transfer the items later. The vest can easily be stuffed as is into the overhead bin a lot more readily than a carry case. And satchel or shoulder bags than can be swung around on my back help make my profile seem less of a concern as I only have a single bag visible from the front while passing through the boarding gate. Several small bags are easier to carry, easier to stow in the hotel room or in a small rental car's trunk or boot, and to transport (with bungee cords to attach them to a wheeled case) than using a single large suitcase.