A previous post on Tripso by Chris Elliott talked about sleeping on planes. Here are some tips to survive if you can’t, since even the best-laid plans can fall victim to a loud seatmate, crying baby, bumpy flight, etc.
All red-eyes are not created equal. Especially connections. If there’s a choice, it’s a lot easier to fly overnight for the long leg, and take a short flight at the beginning or end. Connecting in the midwest for a cross-country flight, or on the east coast if you are flying to Europe from the west coast, splits the trip into two shorter segments. Thus passengers who do manage to fall asleep won’t get as much sleep.
When you arrive at your destination try to check in early at the hotel. (Although few issues get more complaints from my clients than hotels who won’t let them check into a room as soon as they arrive.) Actually, if most hotels have an empty room, they are happy to accommodate guests. But that’s IF they have an empty room.
As with most things, advance notice helps. Being a member of the hotel’s frequent stay program doesn’t hurt either. And if sleep is the number one concern, make that clear. Tell the hotel if a room on any floor, with one king bed or two double beds, even, gasp – smoking or nonsmoking, is acceptable, if it means getting into that room earlier. For example, I recently had a problem myself where a hotel tried to be nice by giving me a upgraded room, but didn’t have it available until 5p in the afternoon; a lesser room at 2pm would have been preferable.
If it’s a necessity, however, the only way to guarantee a room being ready in the morning is to pay for the night before. Because if a hotel fills up the night before, they are not going to roust someone out of bed early for a newly arrived guest. Period. (And it’s amazing how many people who complain their room wasn’t ready are all the same people who will complain that they couldn’t get a late checkout.)
Alternatively, ask simply about stowing luggage and using the hotel’s health club for a shower and a chance to change clothes. Some hotels will even give out passes to nearby spas or health clubs for a nominal fee.
Airline lounges can be another option. Even for non-members, many airlines allow single day entrance for a fee. Depending on the airport, some lounges have showers. And at worst they can be a quieter, more secure place to rest up. Just make sure to set a cell-phone alarm if there’s a chance of nodding off in a comfortable chair.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
