Jaunted

Sleeping / Sleeping on Airplanes / Ambien / Jet Lag / → All Tags

Tackling Travel's Biggest Challenge: Sleeping On a Plane

When I visited Japan a few years back, I was afraid that the 14-hour flight from Newark would leave me so jet-lagged that I'd be a zombie once I arrived in Tokyo, so I did everything in my power to sleep on the plane. It didn't work. I kept my eyes glued shut for hours on end, yet sleep would simply not come. Upon touching down at Narita, I spent the next 48 hours in a daze. If only I had the wisdom of the experts msnbc.com called on for an interesting article on how to sleep on an airplane.

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Air New Zealand / Sleeping / Travel Trends / Airlines / → All Tags

Sleep Tight on Air New Zealand

Unless you're lucky enough to live "next door" in Australia, any flight to New Zealand is a pretty long one, especially if you're sitting in economy. Air New Zealand is considering some kind of pod capsules to replace seats on overnight long-haul flights (think a flying Yotel); at the moment it's completely only at the ideas stage, but might follow a design that Lufthansa's been considering:

One concept showed berths stacked three-high in a herringbone layout along the sides, and another row stacked down the middle of the cabin.

Naturally eating in a pod would be messy so Air NZ said they would then feed passengers at the airport and then let them sleep as soon as they were on board. It does sound kind of attractive, but we're talking some years of development first, so don't go rushing to book your Air NZ sleeper pod just yet.

Related Stories:
· Bunk Bed Proposal for Air NZ's Jets [Stuff.co.nz]
· Yotel Gatwick stories [HotelChatter]
· Air New Zealand coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Somerslea]

Spas / Sleeping / Hotels / Business Travel / → All Tags

Power Nap Pods at Columbus Circle

Whether you're an exhausted tourist, exhausted slave to the man, or a Six Columbus team member with too much time to spare, secure power naps can be had in the Columbus Circle area. (We don't recommend passing out in the park.) Yelo is a walk-in spa on 57th Street specializing in reflexology and nap therapy. Their private Yelo Cabins are designed to help you doze off for 20-40 minutes, or just enough time to refresh without getting too messed up.

Nap prices start at $12 for 20 minutes, and an additional $3 per 5 minutes after that, up to $24 for 40 minutes. Reservations are not required, but can be made via phone. Gift cards are also available, for that special Six Columbus staffer in your life--you know they need something to do and can't be caught dead at another hotel in the immediate area.

Related Stories:
· Yelo Power Naps [Official Site]
· Jason Pomeranc Gives Six Columbus Hotel Workers Designer Uniforms But No Hotel [HotelChatter]

Podcasts / Jet Lag / British Airways / Sleeping / Airlines / → All Tags

British Airways Pods You To Sleep

Once you're on the plane, it's a bit late to get a massive warning about the possibility of getting jet lag. But yeah, there are probably a few pointers left to give to the not-so-experienced traveler, and British Airways has now set this up in a series of podcasts that are best listened to before you leave for the airport, rather than on your iPod once you've boarded the plane. The advice comes from the sleep expert of British Airways, a fellow named Dr. Chris Idzikowski, a.k.a. Dr. Sleep.

Topics include sleep basics (close your eyes, count sheep), synchronizing your inner clock (as complicated as it sounds) and overcoming jet lag. Unfortunately even Dr. Sleep suggests that getting over jet lag is still only something that can happen gradually. And the podcasts aren't even boring enough that they'll really help you sleep.

Related Stories:
· BA Launches Online Jet Lag Podcasts [Business Traveller]
· How to Sleep on Airplanes [Jaunted]

China / culture / clothes / Shanghai / Sleeping / → All Tags

Chic Shanghai Sleepwear

We've already reported about China's attempts to educate Chinese travelers on the kind of etiquette their hosts will expect. Now the Chinese are looking inwards, and the results of a recent Shanghai survey on civilised behaviour give us some interesting insights into this new world power.

In an opinion poll asking about what the respondents considered the most uncivilised things about life in Shanghai, loud and aggressive pets, disregard for the environment and unfriendly neighbors were all mentioned. But top of the list was the wearing of pyjamas. Despite the fact that 25% of people claimed they sometimes wore their nightclothes out in public, it was still reported to be one of the most irritating aspects of daily life in the Chinese metropolis.

For all you travelers out there, the lesson is simple. Don't wear your pyjamas in public in China. And we know you wanted to.

[Image via Previous Pirate/Flickr]

Related stories:
Don't Spit, Don't Litter ... [Jaunted]
Most Annoying Part of Shanghai Life [MSNBC]