Symptoms of jet lag include fatigue and general tiredness, inability to sleep at night, loss of concentration, headaches, malaise, and disorientation. It is caused by the disruption of biological rhythms as a result of rapid transitions across multiple time-zones. Such desynchronization of circadian rhythms also affects employees who transfer to night shifts.

Preflight preparation is one of the most important aspects of combating jet lag. Before leaving, be sure you have all your affairs, personal and professional, in order. Avoid late farewell parties, so that you are not tired or hungover from a function the night before. Participate in regular exercise in the days prior to departure and if possible try to avoid exposure to people with flu or colds. Get a full night of sleep just prior to departure.

There is evidence that jet lag is less acute on eastward rather than westward flights, as it is easier to force oneself to stay up later than normal than it is to fall asleep earlier than normal. Daytime flights cause less jet lag than overnight flights, which is why the latter are called “red-eye” flights. Due to cramped seating and ambient noise, don’t expect to get a good night’s rest on one of these flights.

Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, since the dry air in airplanes causes dehydration. Water is better than coffee, tea and fruit juices. Alcoholic drinks are a poor choice for combating dehydration and demonstrate a markedly greater intoxicating effect when consumed in the rarefied atmosphere of an airliner compared to ground level.

A blindfold, neck rest or blow-up pillow, and earplugs can help you get quality sleep while flying. If there are some spare seats on the flight, lay across them, since it is easier to fall asleep laying flat than sitting propped up.

Get up and exercise frequently. Walking up and down the aisle, standing for short periods, and doing twisting and stretching exercises in your seat reduce discomfort from swollen legs and feet and prevent potentially deadly Deep Vein Thrombosis. On long flights, get off the plane if possible at stopovers, and take a short walk around the airport. As far back as 1988, the Lancet report estimated “that over three years at Heathrow Airport, 18% of the 61 sudden deaths in long-distance passengers were caused by clots in the lungs.” These clots originate in leg veins where blood pools and coagulates due to passenger immobility.

There are many products purported to prevent or cure jet lag. One of them is melatonin, a hormone produced naturally by the body to produce sleepiness. Another product, No-Jet-Lag, has been proven effective in a scientific trial of round-the-world passengers and confirmed by long haul flight attendants in a test conducted in cooperation with their union. Since it is a homeopathic preparation using extremely low dosages, No-Jet-Lag has no side effects and is compatible with other medications.

If you plan to use melatonin, it is important to take it at the right time or it may make matters worse. When traveling east, on the day of the flight, take one dose of melatonin between 6 and 7 p.m. your time. On the day of arrival and for the next four days, take a dose of melatonin at bedtime (between 9 and 10 p.m.) local time of your new location. If you are on a stopover and will be traveling further east, take one dose of melatonin on the day before flying onward, again between 6 and 7 p.m. local time, instead of at bedtime). On the day of arrival at the final destination, take one dose of melatonin at bedtime (local time) and for the next four days.

For westward travel, melatonin will not help if you are going less than five time zones to the west. For distant westward travel, on the day of arrival, take one dose of melatonin at local time bedtime and continue to do so for the next four days. If you wake up before 4 a.m., take a little more melatonin (half a dose) to get a complete night’s sleep. Dissolve this dose under the tongue, if possible, so it will be more fast-acting.

Sleeping pills are not advisable, especially on the plane. They produce a drugged state which has little in common with natural sleep and suppresses natural body movement, not desirable in a cramped environment where the risk of DVTs is already high. Many over-the-counter sleeping pills are anti-histamines which tend to dehydrate the mucous membranes, creating a parched, sore throat when combined with the already dehydrating atmosphere inside the airplane.

Hopefully, these tips will help you arrive at your destination awake and energetic.

There are lots of companies that claim to specialize in boutique hotels. For many, a boutique hotel is simply one that’s not part of a national or international chain and that distinguishes itself by its design, location or additional features. Many hotels aspire to be a boutique hotel without actually achieving it. Overall, there are four main elements to the true boutique hotel:

Size

Large hotels can be cool, trendy and chic, but they can’t be boutique. Just as the word is used to describe small, design-led specialist shops, so it applies to hotels. Hotels that apply the term “boutique” to themselves or have it ascribed to them are usually small – certainly less than 50 rooms and in some cases with only one or two. Their size contributes to the atmosphere and service that characterizes a hotel with a difference. Whilst size might count in terms of the number of rooms, it doesn’t follow that those rooms must also be small. In fact, a hotel than could easily accommodate 20 rooms might choose instead to create just ten, but make them spacious and luxurious, catering to the boutique market.

Design

When the first boutique hotel was opened in New York in 1984, by hotel entrepreneurs Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, it was praised for its original design and quirky nature. Designed for those who really wanted to participate in their travel rather than passively take it all in, Morgans, and those that followed it challenged the way we thought about hotels. Although Schrager would not now describe his hotels as a boutique, the name has been applied to those hotels who followed in his footsteps as far as design is concerned. From clean and contemporary to themed rooms and classic elegance, a boutique hotel must have a clear design theme and attention to detail.

Service

The hallmark of an excellent boutique hotel is its service. Whether the hotel chooses to assign a personal butler to each guest, or just hires and trains staff to anticipate your every need, the service at a boutique hotel is really what it should be at any hotel: ensuring that your stay goes without a hitch, that you can get transport, opera tickets or excellent meals when you want them and making you feel at home rather than feeling like you’re a nuisance.

Boutique hotels are scattered all over the world, from 24-hour cities like New York, London, and Rio De Janeiro to island havens in the Indian or Pacific Oceans. What often sets them apart are the buildings that contain them. From former plantation houses to old textile mills, towers and palazzos, the type of building often form the basis of the design and it is the blend of architecture, design, and service that turns what could be just another hotel into a boutique one.

The cost of first-class travel is more than the other classes available. It is because of the environment in which you travel and the facilities that are available for you to experience.

First-class travel is on a very comfortable seat that can be termed as the ‘Bed in the sky’. Yes, it is true! It is possible to recline that seat on all angles to give you the comfort needed while you sleep. The headrest can be tilted to various positions to suit your posture. You get more space and legroom while you travel in first class. A vertical partition is also available that gives you the privacy needed during your travel.

Sockets to attach your laptop and telephones with satellite connection are available to communicate with anybody you wish. Video monitors and video players with multiple channel options are available for first-class travelers.

Most of the international airlines provide these facilities for first-class travelers. The food that is served is also prepared by reputed chefs and is of international quality. Some airlines provide even pre-dining facilities so that you can have your dinner even before you board the flight so that you have a lot of time to sleep in the flight. This facility is available in the night flights.

Some of the airlines provide online check-in facility for first-class travel so that you can check in before you arrive at the airport. This avoids the need to stand in the queue to check-in. It saves a lot of time for you. First-class passengers are allowed to take more luggage. As a first-class passenger, you have a separate lounge which can be used before you board your flight and while you are waiting for your flight. Facilities to have a luxurious bath and have delicious cuisines are also available for the first-class passenger. Some lounges have even libraries to pass your time by reading through some latest books. For those who would like to have a drink, there are bars and some lounges even have massage parlors. Some of the bars also have wireless internet access so that you can browse or check your emails while you are at the bar.

To get more information on the facilities that are offered do check the website of the airlines. Why don’t you try this out at least once in your life?

1. Consider your dress

Egypt is a largely Muslim country and with this in mind, men and women should consider what they wear. You certainly do not have to be over the top, lets face it, it’s a hot climate. But you should avoid shorts and short sleeved shirts. Women may also want to consider taking a head scarf too, not for general use, but just in case they visit particularly important temples etc.

2. Pens

Offer a child an Egyptian pound or a pen and they will take the pen every time. Pens for children are like gold-dust. So if you want to give the kids a treat, pack a box of cheap pens and give them out whenever you get the chance. Do note though, that you need to do this not too openly as if you don’t you may have a very good natured riot on your hands as kids will appear out of nowhere when you start handing them out.

3. Toilet paper

Toilet paper is often at a premium at historical sites and so it’s a really good idea to take a roll out of your hotel and take it in your back whenever you are out for the day. It should also be noted here that toilets at many historical sites are not of a “western standard” so arranging toilet visits in hotels, restaurant stops etc is not a bad idea.

4. Water

Like with any other hot climates, you should look to take plenty of water with you on your days out and make sure it’s sealed of course.

5. Avoid ice / salads etc

This related partly to number 4. People generally know not to drink non bottled water (to avoid possible upset stomachs), but often they over look that ice is frozen water and that salads have often been washed in water. Keep these things in mind when ordering food and drinks.

6. Take small notes

If you are going to tip, it’s a good idea and it avoids embarrassment to change up some bigger notes for a number of 1 LE (Egyptian Pound) notes

7. Be strong

This applies to people begging. Egypt is a relatively financially poor country and with that comes the fact that people (children and adults) will beg. This is obviously a very personal issue, but obviously it’s possible to personally sort out all of Egypts financial problems. So feel free to help out where you can and when you feel comfortable, but realise, it’s just not possible to give to everyone who asks.

8. When in rome

This again partly relates to tip 1. You are ultimately vacationing in a more reserved country and therefore you need to just think about things like public shows of affection. Obviously we want you to have a good time, just be respectful to a different culture and you’ll be just fine.

9. Haggle

As a tourist, when you buy almost anything, anywhere, the price will be marked up. You therefore HAVE to bargain your socks off. We generally suggest offering a maximum of 1/3 to 1/2 of the asking price and work up. If you can do it, you are even better to not offer a price at all, but just keep saying no and let them lower the price. The best tip is to just keep saying no until the person selling stops and lets you walk. At that point, you just won’t get a better price and then you have the option to go back and say – OK, I’ll take it at that price!

10. Baksheesh

If you do not know what this is, by the end of your holidays you will! Baksheesh is a tip in Egypt for just about anything. From carrying your bags at the airport to offering to have a picture with you or showing around a tomb. So just be aware. If you chose to pay (it’s completely optional) pay with the smallest bills / nots possible (1 LE will be just fine).