Connecting in a major international airport is a careful balance between leaving enough time to make the next flight and not wasting hours waiting. In most places, 45 minutes is not nearly enough. But Iceland isn’t most places.
22.05.2024 - 22:59 / forbes.com
Traveling can whisk us away to exciting new places, offering a break from the daily grind and an opportunity to indulge in new experiences. Yet, amidst the excitement, there's one companion that often struggles to keep up: our sleep. Whether you're jet-setting across continents or just spending a night away from home, the quality of your sleep can significantly impact your trip. Dr. Rebecca Robbins, MMSc, PhD, MS, a member of the Health Advisory Board for Equinox, shares her expertise on how sleep is affected by travel and what the emerging trend of sleep tourism means for travelers.
When we travel, our sleep is often one of the first things to suffer, and the reasons are multifaceted. Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a member of the Health Advisory Board for Equinox, delves into the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that disrupt our sleep while on the road.
One significant disruptor is the "first night effect," where our brains remain partially alert due to inherent survival mechanisms, preventing us from entering the deeper, more restorative stages of sleep. This heightened state of alertness is an evolutionary trait that historically helped protect us from potential dangers in unfamiliar environments. As a result, travelers often experience lighter sleep and more frequent awakenings during their first night in a new location.
The sensory changes in a new environment can further disturb our sleep. Unfamiliar noises—whether from street traffic, hotel air conditioners, or even different patterns of silence—alongside unusual lighting can throw off our circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. This disruption makes it challenging to fall asleep and maintain deep sleep.
Adding to these challenges are the physical and psychological stresses of travel. Long periods of sitting, whether in a plane or a car, can lead to physical discomfort and stiffness, while the dry air in airplane cabins often causes dehydration, contributing to discomfort that can keep us awake. Moreover, the stress of navigating new places, managing travel schedules, and the anticipation or anxiety about travel events can accumulate, significantly impeding our ability to relax at bedtime.
Jet lag from crossing time zones compounds these issues by desynchronizing our biological clock, making it difficult to fall asleep and wake up at socially appropriate times. Depending on the number of time zones crossed, adjusting to local time can be a slow process, further prolonging sleep disturbances.
Understanding these factors allows travelers to better prepare for and manage sleep disturbances while traveling. Practical steps like staying hydrated, engaging in relaxing activities before
Connecting in a major international airport is a careful balance between leaving enough time to make the next flight and not wasting hours waiting. In most places, 45 minutes is not nearly enough. But Iceland isn’t most places.
Near the beginning of the 1999 movie Notting Hill, the character of bookseller William Thacker (Hugh Grant) spins round a London street corner and collides with superstar actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), spilling orange juice over the both of them. It’s a meet-cute that sets into motion one of the better known romantic comedies of the last 25 years, and entered Portobello Road into the pop culture ranks alongside Katz's Deli where Meg Ryan faked her orgasm. The scene also, perhaps more significantly, cemented the London neighborhood as a tourist destination: Notting Hill had long drawn visitors, but almost immediately it was flooded with fans of the movie. On any given day, decades later, you’ll still find daily hordes of influencers posing in front of that blue door and tourists lining up outside The Travel Bookshop (now The Notting Hill Bookshop) where the film's Scott later uttered her now famous line: “I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
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June is officially Pride month, and it's not too late to make travel plans to celebrate Pride in major cities nationwide (or book an LGBTQIA+ cruise). Hotel rates and airfare may be higher this short in advance, but you can save money by using points and miles. We found an array of flight and hotel options that can still be booked with points at a good value. Pride is a wonderful celebration of equality, freedom and sacrifice, and any of these events would make for a fun weekend getaway.
A version of this article originally appeared in Vogue.
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