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Trip Doctor: 11 Ways to Beat Jet Lag

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If you’ve embarked upon any sort of overseas adventures, you know what I’m talking about. Whoever said you can sleep in the upright position is a liar, and don’t even get me started on common courtesy and etiquette in the cabin when flying. Some people just don’t get it. That’s another post in and of itself. While this post touches on happenings while flying, it’s also about what you can do pre and post trip to kick jet lag’s ass. I’ve been flying overseas for years and thus, have been around the block globe a few times to know what’ll have you enjoying a vacation upon wheels down.

1. It All Starts Before the Journey

Pack early and get lots of rest. Flying around the globe is stressful, so ensure you have plenty of time to plan what you want to take and how to leave your house behind. Many studies have suggested changing your sleep routine: Going east? Start going to bed earlier. Going west? Go to bed later to prep your body. But, honestly, who really does this? Maybe I’ll make it a New Years resolution…

2. Get Comfortable

If you can book it, do it. First Class makes a world of difference in terms of feeling comfy, but it just depends on if you can finance the 35,000 ft luxury. LAN Airlines incorporates lay-flat beds in their 18-passenger Premium Business Class, complete with down comforter and noise canceling headphones. As a frequent guest of the airline, this was one of the highlights of my traveling career.

3. Stay Hydrated with Water & Juices

This one isn’t mind-blowing, but many people tend to hit the alcohol before washing down dinner with water. When you’re dehydrated, you’re irritable, tired and weak. Nobody wants to be around that guy. Don’t be that guy.

4. You Booze, You Lose

So the flowing vodka cranberries may initially help you fall asleep, but the quality of sleep will be poor. It’s just like college, y’all. If you pass out, you will not wake up feeling awesome. Also, it’s probably not a great idea to throw a rager the night before traveling. I’ve flown across the world hungover before, and it’s beyond painful. Think migraines, crying kids, zero sleep and crappy food for 15 hours. Won’t make that mistake again.

5. Eat Light with Lots of Protein

Everyone has their guilty airport snack. Mine entails vanilla lattes and probably anything behind the glass at Starbucks. However, eating large amounts of protein will have you feeling more energized. LAN knows their stuff by using 2.36 million eggs annually for breakfast omelets. Not an easy feat getting all that protein up in the air!

6. Entertainment

In-flight entertainment is a godsend for two reasons: 1) Time flies when you’re having fun, and flights seem shorter when you’re entertained. 2) I don’t know about you, but I often drift off to sleep while lazily watching movies. On certain planes, LAN incorporates a collection of 110 movies, including 12 new releases, 8 recent hits, 10 Latin movies, 10 children´s movies, and 70 classic movies from across the decades, plus 42 TV programs, a full season of 3 TV series, more than 1000 music albums, and 25 games…just to name a few! I think this is beyond enough material to tire anybody out.

7. Sleep on the Plane

This one’s a no-brainer. I hope that you’d try to sleep during the long flight instead of geeking out with SVU marathons on the entertainment system all night. Even a few hours of sleep during a transatlantic flight helps immensely.

8. Sleep Prescriptions

If you do a lot of traveling, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know with this one. Since I’m always on an airplane, I’m prescribed a sleeping aid that works wonders for my circadian rhythm. I’m not promoting a pharmaceutical, but Ambien has become my good friend over the years. It’s not for everyone, though, so consult a doctor!

9. Don’t Fall Asleep Once at Your Destination

This is Traveling Overseas 101. I’ll never forget my first time in London. I fell asleep in the hotel upon check-in and woke up around 8pm…just in time to eat dinner and try to fall back asleep after being comatose for 10 hours. Adjusting to your new time zone is imperative on the first day. It’s worth the pain, I promise.

10. Get Anchor Sleep

The minimum block that your body’s internal clock needs to begin adjusting to the new time zone is four hours. This anchor sleep trains your body to operate on a 24-hour rhythm, vital for adapting to new time zones.

11. Get out and Exercise

For me, this one is probably the least enjoyable but the most successful way to beat jet lag. Exposure to daylight and moving around will undoubtedly help you to adjust.

How to Travel to Machu Picchu

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| WHEN TO VISIT |

Visiting is a must. We’ve gotten that far. Now when to visit is the question. Machu Picchu is open year-round, however keep in mind that the Inca Trail is closed during the month of February. For those hardcore hikers who get off on trekking for days at a time among beautiful mountainous scenery and stunning cloud forests, take a mental note that the classic 26 mile 4-day hike is closed during this time. November to April is the rainy season, although it’s not uncommon for Mother Nature to throw showers down all year round. Peak season is in July and August, but one thing is for sure…you can always expect crowds.

| STRATEGY |

For those of you who like to get in and get out, seeing Machu Picchu in one day is definitely doable. You’ll most likely fly into Cusco, Peru, and take the 4 hour train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes). Spend the afternoon filling memory card after memory card and ride the train back in the evening.

The more enjoyable and leisurely way of going about it would be to book a couple of nights at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in the Sacred Valley and experience a true luxury Peruvian adventure. May I suggest heading straight there after landing in Cusco in order to acclimate to the high altitude. Machu Picchu sits at 8,000 feet whereas Cusco rises high at 11,000 feet. If you’re susceptible to altitude sickness, do yourself a favor and allow your body time in Machu Picchu Pueblo before spending a few nights in the high rises of Cusco.

| Planes, Trains and Automobiles |

It took me all three modes of transportation to arrive in Machu Picchu Pueblo. No, it’s not exactly cheap or efficient, but it’s faster than how the Incas got around (their own two feet). After flying into Cusco, there are two rail companies you can choose from: PeruRail and IncaRail. When buying your train tickets online, you’ll be presented with various options including the Expedition, Vistadome and Hiram Bingham (operated by Orient Express and thus pricey with white tablecloths and fine wine). I took the Vistadome where every seat had a full on scenic view. Allow about 15 minutes to get from the airport to the Poroy train station, and you want to be at the station at least 30 minutes before departure.

Important advice: Make your train tickets into Machu Picchu before making your plane tickets to Cusco. I know that sounds backwards, but because only 2,500 people are allowed into the park each day, train tickets can sell out months in advance. If tickets from Poroy station in Cusco are sold out like they were when I booked, fear not. You can take a two hour car ride to Ollantaytambo and take the train from there. I booked a car and driver with Cusco Transport a few days in advance, and they were spectacular.

Important note: There is an ambiguous rule once at the station that you cannot board with a large suitcase. My boyfriend and I had to consolidate our clothes into one suitcase, even though it far exceeded the maximum weight of PeruRail’s 6kg, or about 13 pounds. My carry-on weighs more than that!

| WHERE TO STAY |

This one’s a no-brainer. As I’ve previously mentioned, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is the place to be. You can’t go wrong with its proximity to the entrance (20 minute bus ride) and 12-acre land to explore. While you can stay merely feet away from the entrance at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (Orient Express’s new hotel brand), it’ll put you back about 4 figures per night. You may not be booking rooms here, but Belmond’s buffet lunch is a convenient way to eat as it’s incredibly close and a great option to break up the day. Inkaterra also has a decadent cafe that’s open to hungry, paying customers if you aren’t a guest of the hotel.

I recommend a comfortable 2-3 night stay in Machu Picchu. Then, it’s time to properly explore Cusco while staying at Inkaterra La Casona.

View from Huayna Picchu View from Huayna Picchu

| Tips, Tips, Tips |

Entrance tickets: If you’re traveling independently (and a hotel is not buying tickets in your name) you can purchase them here. There are three types of tours/treks:

  • Machu Picchu entrance only
  • Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu (7am OR 10am – go for the 7am and avoid more people!)
  • Machu Picchu + Montaña (a bit of a harder hike than Huayna Picchu)

Keep in mind that there are only 400 passes for each of the hills per day, so tickets can sell out far in advance. Get those credit cards out!

Passport: Bring it. You must present it at the gates of the park. Just outside of the entrance, there’s a station where you can stamp your passport. Don’t miss it.

Coins: It costs 1 sol to use the restroom.

Eat lunch: The Belmond’s buffet lunch may be steep at about $40 per person, but you’ll work up an appetite while seeing all those ruins. Food is not permitted inside the gates, however you’ll find people who smuggle it in to feed the animals which is also prohibited. Some people like to live dangerously.

Bus to the ruins: If a hotel or guide is not purchasing bus tickets in your name, you can get them at a booth near the very long line of people that will be awaiting a bus to Machu Picchu. They start running at 5:30am. You can also do the 90 minute uphill trek to the ruins…and if so, Godspeed.

Bring: It’s recommended to bring a rain jacket, even if it looks like a gorgeous day. You just never know what the weather is going to do. Be smart and bring some water and sunscreen as well.

Guides: While you can see the ruins on your own with a guidebook, don’t underestimate what a real human guide can do for you. Ours was from Inkaterra and added some local flair and copious amounts of knowledge and history. You can book with one in the city or near the gates.

How to Make A Foreign Apartment Feel Like Home

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People move at a snail-like pace here, unless you’re a cabbie who drives like a bat out of hell. Meat is what’s for dinner. A lot. Salads, good salads, are hard to come by. It’s perfectly acceptable to have wine every night of the week. Learning Spanish is hard. “Lo siento” is not how people say “sorry” and “adios” is not how people say “bye.” Thanks for nothing, high school Spanish knowledge. Once I had the dialect of Argentina down and became addicted to empanadas and Malbec, I started to really enjoy myself. My boyfriend moved to Buenos Aires three months before me. While he chose a great apartment to live in for the next 18 months, it was in dire need of some feminine touches and homey feels. I wanted to bring the old in with the new and mix my American pride with my new Argentine home. Considering we live in a lovely shoebox, it didn’t take long to decorate.

Be comfortable.

Buy Local Treasures. You’ll thank yourself when you return to your permanent residence one day. This popular “penguino” is used to serve table wine throughout Argentina.

Bring pictures that make you smile, and then hang them on the fridge with local magnets.

Cook. Okay, okay…so this isn’t exactly a well-balanced meal. It required some baking though, so it counts!

Think ahead about what would make your time away from home more bearable – bring it. For me, non-negotiable suitcase items included a Keurig machine, my own sheets and pancake mix! (Coffee, sleep and food is the way to my heart…)

Don’t compensate for certain luxuries. Be smart with where you flaunt the jewels on the streets, but who said anything about hiding them in the apartment?!

Decorate with what you love. Candles, reading material and colorful art make my apartment homey and vibrant.

Don’t give up passions because you moved. Bring them with you and evolve. And when you’ve finished yoga, pop open a bottle of red.

Travel Tag: Inkaterra La Casona

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| The Experience |

Perched high in the Andes, this Relais & Chateaux 16th century manor house is all about Inca immersion at its finest. With antique furnishings, local art and contemporary touches, the mansion seamlessly blends modernity with tradition. It was once the residence of Diego de Almagro, one of the original conquistadors who conquered the Incas. In 1825, El Libertador Simon Bolivar stayed here, the man who led Peru to independence from Spain. With so much history underneath the beautiful archways, this famed piece of property is possibly the first Spanish construction in Cusco.

| The Suite |

With only 11 rooms in the entire hotel, this boutique palace made us feel right at home. As always, everything is in the details, and Inkaterra doesn’t shy away from them. Upon inspection of the cloud-like king-sized bed, I noticed little presents everywhere: a box of chocolates on either side, a weather forecast for the following day, a booklet full of menus and the most incredible thing – a heating pad already making the bed warm for me. Out of all my travels throughout the past couple of decades, this was certainly a first. Never have I ever been greeted by a warm bed such as this. Literally. A warm bed. The standards kept going up, up and away. I was in love.

Upon entry into the bathroom, I noticed a large soaking tub awaiting my entry, and to accompany it, a large bottle of bubble bath. There is no greater reward after a Wayna Picchu hike than sinking into a hot bath. The red hues, the white marble, the fireplace, the heating pad and the chocolates were plenty to get me to come back again someday. After all, I wasn’t even able to scratch the surface with Inkaterra La Casona as my time from check-in to check-out totaled less than 9 hours. It was just enough to relax in a bubble bath, order delicious room service, devour my box of chocolates, write a few emails and get a few hours of sleep before hitting the next big adventure.

If you’re visiting Cusco, Peru, book a reservation at Inkaterra La Casona. For those adventurers ticking Machu Picchu off their bucket list: Treat yourself. You’ll want it after the lactic acid hike among the ruins. For maximum comfort, the suites are decked out with thermostat controlled heated floors, free wifi, flat screen TV with cable, DVD and iPod speakers. Located in the heart of the main square, the hotel couldn’t be in a more ideal spot for city exploration. Now having visited two out of the three hotels in the Inkaterra collection, I’m due for a visit to the Amazon Rainforest. I must keep the party alive, as all good things don’t come to an end.

Rates for 2014 can be found here.

Cabin Fever: LAN Flight Attendant Tells All

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As the engines roared down the runway, I couldn’t wait to lie flat and drift off to the mild turbulence above the clouds. It was, after all, in the middle of the night…or morning, however you want to look at it. Snuggled deep under my comforter with noise canceling headphones on, I all of a sudden felt a jolt of energy. You see, I’ve always been intrigued with flying. Even in 2014, I feel as if it’s way ahead of its time, making the Wright brothers wise beyond their years. Everyone else in the cabin was comatose, allowing the flight attendants some down time – there would be no readying the drink cart or preparing practiced announcements at this time. I suddenly had a desire to share a Cranapple with the lady in red named Daniela. As it turns out, Daniela has spent the past 8+ years with LAN Airlines. Born in Lima but raised in São Paulo, she’s trilingual in Spanish, Portuguese and English. Ahh, let the inferiority ensue. Lucky for me, we sat down in a couple of jump seats while I talked to her for the remainder of the flight. I could finally get inside the mind of a flight attendant, and I knew that behind those cheery smiles and perfectly ironed uniforms, there were stories waiting to be told.

Q: I must admit, I never actually do this, but what’s the secret to having to turn your cell phone off after the aircraft door has been shut?

A: It messes with the instruments in the cockpit. [laughs] I don’t really know. They are changing the rules in the very near future. Passengers will only be required to turn their cell phones to airplane mode. They will be SO happy!

Q: Out of all the jobs out there, what intrigues you about being a flight attendant?

A: I love to travel, and I don’t like routines. Going to a desk job everyday isn’t an option. I used to work out of the airport, and that didn’t go very well.

Q: You’ve traveled to so many places. How much time can you dedicate to actually seeing a destination upon landing?

A: It depends. Most layovers are somewhere between 32 – 36 hours, so I don’t spend a ton of time exploring. I usually catch up on sleep.

Q: What’s your current schedule with LAN?

A: Right now I do 10 days flying and four days off. I’m very excited because after we land, I’ll be able to go home to my baby girl for four whole days.

Q: What’s your favorite route with the airline?

A: São Paulo because my family is there, but I also love visiting Mexico City, Miami, or New York.  I also loved to visit San Francisco, but we no longer fly there.

Q: What are your least favorite things about being a flight attendant?

A: Being away from my family, especially during the holidays when we can’t take off work because there are always flights and passengers that need to be taken care of. That and flights at 4:25am.

Q: You must have amazing benefits working for an airline. Do you fly for free?

A: We pay the tax and a very small fee. The downfall is that we must fly standby, so I pray a lot when there’s a flight I really want to get on! We also cannot fly with miles.

Q: Can you sleep like the rest of us?

A: If the flight is more than 8 hours, we can sleep, but it’s not comfortable sleep. We usually sit in an open seat in economy for about 30 minutes, and then we alternate.

Q: Are the pilots really flying the plane in there?

A: Yes, but they sleep too! But don’t worry…there are two pilots flying while one is sleeping.

Q: Are the planes regularly cleaned?

A: Yes, and the blankets are always laundered. They are washed, folded and placed back in the plastic wrap for the next passenger to use.

Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever encountered while on the job?

A: A man once took off all his clothes and flashed me, so the male flight attendant had to throw him into the bathroom. We asked the passenger why he did it, and he said, “A voice in my head told me I had to.” …it was a strange day to say the least!

Q: Tell me about the airplane food.

A: Well for us, it’s always the same. Menus change once a month, and because LAN stocks only 30% of each item offered on the Business class menu, that means we usually end up with the pasta because after the 18 people in Business Class chose, the pilots are next, and then us.

Q: Master Sommelier Hector Vergara has created the wine list for the airline. What do you do to help offer the Chilean wines to passengers?

A: We are educated on the wines ourselves. We do a lot of research in order to be able to help passengers pair the right wine with their menu item of choice.

Q: Do you ever get scared of flying?

A: I’ve only been scared of flying once. We flew into a tornado when we were descending in Mexico. There was terrible turbulence, and all I could do was laugh uncontrollably. I laugh when I get nervous, but I think most people would prefer to see that to a crying flight attendant.

Travel Tag: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

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| Getting There |

After landing at the Cusco airport, hailing a taxi to Poroy Station and boarding a four hour train to Machu Picchu, guests will at last be granted entry to Inkaterra. No, it’s not exactly easy access, but the planes, trains and automobiles are worth the pure bliss you’ll experience once settled in your casita, or small house, at the hotel.

The magic starts to happen during the train ride into the Sanctuary. Excitement and anticipation fill each passenger as if Hogwarts is the final destination. With windows surrounding almost every square inch of the train, the scenic ride with the greenest of greenery engulfs everyone. If there’s not an arm reached out in front of you with an iPhone attached to the end of it snapping picture after picture, you’re not aboard PeruRail or IncaRail – the two trains on offer into the vicinity. Let it be known that each passenger is only allowed a small suitcase onboard the train to Machu Picchu as it cannot accommodate room for everyone’s luggage. Wade and I had that rude awakening five minutes before boarding, and we had to consolidate our clothes into one suitcase, leaving the other behind at the station to be picked up during our return.

| The Experience |

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel could not be closer to the train station once in Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes). The on-foot transfer takes less than five minutes before you’re inside the lobby surrounded by fairytale-like waterfalls, ponds, birds and greenery. How convenient!

Like many luxurious hotels around the continent, Inkaterra enjoys leaving the bills behind and offers various packages including half board or full board, making your stay all-inclusive. Two first class restaurants on the property offer delectable meals and a 4pm Tea Time. I do believe this chocolatey dessert may have been the most picture perfect edible to grace my camera. I was so sorry I had to inhale it.

The three-mile long secret garden of Inkaterra can have you exploring the grounds for hours. Each turn manifests new sights such as waterfalls, lush plants, overgrown benches, private trails and pathways to the heavens, or perhaps just observation and contemplation areas for viewing the 372 species of orchids, 201 species of birds or the 111 species of butterflies on offer. You and your camera should be a little overwhelmed. The outside charm of Inkaterra is nothing short of spectacular, and you can absolutely judge this hotel by its cover. The inside, however, gives its counterpart a run for its money. 

| The Suite |

All 85 whitewashed cottages within the property are decked out in Andean fabrics, rustic accents and authentic artifacts, giving the hotel the coziest feeling of a small, secluded Andean village. Our Relais & Châteaux suite was the shining star of this Andean village, and that wasn’t up for debate. Set back in its own area with stone pathway and cascading stream included, our home away from home was, in a word, flawless. The definition of cozy can be found in this room with an incredible king-sized bed and crackling fireplace to top off a night.

The bathroom was equally as impressive as my favorite component, the bathtub, had its own room. Not only did it have its own quarters, but it was fit for royalty as the thing could’ve fit the entire family – the king, his queen and whoever else he fancied. I was immediately sold on this place.

But wait! There’s more. Out the jungle-view window existed an outdoor shower, private hot tub and lounge area. We had found our own jungle paradise and all of a sudden, the words came to me.

“Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature’s recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life.”

I was living out my own Disney Jungle Book fantasy in the heart of a Peruvian forest. I could finally die happy.

| Excursions |

Inkaterra offers 17 excursions within its restored cloud forest, all varying in duration and intensity. Wade and I opted for the full-day guided trek to Machu Picchu to climb Wayna Picchu, because duh, but there are many other activities on offer through the hotel including twilight walks and a visit to the tea plantation. Fun fact: All tea served in the hotel is organic and grown within Inkaterra grounds, making 4pm tea time extra special. Additional luxuries include an outdoor pool surrounded by lush vegetation and tropical gardens along with an Andean sauna experience.

| Location |

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel sits on 12 serene acres of natural paradise, just across from the train station of Machu Picchu Pueblo.

  • Located 8,038 ft. above sea level, the hotel occupies a private 12 acre mountainside reserve.
  • 70 miles from the city of Cusco between the highlands and the rain forest.
  • Cusco City is 4 hours away by train; An alternate route is to travel by car to Ollantaytambo and continue by train for one and a half hours.

The entrance to Machu Picchu is a 20 minute winding bus ride away from the town of Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly Aguas Calientes) where Inkaterra is located. Once at the entrance, presenting your park entrance fee and passport is required. Before departing, you have the option of stamping your passport with big Machu Picchu letters. Additional passport stamps? Gimme the ink. As for what goes on inside the park, I’ll follow up with a How To See and Do Machu Picchu article. Fear not.

| Sustainable Tourism |

Not only is Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (along with various other properties within the collection) remarkably unique in architecture, décor, construction, landscape and location, but the Inkaterra Association promotes the conservation of Peru’s cultural environment and archeological sites. Research is done to manage and protect Peru’s Andes Mountains, Amazon Rain Forest and marine environment. It is committed to the fight against global warming, making the environmentalist in me fall in love with the hotel even more.

Rates for 2014 can be found here. 

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