How long to recover upon arrival? 30 yr old female traveling solo.?

Question

I am going to Bangkok for work, but want to extend the stay for my own mini vacation. I am staying at the Millenium HIlton. I arrive on Monday afternoon, 26-March. How much time will it take me to feel 'normal' from the jet lag? Should I take a nap right away? I don't have to work until Thursday, so I have all day Tuesday and Wednesday to recover from the flight. I hope to be energetic enough to explore Bangkok on Tuesday and Wednesday. I will be working Thursday-Saturday. I haven't decided where I will go and what I will do after that. I will be alone. Do you know if there are places where young travelers hang out so that I may be able to make some friends? Also, what should I buy and how do I go about bargaining...I've never done that before and imagine I will not be good at it.

Answer 1

you didn't say where your coming from? it could be a flight of more then 24 hours if coming from the usa or as little as 2 or 3 hours. For me coming from the usa it took about 24 hours at the most to adjust, for trips from europe which are about 12 hours you should have no problems at all. Since your coming here on a business trip I won't be suprise if your host may have some places or advise for you.

Answer 2

General principle for jet lag is that it takes a day for every hour of time difference between your departure and arrival points. If you are travelling from London for example their is a seven hour time difference with Bangkok so it would take 7 days before your body clock is adjusted.
My strategy is to stay awake until local bed time and force myself to follow local time. I can live without sleep more easily than gradually adjust sleeping patterns.
Exploring Bangkok is easy apart from the heat and humidity. Take it fairly easy the first few days and stop a taxi rather than walking too much. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
Young travellers are all over the place but Koh San Road is probably the major nexus.
Don't worry too much about bargaining. When you ask how much just look doubtful whatever they tell you and they will bargain themselves down. Cannot give you any rules about what things should cost because the mark up they ask for an be anything from 10 to 100 percent. It doesn't matter what you pay, you could always have gotten it cheaper.
Look around shopping centres such as Mah Boon Krong or Seri Centre rather than street vendors. Opposite the World Trade Centre is the biggest souvenir centre in Thailand where you can buy all sorts of handicrafts.
Enjoy Thailand.

Answer 3

It took me about 5-6 days to completely switch my system around once I arrived in Bangkok. Only power nap if you HAVE to. You should be able to function during the day fine. My problem is that I was ready to go to bed way to early (7-8pm).

To meet some young people, I would check out the night market. I don't remember where it is exactly. But it's off Sukhumvit Road near the American Embassy. There is some good shopping there and the atmosphere is mix between thai and western. Go at night....there are concerts and a huge bar with lots of food and tourists. It's super fun. It's a popular place so you should be able to find it by asking around at your hotel with the info that i've given you. It's also probably listed in any good Thai tourist book.

Bargaining is difficult to get used to. You are expected to bargin. Drop the price down 50-60% of what they tell you and work up from there. Also....if you agree to buy two or three things, etc., it will be much easier. Do not be fooled and buy things for Western prices. (for example, a shirt should not be costing you over 500 baht)

Good Luck!! Be sure to check out the Palace and Temples in Bangkok as well.

p.s. Also....Bangkok is my least favorite part of Thailand. If you can, go see the rest of the country. Chiang Mai (in the north) is beautiful as well at the beaches in the south. The trains are super safe (take second class) or check out airasia.com for cheap flights. You will be super surprised how easy it is to travel in Thailand.

Also, I met some great people (i also was a lone, American traveler) on the train, in the airports, and in tour groups. Also...if you get out of Bangkok, try and stay in smaller guest houses (they are more fun and intimate....you get to know the owners and other guests, etc).

Answer 4

Most the previous answers are good. In addition, most people find that travel in a westerly direction to be more problematic than eastward - it isn't known why. Also, you might consider taking melatonin (see to help with sleep patterns. I was involved in a US Air Force medical study which indicated that melatonin can be helpful in bringing about restful sleep. Two days' rest may be OK if you are young (at 30, I define you as young). Try to drink a lot of water on the plane (not alcohol - it dehydrates you); try to adjust your sleep patterns prior to departure; try to rest on the plane (you can miss the movies); try to get out into the sun a few hours per day after you arrive (don't stay indoors); try to exercise a little upon arrival; consider melatonin; and have a good mental attitude.

Enjoy your trip. I'll be in Bangkok the same time as you - it has already been 38 degrees C there, so be prepared for heat!

Bargaining can actually be fun (my wife enjoys it - trying to get the very last lower price), but don't worry too much about it. If you buy something for a price you are happy with, that's what matters.

Bangkok is safe, but watch out for sex shows and activities (unless that's what you want).

Answer 5

I go back and forth frequently and it is a little different adjustment each time.. the problem, of course, is not so much how much rest that you get, but depending on the time zone, 3 pm will feel like 3 am to your body... be careful that an afternoon nap does not turn into a full 8 hours sleep and leave you wide awake and fully rested at midnight....

Thai people and visiting Westerners are mostly quite friendly - just make sure they have no ulterior motive as to selling you something - - as to bargaining, it is different in each place you go - markets being more flexible than retail stores - in department stores, forget it.. But just remember, it is part of life for them and they are not offended, though they may act outraged a little as a bargaining tool... but just make sure you are not paying more than you want - - you make the price - if not, there are many other vendors..

And as noted above - - getting out of bkk for a couple of days will make a nice vacation - - for beach, try Cha'am or hua hin as not being too far away from bkk - Pattaya is too rowdy..

Have Fun!!

Answer 6

About the only thing you did not tell us is where you are travelling from. This is important. If you are travelling from the USA via the Pacific you can take that nice nap, get up and go until around midnight, go back to bed and be on track the next morning. If you are coming via Europe you may have more of an issue. For some reason most folks have trouble adapting to the time zone difference when flying east (i.e. LAX-JFK). It takes from 2-3 days up to a week to recover fully. About the only time jetlag does not play a part in your travel is when you are flying a north south or vice versa routing (i.e. JFK-MIA).

When you fly it does have physiological effects on your body regardless of travel direction. the key is to try and sleep on those long haul legs and wear light, loose fitting clothes for comfort.

Answer 7

I have traveled from St. Louis to the Philippines. I started at about 8 AM Saturday. I arrived in the Philippines at 10:30 PM Sunday. Actual flight and waiting time about 24 hours. Strange arrive in Japan for stop and it is about 6 AM my time. It is about 6 PM Japan time. It is not a sunrise I am seeing it is a sunset. I went to bed and then had to get up for a short flight in the Philippines. I ran out steam on Monday afternoon. I was very tired then. I was fine Tuesday morning. Coming home I left Sunday morning in the Philippines and arrived at 4 PM Sunday. I was at work Monday morning.

Answer 8

Work out the time zone difference before you depart and start adjusting your internal clock by staying up late and sleeping to match Bangkok.

Answer 9

It took me 24 hours to recover. I love Thailand and see it as a paradise but... be careful when you make foreign friends. Watch your passport. Khaosarn Road is a nice place to hang out with foreigners but there are also lots of bad guys. i came to Thailand all alone when i was 26. From my experience - don't trust to those africans on Sukhumvit. (Hey i don't want to offend anybody and I'm not a racist. It's just from my experience!!!) And never ever even stand close to people who you suspect on using or having drugs. Even maryjane. just run away from them!!!

Answer 10

First, don't provide so much info...a lot of people use this service and it may not be in your best interest.

Upon arrival, go and work out then spen as much time in the sun as possible the first couple of days.