Pour mon voyage en Chine, je vais partir de Paris vers 12h. Je me serai levée vers 6h. L'arrivée est prévue à 5 h du matin, heure Chinoise, suivie d'une journée entière de visites, ce qui va faire environ 35h sans dormir. Auriez-vous des astuces pour tenir et faire face au décalage ?
Je précise que je ne parviens pas du tout à dormir en avion ni en pleine journée.
Pour mon voyage en Chine, je vais partir de Paris vers 12h. Je me serai levée vers 6h. L'arrivée est prévue à 5 h du matin, heure Chinoise, suivie d'une journée entière de visites, ce qui va faire environ 35h sans dormir. Auriez-vous des astuces pour tenir et faire face au décalage ?
Je précise que je ne parviens pas du tout à dormir en avion ni en pleine journée.
Bonjour,
Mon astuce consiste à me décaler dans le fuseau horaire d'arrivée avant le voyage.
Idéalement, si j'étais retraité, je décalerais mes activités d'une heure par jour dans la semaine précédant le voyage de manière à être déjà à l'heure chinoise le jour du départ.
A défaut, je me couche très tôt la veille, et je me lève vers 3h30 (ce qui fait 9h30 ou 10h30, heure chinoise, selon la saison) pour faire un jogging nocturne, puis m'activer ensuite (surtout pas somnoler devant un écran de télévision ou d'ordinateur !). La journée ayant commencé très tôt, la fatigue me fait dormir 4-5 heures dans l’avion malgré l’inconfort. A l’arrivée, je privilégie les visites extérieures : être au grand air et ne pas s’assoir aide à ne pas dormir.
La difficulté consiste à doser le nombre d’heures de sommeil dans la nuit précédant le vol : suffisamment peu pour dormir dans l’avion, mais suffisamment pour ne pas être trop fatigué dans la première journée à destination.
Je fais l'impasse sur le repas servi dans l'avion s'il est servi à une heure qui ne me convient pas (ce n'est jamais une grande perte !) et je mets un masque sur le visage et des bouchons dans les oreilles pour ne pas être réveillé par le service.
Bonjour,
La mélatonine est très efficace . Vous pouvez en prendre 2mg dans l'avion quand il sera 21-22h heure chinoise, de manière à synchroniser le plus vite possible votre organisme . Il faudra ensuite essayer de dormir. Il semble aussi que manger le moins possible permet mieux d'absorber le décalage horaire. Ensuite, selon votre adaptation à l'heure locale, vous pouvez continuer à prendre de la mélatonine environ 30min avant d'aller au lit encore 2 ou 3 soirs.
Bonjour,
La mélatonine est très efficace . Vous pouvez en prendre 2mg dans l'avion quand il sera 21-22h heure chinoise, de manière à synchroniser le plus vite possible votre organisme . Il faudra ensuite essayer de dormir. Il semble aussi que manger le moins possible permet mieux d'absorber le décalage horaire. Ensuite, selon votre adaptation à l'heure locale, vous pouvez continuer à prendre de la mélatonine environ 30min avant d'aller au lit encore 2 ou 3 soirs.
Si vous avez des articles scientifiques qui disent autre chose, je suis preneuse ...
La méthode proposée par Marathon est certainement la meilleure .. il faut essayer de se caler sur l’heure du pays d’arrivee ... Mais tout se passera bien .. on l’a tous fait 100 fois !
Effectivement je ne pense pas que le Circadin soit un bon somnifère, il ne correspond qu'à un petit nombre de cas d'insomnie, soit les personnes dont le rythme de vie et les rythmes nycthéméraux personnels ne coïncident pas. Par contre, quelques jours pour un jet lag est une bonne indication, puis que le but est de "remettre la pendule à l'heure" et que la mélatonine fait précisément cela. La durée d'emploi après arrivée est vraiment à choisir par la personne qui le prend, certains s'habituent beaucoup plus vite que d'autres à un jet lag. Donc à prendre peu de jours après l'arrivée. En fait l'usage de la mélatonine reproduit exactement l'effet provoqué par le conseil de Marathon, sans avoir besoin de se lever plusieurs jours avant le départ à une heure très matinale.
Je mets la conclusion pour ceux qui ne voudront pas lire tout l'article:
: Melatonin is remarkably effective in preventing or reducing jet-lag, and occasional short-term use appears to be safe. It should be recommended to adult travellers flying across five or more time zones, particularly in an easterly direction, and especially if they have experienced jet-lag on previous journeys. Travellers crossing 2-4 time zones can also use it if need be. The pharmacology and toxicology of melatonin needs systematic study, and routine pharmaceutical quality control of melatonin products must be established. The effects of melatonin in people with epilepsy, and a possible interaction with warfarin, need investigation.
Extrait d'un article grand public de la Mayo Clinic ( qui n'est pas n'importe quoi)
(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/jet-lag/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374031)
Melatonin
As a jet lag remedy and sleep aid, melatonin has been widely studied, and it's now a commonly accepted part of effective jet lag treatment. The latest research seems to show that melatonin aids sleep during times when you wouldn't normally be resting, making it beneficial for people with jet lag.
Your body treats melatonin as a darkness signal, and generally has the opposite effect of bright light.
The time at which you take melatonin is important. If you're trying to reset your body clock to a later time, such as after flying east, you should take melatonin at local bedtime nightly until you have become adapted to local time. If you're trying to reset your body clock to an earlier time, such as after flying west, melatonin should be taken in the morning.
Doses as small as 0.5 milligram seem just as effective as doses of 5 milligrams or higher, although higher doses have been shown by some studies to be more sleep promoting. If you use melatonin, take it 30 minutes before you plan to sleep or ask your doctor about the proper timing.
Avoid alcohol when taking melatonin. Side effects are uncommon but may include dizziness, headache, daytime sleepiness, loss of appetite, and possibly nausea and disorientation. Additional possible remedies
Although diet hasn't been proven to help jet lag, some people use diets that alternate days of feasting and fasting and high-protein and low-protein meals. If such a diet seems too complicated, you can try eating more high-protein foods to stay alert and more carbohydrates when you want to sleep.
Some people use exercise to try to ease the effects of jet lag.
If you want to try an alternative therapy, such as an herbal supplement, be sure to check with your doctor first because some therapies may interact with other medications or cause side effects.
Mon avis perso. Déjà, pas de médoc. Ensuite, au premier repas servi dans l'avion, de l'alcool. Ca fait dormir 1h ou 2, c'est toujours ça de pris. Le premier jour sur place, une petite sieste e début d'après-midi (1h30 MAX), histoire de tenir jusqu'au soir. Et au repas du soir, encore de l'alcool, pour s'endormir plus facilement ensuite (parce que si vous aller vous coucher à 23h par exemple, ça sera l'équivalent de 17h en France, donc pas simple de trouver le sommeil). Ces quelques heures de sommeil mises bout à bout me permettent de passer une bonne deuxième journée (sans dormir cette fois) et au troisième jour je suis au top. Véridique.
Mon avis perso. Déjà, pas de médoc. Ensuite, au premier repas servi dans l'avion, de l'alcool. Ca fait dormir 1h ou 2, c'est toujours ça de pris. Le premier jour sur place, une petite sieste e début d'après-midi (1h30 MAX), histoire de tenir jusqu'au soir. Et au repas du soir, encore de l'alcool, pour s'endormir plus facilement ensuite (parce que si vous aller vous coucher à 23h par exemple, ça sera l'équivalent de 17h en France, donc pas simple de trouver le sommeil). Ces quelques heures de sommeil mises bout à bout me permettent de passer une bonne deuxième journée (sans dormir cette fois) et au troisième jour je suis au top. Véridique.
Merci mais je ne peux suivre aucun de ces conseils. Il m'est impossible de boire de l'alcool pour des raisons de santé et je serai en groupe avec un programme précis :1h30 de sieste est impossible.
La mélatonine me semble une piste plus intéressante.
I’m planning a trip to Japan next year and I have asthma...
I wanted to know about the regulations regarding Ventolin (Salbutamol) in Japan—is it considered a drug? Can I bring my inhaler with me, or do I need to buy a similar product in Japan?
I have two American cousins. The older one was born in Paris, and his sister was born in California. The latter is planning a trip to Paris this summer, but she recently fell ill, and American doctors don’t know what’s wrong. I had the idea of letting her take advantage of her trip to get treated here, avoiding the high healthcare costs of the American system in the process. The problem is, I can’t find anything online about this—just testimonials from French people who used to be American, but nothing for a simple tourist.
I’m traveling to Portugal with my family and I have a treatment that requires injections. How can I take a flight with these? They look like injectable pens.
Thanks
We’re planning a trip to the Philippines from April 22 to May 8, 2026. Flight from Geneva with a layover in Turkey and Manila. Our itinerary: Angeles – Busuanga – Palawan…
The Philippines are a dream destination, but is it possible to travel there safely? I’ve heard that checked luggage often gets lost, tap water isn’t safe to drink, and mosquitoes are everywhere.
For water, what’s the best solution to carry in a backpack? Is a filtering water bottle 100% reliable?
For mosquitoes, should we treat our clothes with repellent? Are you vaccinated against hepatitis A, malaria, or dengue? Or is there an oral treatment to take?
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there’s travel insurance for someone who’s had a heart attack?
I can’t find an insurer that covers a pre-existing condition, even if it’s stable.
Thanks so much!
Hi everyone, next month my wife, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are flying to Thailand. It’ll be a great chance to soak up some sun—something we’ve been missing lately here in France! But speaking of sun, I burn easily, and our daughter even more so. I was wondering what SPF to get for sunscreen and whether it’s better to buy it there or before we leave? Thanks for your tips!
Hello,
We’re planning to spend 3 months in Madagascar starting in mid-February.
Areas: Mahajanga, Tulear, Diego Suarez, and Sainte Marie—the order isn’t set yet. We’ll either drive for part of the trip or take flights.
We’ve heard all sorts of things about required vaccines and medications (is anti-malarial mandatory?). What’s the exact situation for travelers?
I’ll come back to you for other topics (like finding a reliable driver, among others).
Thank you.
Best wishes to you all,
Nicole
We're about to go on an organized trip to South Africa, including Kruger Park. We were told that Malarone should preferably be taken in the evening at the same time during a meal. But it's hard to know what time we'll have dinner, especially since I've read that in South Africa, dinner is usually around 6 PM.
I'd love to hear from people who've been on organized trips to this destination and could share their experience. We were thinking of taking Malarone around 7:30 PM, assuming dinner would be closer to 7 PM than 6 PM. Also, if the meal ends up being earlier or later than when we take the pill, would a cookie or a piece of bread be enough to take with Malarone?
I’m planning to set off on a "round-the-world" trip/long journey at the start of next year, lasting between 4.5 and 6 months. For now, the itinerary looks like this: South Korea (2 weeks) -> Japan (1 month) -> New Zealand (1 month) -> Argentina (1 month) -> United States (1 month).
I’m on medication (paroxetine 20 mg/day) and was hoping to bring enough for the entire trip so I wouldn’t have to find a doctor on the spot, deal with a molecule that might be slightly different from what’s available in France, or wonder if that’s even a possibility. Basically, it seemed simpler on paper...
But after looking into the regulations for each country, it’s suddenly way less simple . Many seem to only allow the amount corresponding to the length of your "stay" in the country... Which is a problem if I arrive in Korea with 4.5 months’ worth of medication, for example.
After all that, and even though I’ll obviously contact the relevant authorities in each country (fingers crossed for a response 😛), here’s my question:
Has anyone here had any experience with this? (Even if it’s a different medication or different countries, any input would be helpful!)
I’m trying to plan a trip to Dubai with my mom. I’ve seen that some of our medications require prior authorization (sleeping pills, codeine, anti-anxiety meds, etc.).
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been in our situation. A friend of mine applied to bring her tramadol, but it was denied—though she needed high doses!
Has anyone here gone through this process? Do we *really* need a prescription in English?
We just found out my wife is pregnant, and we’ve planned a trip to the Barlavento Islands in Cape Verde this November.
We’d like to know if there’s a real risk of Zika contamination on those islands, because from what we’ve found online, the recorded cases are old and come from the Sotavento Islands.
We’re thinking about canceling our trip.
If you’ve recently traveled to Cape Verde or live there, do you have any thoughts on this?
hi, I’m looking for information about the possibility of returning to Thailand with a portable liquid oxygen system and whether it’s possible to recharge it in Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai. thanks
I’m starting a new discussion on this topic since there doesn’t seem to be a recent one.
I have several chronic conditions (including asthma and related ones), and I’m planning to travel for a year across different countries.
Generally, I understand it’s possible to travel with approved medications (which should be my case), but often with a limit of 3 months’ worth of treatment.
Since I’m going for 12 months, that means for three-quarters of my trip, I’d have more than 3 months’ worth of medication.
I plan to bring my prescriptions with the INN (International Nonproprietary Name), as well as the original packaging (even though it’s a nightmare, but from what I understand, it’s necessary). But I’m not sure if that’s enough...
Have any of you been in this situation before? How does it work at customs—do I need to declare everything that exceeds the 3-month limit? Do I need a letter from my doctors?
I'm currently in Bangkok: How can I find a good doctor for a consultation? It's for a friend who'd like a second medical opinion compared to what they got in their country of residence.
Any professionals you'd recommend? How much does it cost?
I’ve already visited quite a few countries across several continents, but I’m pretty new to Asia.
I’m planning a trip to Thailand in October or November, and I wanted to check about health precautions: malaria treatment, vaccinations (hepatitis A or others...).
I’ll mostly be in the northern region, around Chiang Mai, where I’ll spend a lot of time in nature and the mountains. Then I’ll head south to Phuket or Krabi and visit Khao Sok National Park. I’ll finish up in Bangkok, with a likely detour to Kanchanaburi.
From what I understand, for a stay of less than 60 days, I don’t need a visa (I’m a French national)? I just need to fill out the TDAC form 3 to 5 days before arrival?
Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone is heading to Cuba soon and could bring me some over-the-counter Sildenafil (viagra) tablets—available at Varadero Airport, among other places.
Hi there! So, I'm hesitating about taking a long trip. I'd like to go away for 2 to 3 months and travel across several continents. I’d love some advice. I often have unexplained allergies and need to follow a daily treatment for my diabetes (insulin). I think I can get authorization from my doctor to travel for 6 months with the treatment—is that correct? After those 6 months, is it possible (instead of bothering a relative to send the medication) to see a foreign doctor to get another 6-month travel authorization? How does it work at the airport? Do I need just one medication transport authorization, or do I have to request a new one in each country (once the treatment runs out) for both the flight and a DCI? Also, travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so will I have to pay for foreign consultations out of pocket? I’m not sure if I explained myself clearly. Oh, and just to repeat—travel insurance doesn’t cover chronic illnesses, so foreign consultations will be at my own expense? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone.
After years of traveling to the USA without any medical insurance subscriptions—and luckily never having any major health issues (though I did get a scorpion sting buried in the sand at CBSouth, 😇)—life has caught up with us, and we’re now being forced into "wisdom" and leaving our carefree days behind.
So, I’m looking for the best compromise for a 2-month health insurance plan.
I’ve read the discussions on this topic, but the most recent one is from last year, and I’d love your take on the current situation.
I’m familiar with the usual options like Europ Assistance and AXA, but I’ve just discovered Chapka and Heymondo (the latter seems interesting in terms of both price and coverage).
What do you think of these last two? How do they compare in terms of value for money against the bigger companies?
Hi,
We’ve planned a 3-week trip to Bali this summer with our 7-year-old daughter. The itinerary includes Sanur, Nusa Lembongan, Sidemen, Amed, and Ubud. The more time passes, the more we read about people getting sick—some with mild to severe traveler’s diarrhea, and many ending up in the hospital. We, as parents, have been through it in Egypt with pretty bad cases, but we’d really like to avoid that for our daughter. Even though there’s no zero risk, and we’ll be careful, can any of you reassure me? Not everyone got sick, right? I’d love to hear positive feedback from parents, but not just them 😊. Thanks in advance!
Hi there...
I’m traveling with a friend for a month in November.
We booked our round-trip tickets from Paris to Phnom Penh, and yes, I know—it was a mistake. We should’ve flown out of Laos, but here we are.
But is it doable to backpack through both countries in a relaxed way?
I’ve seen that the transport takes a while...
Thanks so much for your replies.
Hi there,
I’ve started looking into getting dental implants, possibly in Costa Rica or Mexico.
Do you have any clinics to recommend or ones I should avoid?
For the next steps, I need to choose between Cuba Medika or Medigo—these are agencies that help with medical procedures. Do you have any info on either of them?
Hi everyone, a question for those who’ve been lucky enough to visit Raja Ampat—should you consider preventive malaria treatment given its proximity to Papua? And how was the food hygiene situation?
Thanks for your feedback! !
For several years now, increased aggression has been observed in Cape fur seals.
At least 70 unprovoked attacks on humans.
It was recently confirmed that this is due to rabies.
The suspected origin is contamination in Namibia by jackals.
The contagion seems to be spreading.
Preventive vaccination (of the animals) is being considered.
Just a reminder:
Rabies affects all mammals.
Once symptoms appear—sometimes weeks or even months later—death is inevitable.
It’s the bite that transmits the disease.
There are so-called "furious" forms with aggression, but also forms without aggression.
In case of a bite, in addition to standard wound care, tetanus prevention… rabies prevention is essential.
Stay careful out there…
Seeing seals from a boat along the coast isn’t rare in these parts…
I need 2 dental implants and I'd like to get them done abroad (it's a question of price).
Thanks for helping me with my search (Turkey, Spain, Romania???)
Can you tell me if you're satisfied with the services provided by Dentist Miguel at Club Amigo in Holguin? I'd like to go there in mid-December. Is it worth the trip to get dental prosthetics done?
Thanks for getting back to me... Michelle from Quebec
Hello,
I’m looking for a dentist who can do a full lower-arch implant with a complete prosthesis. I’m in Quebec and available to travel to Cuba. Need full contact details. Thanks everyone!
My current plan is to get my teeth treated in Cuba, especially for dental implants.
Has anyone here had experience and could refer me to a good, affordable dentist?
I’d really appreciate it if you could give me an idea of the price for one implant, since I need at least 6 done.
Thanks so much!