Travel to Australia and jet lag

[Anonymous]

We are thinking of taking our kids to Australia for a week when they will be 4 1/2 and 6 1/2. How long will it take them to adjust once we get there and once we get back? I don't really want to go if it means they will be sleepwalking and cranky the whole time (and then for another week when we get back).

[Anonymous]

I'm Australian, so go back there often. It's a long trip, so I wouldn't consider doing it for anything less than two weeks. It takes a couple of days to get into the right time zone. Three weeks would be perfect ... !

[Anonymous]

Oh well. But thanks! Better to know now!

[Anonymous]

DH and I took our honeymoon in Australia. Definitely took a couple of days to adjust. We were there for two weeks. Any less would have been crazy given the flights. Loved Australia! Nice people and beautiful country!

[Anonymous]

I agree with previous posts. We've traveled to Australia and go to India regularly with DC. Wouldn't make either trip for less than two weeks with kids.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the pps. We also went for our honeymoon and went for 2 weeks as well. The jet lag was pretty bad for a least a couple of days. We did break up the flights slightly - got to LA in the morning, stayed in a hotel for the day and then left on the Qantas flight to Sydney at around midnight. I loved Australia - we can 't wait to go back with our kids some day, but definitely plan on doing a longer trip.

[Anonymous]

Been there numerous times with kids - pps are correct that a week is too short, although I have found that jet lag isnt as much of an issue going there as it is coming back. It can absolutely take a week or more to get over the jet lag once you're back here (took my 14 month old 3 weeks).

[Anonymous]

Absolutely agree with the previous posts. We went in March for 3 weeks with our daughters, aged 3.5 and 1.5. Needed a few days there to settle in but jet lag wasn't bad. Coming back it took our younger daughter a full week to adjust. For such a long trip more time definitely makes it more worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

12:13 is correct - it is when you get back that the jet lag kills you.

One week isn't long enough. For starters, you land in Sydney at 6:00. By the time you get your bags and get through customs, and get down town, you are tired, hungry and cranky. Plus you need a shower. You show up on the doorstep of the hotel and they say "Welcome. Your room will be ready at 3:00."


The "stay the day in an LA hotel" is a great idea - it is pretty stressful getting to LA, and your kids will be exhausted while you are waiting in the airport for your flight. It is even more stressful when your plane to the west coast is rerouted/cancelled/very late and you completely miss ONLY flight to Sydney.

We, too, do that trip fairly regularly.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, all. We are not going!