Taking Comfort on Trips

Resolved in 1996: to arrive at every destination--whether on a business or pleasure trip--healthy and rested. And to stay that way. For tips on how to do so, we contacted veteran travelers and asked them how they make long and frequent trips more comfortable. Here is what they said.

Ernest Fleischmann, managing director, Los Angeles Philharmonic:

“The secrets are water and total exhaustion. On a transatlantic flight, I drink as much mineral water as possible during the flight. I take a tiny sleeping pill to sleep four or five hours on the flight. When I arrive, I go straight to bed for three hours. Then I stay up as late as possible, at least until midnight. I wake up the next morning on the local time clock. Coming back, I stay up until midnight or 1 o’clock [after arriving in Los Angeles]. I go out to a meeting or a concert. When I’m ready to go to bed I’m totally exhausted. I don’t suffer from jet lag.”

Jane Fonda, actress and exercise expert:

“The best thing you can do for yourself during your plane flight is to eat as little as possible without going hungry and drink a lot of water. This helps offset the dehydration that occurs naturally during air travel and helps minimize jet lag. The worst thing is to drink a lot of alcohol, which adds to dehydration and makes jet lag worse.”

Mitchell Anderson, television actor (“Party of Five,” “Doogie Howser”): “Try to stay on some sort of exercise routine, especially if you’re used to it. Walk. Or do sit-ups and push-ups in the hotel room. When I go to a Third World country, I am especially careful with the food, eating only cooked vegetables, not salads. I brush my teeth with bottled water and I am careful not to get tap water in my mouth when washing my face.”

Lucy Diaz, owner, Glenoaks Travel Service: “I do not eat solid food on the plane. I just order plain water or orange juice. Once the plane stabilizes, I walk up and down the aisles. If you stay seated, you feel all the movement. And I always chew gum.”

R. Drew Francis, doctor of Oriental medicine and owner of the Golden Cabinet, a herbal pharmacy in West Los Angeles: “Establish regular eating habits upon arrival. Take herbs as antiviral, antibacterial protection from cold and flu bugs, which can be recirculated in airplanes and ships. [A popular herbal combination for this purpose includes lonicera, forsythia and other herbs].”

Ralph Grippo, director of sales and marketing for the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey: “I take vitamins, request a special meal on the plane (either pasta or a light meal), get plenty of rest. I exercise each morning, no matter how tired I feel. I either run, work out or use the stair-climbing machine. I get plenty of rest. Mentally, I prepare for the time change and I adjust my watch on the plane. I eat breakfast every morning. I check the weather prior to leaving and take appropriate clothing to the destination to keep from getting sick.”

Ann McGee-Cooper, Dallas consultant and author of “You Don’t Have To Go Home from Work Exhausted” (Bowen & Rogers, $19.95 softcover): “I like to slip a pair of lightweight tennis shoes in my carry-on. If I’m stuck in an airport, I check my bags and walk. Sometimes I ‘walk a meeting.’ I say to my client, ‘Is there a place we could walk? I think better when I walk.’ If you are doing conflict resolution, you will be amazed at how much better it goes.

“I use imagery. If I’ve flown in to the East Coast from the West, instead of saying, ‘Oh, gosh, 5 a.m. in New York [the next day’s time to get up] is only 2 a.m. in L.A,’ I go the other way: ‘I’m going to take a hot, relaxing bath.’ Visualize the next day with the most marvelous outcome that could happen. Program your body for excellence.”

Jan Cobb, captain, Southwest Airlines, Phoenix: “Learn how to select healthy menu items when eating out. Stay rested. Force yourself to exercise, even in your hotel room.”

Rebecca Johnson, coauthor with Bill Tulin of “Travel Fitness” (Human Kinetics, 1995, Champaign, Ill.): “Book a daytime arrival, especially if you are on a west-to-east flight. Once you are there, drag yourself outside and do something active [in daylight]. You can recover from jet lag much more quickly.”

The Healthy Traveler appears the second and fourth week of every month.