To dread holidays because I can’t sleep?

[Dandelionplease]

I enjoy the idea of going away for small breaks, but I can never sleep when I’m there, so it’s completely spoilt.

The reason i can’t sleep is that I’m not I’m my own bed. I take my own pillows etc.

AIBU to dread it? Even though I should be grateful for going away?

Me too! I’ve never had a bloody nap in my life either.

Bringing a pillow with me helps and I can’t do long haul without sleeping tablets.

Oh me too, I can never sleep well in a new place. I'm ok on holiday if it's for a week or so as after the first couple of nights i seem to settle but just one or two nights is a nightmare. Even worse if I've had any alcohol - then I just can't sleep a wink.

I’m odd in that I get a feeling about a hotel room and I know if I’ll sleep there or not. If the decor is bad then I can’t sleep, it’s really odd but I’ve been like this from childhood.

We stay at Forest Holidays lodges a few times a year and I’m fine there as they all look the same so even though I’m in a different lodge I think I’m in the same one so there’s nothing to get used to. I sleep well there.

I’m worst if I’m away with friends. I HATE sharing a room with anyone other than my H and kids. Even worse if you’re sharing a bed. I’m going away for three days in September with friends and I’ve already said I am not sharing a bed. The rooms are quite spacious actually so the twin beds are at opposite ends of a large room so I can sleep there hopefully.

I hate turning up to hotels in the middle of the night due to a late flight as I have to get used to it during the day. I can’t just turn up and sleep.

Glad I’m not the only one!

If it's any help, apparently the reason for this is because the body senses it's somewhere new and thinks we could be under attack so we're more alert. It's a shame we haven't evolved enough to know we're probably safe. It's very common, I usually can't sleep the first night

Sorry to everyone else i the same boat.

If you have a netflix, amazon prime account, put that on your gadget, ear buds in sound on low and it will relax you. I do this at home, a familiar programme is best I tend to go for star trek series because that is so easy to listen to for me knowing the characters so well. If not I player or ITV on demand.

I think with me it is unfamiliar noises in a hotel.

Me too. I never sleep well if I'm away for the night & as for sharing a room! I don't get any sleep then

I know what you mean! The worst are trips where you travel around and stay in a different place every night as I pretty much don't sleep at all. I think it's an anxiety thing for me.

What @Funkyslippers says. This is a well-evidenced biological reality. First night somewhere new = bad sleep. All about avoiding danger.

I second drugs though. One piriton does nada for me. Ditto Nytol (Diphenhydramine). However... Promethazine (Sominex) is much better.

first night effect

I was just talking about this with an old friend the other day, many decades ago we toured around Europe in a huge orchestra and stayed in different cities and hotels every night for weeks on end. How did we do it, I wondered aloud, given I now can't seem to get to sleep the first night anywhere? Then we remembered... so maybe the solution is a really good shag as soon as you arrive OP!

Where do you get nytol? Is it over the counter?

Hi OP
I haven't read all the replies so sorry if you've heard this- Pheneagan 25mg work for me every time. You can get them over the counter but you'll be quizzed on why you want them.
I always keep a few handy for times when my sleep pattern changes. They've been a God send for me.

The sleeping tablets you can get from Savers/Poundland are good and cheap too, they suggest taking 2 but I just have 1 (or 2 if I really can't sleep!)

I don't sleep well put my own bed!

Mrs-k will try those too!

Let us know how you get on OP but I can (almost) promise you that you'll be out like a light 20mins after taking 2 x25mg of Pheneagan.
If that worries you then start off with 1.

Hi Joseph. I lost my first reply so apologies if this post is duplicated.
Yes you can get Nytol over the counter but (for me) the active ingredient that makes you sleepy is too low, plus they're expensive. Pheneagan is much stronger and cost about 7 quid for 52. Hope some of that helps.