A few years ago, I found myself on a damp March evening in London, learning an invaluable lesson about daylight saving time and its irregularities. As I relaxed in a cozy Bermondsey bar, sipping a glass of white wine, I was caught off guard by the bartenders discussing the clocks moving forward that weekend. I nearly choked on my Chablis.
Back in New York City, I had already set my clocks ahead one hour on the second Sunday of March. In my frantic Google search, I discovered that the UK shifts its clocks on the last Sunday in March.
Don’t find yourself like me, waking up to a disorienting time shift. Here are some important tips to navigate daylight saving time changes and prevent any time-related mishaps while traveling. If you’re in the U.S., remember that most states will fall back one hour this Sunday, Nov. 2.
Daylight saving time varies worldwide
For example, Egypt adjusts its clocks on the last Friday in April and last Thursday in October. The UK isn’t the only country with differing clock changes compared to the U.S. Most European nations sync with the UK, moving clocks forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.
When traveling during these seasons, it’s crucial to verify when the destination country shifts its clock and whether it observes daylight saving time at all. Surprisingly, about two-thirds of the world, according to the Pew Research Center, does not adopt this practice.
Although daylight saving time is prevalent in North America and Europe, several non-EU countries, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, remain on standard time throughout the year. In 2023, Egypt became the first African country in seven years to reintroduce daylight saving time, meaning its clocks will now advance an hour on the last Friday in April and revert on the last Thursday in October.
U.S. states may not all observe daylight saving time
Traveling within the U.S. also requires vigilance. In 48 states, daylight saving time lasts from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. However, Arizona and Hawaii do not observe this change. For Arizona, this can lead to confusion as it borders states that do shift their clocks.
“Always verify timings for flights and road trips through Arizona,” advised Becky Blaine, a newsletter managing editor at TPG. Failing to check could mean missing a flight or reservation.
To simplify matters, remember that Arizona operates in Pacific Daylight Time from mid-March to early November, then aligns with Mountain Standard Time for the rest of the year.
Canada generally follows the U.S. day-saving schedule but certain areas in Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and parts of Quebec and British Columbia remain on standard time constantly.
Australia’s daylight saving rules differ again, where it begins on the first Sunday in October and wraps up on the first Sunday in April for certain states. Meanwhile, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia don’t partake at all.
Resorts may operate on their own time
Be mindful of time discrepancies in larger nations like the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Notably, in the Maldives, some resorts may operate on a time zone different from the airport in the capital.
The Maldives has an official time zone known as Maldives Time, five hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. However, many private resorts adjust their clocks one hour ahead for what they term “Island Time” to ensure guests enjoy longer evening light.
For instance, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort boosts its time to accommodate guests. They provide butlers to help with transfers to keep everyone punctual.
Half-hour time zones exist
Newfoundland operates at a half-hour difference from the Atlantic Time Zone in Canada, making it 90 minutes ahead of Eastern time rather than just 60 minutes. This nuanced situation can catch travelers off-guard, as experienced by Nick Ewen, TPG’s senior editorial director.
During a trip to Newfoundland, he mistakenly accepted a dinner invitation for 7:30 p.m. without noting the time difference, realizing too late that it corresponded to 6 p.m. back home.
Countries with similar half-hour offsets include India, Sri Lanka, and others in Australia. Additionally, Nepal has a 45-minute time discrepancy due to its geography.
Be careful with digital calendars
Time zone confusion doesn’t just affect physical clocks. Digital calendars can lead to scheduling errors while traveling. Last year, Tarah Chieffi, a senior writer at TPG, nearly missed a birthday party for her son. Arriving late made her realize she had set the event under the wrong time zone in her calendar app.
Now, she always adjusts her calendar to reflect her home time zone when adding events while abroad.
You can add time zones in Outlook, enabling you to view multiple zones at once. Under “Settings,” then “Calendar,” you can enable a secondary time zone view for easier planning.
Cruise ships encounter multiple time zones
Cruising can also introduce time zone challenges. On transoceanic cruises especially, expect frequent changes. If you cross the international date line, you could even lose a whole day.
During a recent five-day Alaska cruise, I found myself switching time zones twice. To help manage these changes, cruise lines typically remind guests about upcoming adjustments and provide notes at nighttime for reference.
If your device relies on satellite signals, consider bringing an analog watch or alarm clock to ensure you stay on track.
Bottom line
When traveling, don’t take for granted that every destination adheres to the same daylight saving time regulations that apply where you live. Being attentive to these time differences can prevent lost hours of sleep, late arrivals, or even missed flights.
