Mosquito help

ladymarmalade

Hi all

Last year I went to Mexico for the first time for 14 days. I used a layer of boots insect repellent (50% deet) and then a layer of boots soltan sun cream with insect repellent. For ten days this worked and both my husband and I were bite free. After the 10th day, however, things changed and we both got bitten a few times. However, we were still following the routine as outlined above.

I have been racking my brains for what could have caused our sudden appeal to them mosquitos.....the only thing I can think of...and I might not even be remembering the right days but we used original source showers gels for our entire stay....I am pretty sure that we used the mint and the eucalyptus ones at first...and ended our holiday with coconut....could the coconut have made us delicious and the mint/eucalyptous disgusting? Any thoughts?

Does anyone have any other top tips for avoiding them?

balletshoes

the mint in the shower gel could have helped - as well as Skin so soft I use peppermint oil diluted in water and in a spray bottle for Turkey.

Blue264

balletshoes wrote: »

the mint in the shower gel could have helped - as well as Skin so soft I use peppermint oil diluted in water and in a spray bottle for Turkey.

Ants hate mint and peppermint oil, and won't go past it if you use them in your garden, so maybe it's the same for other insects too?

Just found this...

Choose organic varieties which contain rosemary, mint, clove, eucalyptus and lemongrass, all which foster anti-mosquito properties.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/preventive-care/repelling-mosquitoes.htm

Pollycat

ladymarmalade wrote: »

Last year I went to Mexico for the first time for 14 days. I used a layer of boots insect repellent (50% deet) and then a layer of boots soltan sun cream with insect repellent. For ten days this worked and both my husband and I were bite free.

Personally, I use this the other way round - aftersun first, then the proper mosquito repellent as it's that which I want closest to things that might bite me.

After using aftersun, I then use Avon skin-so-soft dry oil body spray (the original one).
Despite what anyone says, this is NOT marketed as a mosquito repellent but I've used it for many years and even if it doesn't work, it's a nice moisturiser.

After Avon, I use a 'proper' mosquito repellent.

If you didn't vary your routine - and didn't start sitting close to still water or lots of greenery for the last 4 days - then it sounds like the shower gel actually made a difference.

artichoke

as well as the above sprays, creams, natural ingredients....

what products do people recommend for using in accommodation to keep the mosquitos at bay?

are the electric plug ins or the battery operated ones (for tents) any good?

what about the coil burners for using outside on patios? can anyone recommend things that work?

is it best to buy these things in the UK or buy local products when you get there?


thanks for any help and advice ...

art

Pollycat

artichoke wrote: »

as well as the above sprays, creams, natural ingredients....

what products do people recommend for using in accommodation to keep the mosquitos at bay?

are the electric plug ins or the battery operated ones (for tents) any good?

what about the coil burners for using outside on patios? can anyone recommend things that work?

is it best to buy these things in the UK or buy local products when you get there?


thanks for any help and advice ...

art

I use plug-ins (sometimes the liquid ones, sometimes the tablet ones) in all rooms that have a socket - including bathrooms.

I do have a battery operated unit that is supposed to emit a frequency to deter mosquitos but as I bought it from a £1 shop, I've no idea if it works or not but I do have it switched on.

If you have a ceiling fan over the bed, have it on slow as the mozzies find it harder to fly.

whodathunkit

artichoke wrote: »

as well as the above sprays, creams, natural ingredients....

what products do people recommend for using in accommodation to keep the mosquitos at bay?

are the electric plug ins or the battery operated ones (for tents) any good?

what about the coil burners for using outside on patios? can anyone recommend things that work?

is it best to buy these things in the UK or buy local products when you get there?


thanks for any help and advice ...

art

I also have liquid plug ins in all rooms, even at home. We use citronelle candles on the table outside as I found the coils always break.

Katiehound

The coils that hotel in Malaysia used were very effective. They used to put them in a container smoking away under the tables outside the restaurants at the first sign of a flying nasty. If you are using these I would be inclined to buy them at your destination.

The rooms there also had mossie plug ins at night.

Fans are useful - as said before- mossies like still air and dark corners.

Don't wear dark clothes

If you get bitten (and there is no risk of malaria) an insect zapper is very effective but do not use with spirit based repellant!
If you haven't seen one - this is an example
http://www.globaltravelproducts.com.au/store/zap-it.html
in the past they have been available from Boots & Superdrug.
Worth every penny!!

PompeyPete

As well as all the above, take a couple of universal sink plugs with you for your hotel bathroom.
Keep the plugs in the plug-holes and you've cut out a point of entry that most folk overlook.

LutonGirl

I am a mosquito buffet as far as the little blighters are concerned. I always take a mozzie net with me when I travel and was especially glad of it this time last year in Greece.

I usually carry some cup hooks and some string and find a way of discreetly rigging the net up - taking it down each morning if the hotel is funny about it. We're careful not to leave obvious holes in woodwork etc.

On our holiday last year, each evening before leaving the apartment, we'd arrange the net over the bed and give the room a good blast of Raid before locking up and leaving.

Happy to report peaceful sleep and no bites.

totallybored

I've used coils in Asia and they've been effective (along with all my repellents and patches etc). I bought some in the supermarket in Bangkok to bring home with me to use in my garden as whatever bites me here is worse than most of the mozzies I've encountered in Asia (apart from the evil HK ones).