Do I need to bring any kind of bug spray, or take B6 to keep mosquitos away before I head to Europe for my two week trip?
I will be in London, Paris, Venice, Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid in late May and early June. I will not be out of the cities too much, and don't have any real hiking days planned, but I have no idea if there are a lot of mosquitos there or not.
Thanks!
If you find you need bug spray (and you probably won't) you can buy it there.
If mosquitos are attracted to you definitely take some sort of protection for Venice. It is the one city, apart from Sorrento, where I have found the little b******s a problem from about May to October. Have been bitten in November in Venice!
It helps if your room has air conditioning so you can sleep with the window shut. Just don't have the light on and the window open at the same time. We take plug-in insecticide with us to clear out any already in the room and use wipes before walking around at dusk and at night. You can buy repellent products in Italy.
London should not be a problem (touchwood).
OFF has little individual packets w/ a moistened towel (about the size of a Wet One)that are easier to carry and apply than a cream or spray.
Here's my favorite post on Venetian mosquitos in the summer:
click here, it's the 4th post down, Pat's
"We returned to a room black with mosquitos, it was the most mosquitos I have ever seen in one place."
(From Pat (Victoria)--Pat, old posts never die):)
I can promise you there are mosquitos in Venice. Bring bug spray.
My only real mosquito infestation was in Modena in a room where the windows had been left open.
I don't pack bug repellent. If you find you need it, you can pick it up there.
And, if you don't have air conditioning and need to open the windows for air, turn off the lights first! Otherwise you will attract every little bug within sight. ; )
Pam
Like several have said, don't bother packing everyday items like bug spray - you can buy such stuff over there if you need it.
One thing you'll find in Europe is that window screens are rare. If you keep your window open at night you might have some unwelcome flying visitors.
I once had an interesting time with a bee in an Irish hotel bathroom.
As we used to say in Minnesota "There is not a single misquito in Minnesota..... they are all married and have lots of kids." Looks like Venice is Similar? I have only been there in January and February and didn't notice any.
Because I live in MN and the mosquito is our state insect, I always carry an emergency supply of bug repellant towelettes. If they are really bad I will go out and buy some bug spray, but the towelettes protect me until I can do so.
I travel to Europe each summer with Ex Officio Buzz Off Baja shirts. Not only will you never have any bug problems, they are the most comfortable shirts ever made. They have velcro-closing vents in the sleeves, on the back, and in the yoke; as well, the sleeves roll up and button up. Take a look on any web site.
This headgear will keep the Venetian mosquitos away
click here
...and make quite the fashion statement in Venice when worn in combination with shorts and something about the color of a "Go Gators" t (and shorts, doesn't it go without saying).
Kent that is too funny!
I will check out the ex-officio shirts, thanks for the tip!
It's a midgie hat! Hah! Having heard all the descriptions of bugs in Venice, I guess I should be happy that I went to Venice in March. ; ) No matter how many bugs you have to dodge I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip. You might want to check out the book City of Falling Angels. It's wonderful.
Pam
I haven't been bothered much by tiny flying nasties much in most of Europe but I always have a plug in mosquito thingie just in case. Used it in Salzburg last year. Such things are easily available throughout Europe, as are sprays, but I haven't seen the wipes mentioned earlier. I might suggest to carry wipes over with you as they sound light and unavailable easily, but get a spray, etc., as and if you need to.
No, have been to Europe, all parts 4 times mostly in Spring, Summer and Fall and no issue with bugs espcecially in the cities.
