I was reading Rick Steve's packing tips http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlist.htm and one of the things he recommends is insect repellent, "especially for France and Italy". Is this true for winter also?
Posted by
partout
71 posts
Hi Dee,
I live in France and have traveled frequently in Italy and I have never once felt the need to use insect repellant, although I'm not a super-outdoorsy person (don't do a lot of hiking and other 'woodsy' things). Regardless of your plans, I don't think you'll need it in winter. Hope this helps,
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10251 posts
I got a lot of mosquito bites when I was in Italy in September, but I doubt you will have a problem in the winter time. The thing about mosquitos...either they love you or they leave you alone. I guess I am just extra sweet - or my blood is anyway! :-)
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
It's absolutely not true for winter. FWIW, I've been to Italy in May and in September and never found the need for insect repellent then, either. Some people have had problems with mosquitoes in the summer in Venice.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10251 posts
In September I got most of my bites BEFORE I got to Venice!
Posted by
OP
Miami
57 posts
Wow so from what I can tell, it depends on the person. I dont really attract a lot of mosquitos usually, and in the summer here they're ALL OVER. So hopefully, the Italian mosquitos will ignore me just as much as the American ones do.
Posted by
Towson
125 posts
We got eaten alive by mosquitoes in Rome in May and June 2009. It was frightfully hot and we were staying in a convent that had no air conditioning, so we ended up suffering with windows closed. We had no problems at all in Florence, Venice, Sorrento where we had air conditioning in all our hotel rooms. That was a lesson learned.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
The bugs aren't a problem in Winter. When the nights get cooler, the bugs all but disappear.
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
I don't think you'll encounter mosquitos in the winter but for those traveling in the warm months, try putting a laundry softener sheet (i.e. Bounce) in your pociket. Supposedly this works to repel the little buggers. I took several of these Bounce sheets with me in Sept '09 but completely forgot to use them & unfortunately I am one of the lucky ones that the mosquitos like so I got bit quite a few times! I will definitely try them next time. If they work, it's less cumbersome than having to put insect repellent all over your legs & arms. Happy travels.