Italy and mosquitoes May 2022

I certainly don't want to highjack THIS thread but since my wife and I go on our very first RS My Way Italy tour in exactly two weeks, I'd love to get some tips about how you spent your time (restaurants, shopping locations, etc) for your first 6 days.

Mr. B

Thanks for the info Patty. I remember a thread from a few years ago that suggested taking screening to tape over the windows. Blue painter’s tape doesn’t leave sticky residue. Any thoughts about doing that?

Thanks for the info, Patty. That sounds frustrating, and has me slightly concerned for our upcoming trip this summer. We specifically booked (and paid more for) apartments that have AC. I don't mind no AC during the day, but I have a hard time sleeping when it's hot.

I guess I just need to, a) realize how lucky and spoiled I am in America, and b) remember that being in Italy is still incredible, even if I might be slightly uncomfortable.

Hopefully the mosquito swarms disburse soon!

Thanks for the update! I'll be there in June and have my mosquito repellent ready!

I also bought a tiny fan (USB) to bring along for sleeping or when I'm overheating with my mask on :)

Mr. B - I’m putting together the My Way post. I’ll probably start it tomorrow. I’m happy to contribute as I couldn’t find many tour reports for it, and there have been some changes since COVID.

Horsewoofie- thinking about you! We had Tomasso as our guide in Sicily. Mama is doing well! No need for tape as the windows shut tightly. It’s just then there’s no ventilation.

I think the Italy AC will be on in hotels when it gets farther into the summer season. May has always been a funny month for AC here. Fortunately, it cools at night in the Cinque Terre.

A no-a/c tip from someone who spent too many years in the southeastern US without air conditioning: A tepid shower will help. I'll be in Venice the latter part of September myself and am a bit worried about whether there will be a/c at my B&B. My travel mate says she's a magnet for mosquitoes, so this may be just a bit challenging.

Prepare a pesto of garlic, to form a garlic paste. Spread it all over your body as if it were sunscreen lotion. It will keep mosquitoes away (and other people too!)

Prepare a pesto of garlic, to form a garlic paste. Spread it all over your body as if it were sunscreen lotion. It will keep mosquitoes away (and other people too!)

Otherwise, if you want to keep only insects off: https://www.amazon.it/mosche-zanzare-Elettroemanatore-Ricarica-Giorno/dp/B07DRFV5VR/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/260-6810100-5116439?pd_rd_w=GC6xb&pf_rd_p=33067109-a506-4980-8821-e43563e26fd9&pf_rd_r=TA102931JVQWHF8W6V38&pd_rd_r=6e9c0c96-4efe-412d-9abe-673be0d2b538&pd_rd_wg=aGtEE&pd_rd_i=B07DRFV5VR&psc=1

Ask the hotel or get one on Day 1 in Italy.

One must really hate this planet to turn the AC on in May.

To acraven, if you have your mosquito magnet travel partner sit way across the room, the mosquitos probably won't bother with you at all. Problem solved.

This might be off topic.
Italy is imposing new air conditioning and heating rules to reduce its reliance on Russian gas supplies.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/heat-is-italy-plans-turn-down-air-conditioning-save-energy-2022-04-20/

I deleted my last two posts to help get Patty’s post back on track. I plan to take mosquito repellent wipes for my days in Venice. Thanks for the reminder. I’m one of those people mosquitoes swarm to.

As for a/c, in Phoenix it’s going to be 100+* the rest of the week and probably until mid-September. We set the a/c at 80* and have ceiling fans in all rooms to conserve energy and save $$$. Stores and restaurants here set their a/c too cool, well below Italy’s 25C (77F).

Patty, I’m happy to hear that Tomasso and Mama are doing good. I’m enjoying your posts. Thanks for the info.

Interesting - we've been a month in Naples area, Rome and now Tuscan hill towns and I was remarking to my wife today how we haven't seen a single mosquito yet.

Going up to Lake Garda tomorrow so thanks for the head's up.

Last time we were in Italy in May we got eaten alive. Italians have not yet invented the window screen. They have worthless little plug in devices that as far as I can tell don't work at all -- but if they work some, it is not enough. And we were not able to find effective repellent.

If you are a magnet, bring a good mosquito repellent that you kow works for you and also bring the towelettes -- having a towellette pack in my back pocket saved us more than once when we were suddenly in a setting with lots of mosquitos. One wipe will work for a couple and it really makes a difference. There are brands appropriate for children as well although anything without DEET is going to be far less effective.

No AC and no window screens is a recipe for misery for people like me who are allergic to mosquitos and swell up like a balloon if they get bit enough.

The problem of mosquitoes is that they are Italian too, so more cleaver than usual. No repellent or screen or electronic device is enough to block them!
This year should be a good year with few mosquitoes in general ,because the dryness of the last 5 months (with almost no rain at all) make the water level in rivers and ponds very low, no puddle and few water where they can reproduce. Probably you find them in Varenna and Venice because a lagoon/lake area. Where I live I haven't seen one yet, even if the temperatures are incredibly above the average. In May in Italy we have usually an average max temperature of 22/23°C, so normally we are on the verge to have the heating system still on, not the air conditioner.
In hotel the mosquitoes screen are not very common, while instead are greatly common in private houses.

Our accommodations in Tuscany just turned on the AC yesterday - not sure if it’s early but it’s been in the 80s… Prior to that, turning the heat off and letting the fan run helped some as I didn’t dare open the screenless windows. So, far I don’t have bites but I know I just jinxed myself…

There's a few mosquitoes up here by Lake Garda but still on the low side.

One device I love is an high voltage electric fly swat - I bought 10 of the test winning HG brand when they were on special offer in the big box hardware store (€5) a couple of years ago and gave them away to friends and family. Very effective.

mosquitoes are weak fliers so even a fan will help keep them away.