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hi all!

4 yrs ago, i went to backpacking in Italy and had the most horrendous experience with the mozzies there, after depleting all my UK bought Autan, the UKcampsite highly rated Avon's Woodland Fresh stuff and my own homemade essential oil concoction spray (lemon, tea tree, rosemary) and some other product, but i then couldn't get the buggers off me, so i bought some of the Italian products, an electric sensory emitter thing and some spray. none of these items worked, and came back all bitten with pus-swollen ankles, knees and arms...

so anyone who can help me for this yr's travel to italy again. i did try in advance taking garlic capsules and b12 tablets (not a fan of bovril/marmite tho!) but as i'm not so keen on their smell, i don't think my body had enough 'immunity' to combat the mozzie fest... btw, it was 40C when i was there during the heatwave with all my gear on my back, traisping from one site to another!!

thanks so much xxx

How to avoid?

Don't go. There is no point in having a wretched time.

Alan

The best mozzie guard I've ever used is the (now very popular) Jungle Formula. I personally use the roll-on - it's quite literally like a roll-on deoderant, so I just roll it up each arm/leg a couple of times - round my neck, and then liberally on my back (mainly because I can't see what I'm doing - better too much than not enough !!) and a couple of stripes on my chest, tummy and any other place I feel like adding it to.

I've not been bitten whilst wearing this stuff - and believe me, I taste good, I was always the first to be bitten. It was a real god-send to find a product that actually worked !! There's also the liquid version in a small bottle, which I occassionally use to splash on my hands, and dab on my face, a bit like putting after-shave on, I'd guess.

They also do an extra-strength version, if you think you may need it. Widely available, but for sure Boots stock it these days.

Have a great time !!!

Serious reply. We are all very sensitive to mozzies. What we do is

Use  Deet wipes - Tescos own are fine. They are superb, but have health risks, so read the label.

Keep covered in the early evening - the little b*ggers only come out to play at certain times. Avoid rivers/lakes/ponds/trees at those times.

Try not to go to places at the worst time of year.

Alan

Avon Skin So Soft dry oil spray........I KNOW it aint advertised as a mozzie repellent but it TRULY works!

I can't use anything with DEET in coz of it being contraindicated, (big word for me today with fibro fingers), so have to use only this, (or the Crocodile natural stuff in ASDA also excellent and in a much smaller bottle so easy to bung in a small bag when you're out and about, but it's a but pricey), and whilst in Mauritius recently where there are killer mozzies, (can't spell the proper name for 'em but they begin with a C), I did not get one liccle nibble on me!!!

Hubby and my son's new mother-in-law were using DEET, (Jungle Formula extra strength stuff), and one of them succumbed to two bites and the other THREE!!!

You can get the Avon SSS stuff online and I got 3 bottles delivered very fast for under a tenner and it was free p&p. (Gailsavon siteAnd yes....she's also a ukcs member).

Btw.......I have to mention that I'd only been back home for two minutes....out in our somewhat overgrown garden, (must've had a helluva lot of rain while we were away), and blow me down.....FOUR bl**dy bites on me foot and front of ankle straight away!

That'll teach me to NOT wear the Avon stuff alllllllllll the time eh?

and for when you are asleep at night - A decent Mozzies net and http://www.clearlite.co.za/uk_office.htm

The Avon stuff is brilliant as well although being followed by the Village people all singing "YMCA" can be a little unnerving  

edit for spelign as ushule

I picked up a couple of wrist bands bands the other day from Asda. They are Deet impregnated so ensure you get on ok with them first. They last for two weeks when worn several hours a day and work when rubbed or moved.

Phil

It might be worth doing some forward investigating regarding campsites (kind of goes against the grain of backpacking, but it may be worth it) and finding out what they do to deter the little critters.

We stayed in a lovely campsite near Venice (CaSavio). I am normally the first to get bitten by mozzies, but was relieved to find that they weren't a problem at the site. However it wasn't until we took a few steps outside the campsite one night to go to a beach cafe that we realised how much of a problem they really were in the area. The campsite had solved the problem by coming around each evening 'nuking' the little blighters with a smoke cannon from the back of a lorry! Not sure what was in the smoke, but it wasn't offensive and certainly did the trick. It may worth contacting the campsites you might stay at see if they do something similar.

hi everyone: first of all, i'd like thank everyone for all their replies. i didn't get to reply any sooner than now coz i had my pc broke down on me since then, and i'm really sorry for ignoring you all for so long.

well, according to some of you, the only product that seems to have have worked for you is the Jungle Formula extra strength lotion which i just purchased for £6.99. it's my blind faith in trying something new and maybe, just maybe it might just work for me. the Avon So Soft one that everyone has mentioned is the same product that i used (body lotion and dry body oil in a blue bottle with the Woodland Fresh scent) originally and did nothing for me except smell too whiffy and manly for my tastes!

i'll try and find those deet impregnated wristbands from asda's. will wearing long sleeves and trousers with socks tucked work for me too? i just can't imagine suffering in the heat for so long w/out the extra discomfort of weraing more clothes!!