G'day friends...Hoping that someone would kindly assist. I am one of those people who seem to attract mosquitoes...you know, the person in the group who is bit 10x more than anyone else (guess it's my sweet blood I am planning my honeymoon, and the last thing I want is to be an itchy and hive-y bride! Is there an island (or islands) with less bugs than most? Any to avoid?? I had no problems in T&C-but would like to go somewhere different. Has anyone tried vitamin B prior to trip? Has it helped?? How long before you travel do you begin??? DEET/OFF products also tend to make me break out, so I'd rather avoid chemicals. I am most gracious for your help. I understand that I am a traveller and do not expect a completely antiseptic, sterile environment in the carib...I am just hoping to find the path of least resistance. Thanks so much! Sherisse

Sherisse, <BR> <BR>I am bug-bait just like you. How about Aruba? The wind there is so strong, I never got a single bite. Stay away from the lush forested islands (USVI and BVI and St. Lucia etc). We stayed at the Aruba Hyatt and it was gorgeous. <BR> <BR>Good luck!

From my experience having been bitten up worse then anyone I know (like you), is no matter where you go, you're going to be a bug's lunch. However, it wasn't mosquitoes, it was sand fleas (looks alot like mosquitoe bites) coming out at dusk during those romantic walks on the beach to watch the sunset. So, no matter which island you end up at, AT DUSK/SUNSET (not necessarily during the day) when the little monsters come out: avoid any fabric-covered seats for beach hammocks or chairs and such, don't sit on low-slung slatted beach chairs without a towel (or your behind and legs will get chomped), and don't go barefoot on the sand or on the grass -- generally stay on the pathways and off the beach from dusk until well after dark. It seems that after dark they retreat back into the sand and during the day, I didn't get as bitten up. I found that a clear, unscented ointment called (or sounds like) Caldadryl-Clear (its a combination of benedryl and calamine, white color bottle with tourquise cap) works wonders for healing the bites and easing the itch very quickly, I take it with me everywhere now, it saved many of my island vacations from ruin. Good luck!

I suspect those nasty "sand fleas" that are referred to are really the no see 'ems that come out early morn, later afternoon and into the evening whose bites drive me absolutely wild. After a rain and at sunrise/sunset they are the hungriest and one doesn't have to be anywhere a beach to experience 'em! I find Skin so Soft works fine ... altho lots of people tell me it can't!! But it does! When I don't use it, I might as well ring the dinner bell and say "come and get it guys!" And they do!! Short term exposure to DEET is not the worst especially those products that limit it to 5 or 10% but I understand your concern!! They are less prevelent when there is strong breezes - but that is no fun either!! Hearing more and more about the VitB thingy but haven't tried it yet. I think people begin it several weeks to a month prior to the trip.

Sand Fleas / NoSeeUms - that's all you'll run into for the most part. Some islands are worse than others. The calmer the beach the worse they are it seems. I found St Kitts had none, Antigua had a moderate amount. Barbados isn't bad. Sam Lords Castle is a nice All-Inclusive on the Atlantic side of Barbados that didn't seem to have many. The key, if you do find these little pests sharing your sand, is to get off the beach when the sun starts to set. Immediately. Go sip Margueritas by the pool or something. Wear light pants in the evening if need be and if you want to take a stroll on the beach wear pants and shoes. Don't coat yourself in DEET though, you'll only see them in the evening and if you get off the beach you'll be fine.

Hi, Sherisse from another 'sweet blooded' creature! Man, oh, man! Do those 'whatever-they-are' love me! <BR>We just returned from Aruba & my legs <BR>(mostly from the knee down) are covered <BR>in red, bumpy, oozy bites. Now...I thought they were from mosquitoes but having read the above posts I believe they are 'sand flea' bites b/c we were on the beach well after sunset every night. <BR>I use Benadryl cream & that relieves <BR>the itching. Now, the interesting thing <BR>is that I am the only one in our family of 4 who was 'selected' for feasting upon! However, I did see other guests @ our hotel with <BR>similar 'red, bumpy, oozy' bites (hard to miss! We kind of smile at each other & say "They got you, too!" Great conversation starter!) <BR>If you do find a place where you are not <BR>bait pls. post it here! Gotta go do 'the Benadryl thing'! Let us know what you <BR>decide to do! Congrats & all the best! <BR>PS I was an 'itchy & hive-y' bride.... <BR>a bride who glowed in the dark! We can laugh about it today.... 15 years later!

Avon makes a wonderful product called "Skin-so-soft" as a skin softener, and a by product is the bugs just hate it. The resort we stay at usually has a good supply. We can also buy it at drug stores here in the states. <BR> <BR>The calamine lotion is a good idea and ice will also do the trick, takes out the itch and brings down swelling after a bite. <BR> <BR>Good luck and have a wonderful trip. <BR> <BR>

Wow, guys, guess I was wrong if Susan got all bitten up in Aruba anyway despite the ferocious winds...Sorry Sherisse!

My family just came back from our third trip to Cinnamon Bay Campground on St. John USVI. We have never seen a mosquitoe on the island until this year - we're used to camping in Maine so we're not afraid of them, but this year we were certainly not prepared for the bugs. They appeared the last two nights - which were unusually hot, humid, and still. My girls were under a mosquitoe net, but my poor son got eaten alive. We finally just gave up and were prepared to let the bugs eat us, but they kept us up by buzzing in our ears. I don't know how many I must have mushed on my head that last night. I finally took my son to our rented car - he got at least two hours sleep but I got almost none (he fit better!). The next day on our trip home we all had about the same number of bites - I gave my son benadryl also. The weird thing is, my bites don't itch at all and have almost completely faded away after two days, on the other hand, my son has itched all of his into a bloody mess - it looks worse than chicken pox.

Not sure what makes the difference. My allergist told me that mosquitoes don't cause allergic reactions, the swelling is from cellulitis - basically each bite is just an infection caused by the bug pushing in the dirt on your own skin, or dirt the mosquitoe has carried to you. We all showered before bed, so I don't understand why our reactions are so different?

Anyhow - I've gone on too long - be prepared and don't be fooled into complacency by a couple of bug free years! The day after the &quot;bugfest&quot; we searched our tent and found the mosquitoes hiding in the ceiling folds and hanging to the bottoms of our cots - just waiting for a windless night to come out and feast!

I would recommend bringing alcohol to rub on any bug bites - at home I just let the mosquitoes eat me, then wipe down afterwards and I never get itchy bumps.

Honeymoon at Gallows Point Resort St. John. No bugs ever!

I'm there every month on business.
Great honeymoon romantic spot.

www.gallowspointresort.com.

Get villa # 1 thru 3.

I've gone barefoot on 10 different Caribbean islands and I don't know why, but the only one I've been bitten on is St. Lucia. I really got it there. I didn't have one inch of my body that wasn't bitten.

Small children often have a much more severe reaction to bug bites.

One of my sons used to look like he had a huge lump - about 1/2&quot; across - for each mosquito bite. He outgrew that at about 5 or 6.

Hi Sherisse-

I am also sweet-blooded and my bites swell, itch, and last for weeks, looking hideous. Definitely not romantic- I know what you mean about not wanting to be bitten on your honeymoon.

We go diving in Bonaire and Dominica very often, and have experienced lots of &quot;mozzies&quot; on both islands- one arid and one rain forest.

Bonaire is dry like Aruba, but the mosquitos can be horrid there at dusk. They seem to understand that they will be lucky if they hang around restaurant table legs.

After a few trips where I was so bitten up on my ankles that I couldn't shave my legs, I started wearing long pants and socks out to dinner. Not exactly a tropical fantasy, but worth it.

Also be sure that your room is SEALED before dusk because those blood suckers will get in and hide until you go to sleep, then bite whatever is outside of the sheets. We also take those green coils to burn on our patio so that we can sit outside in the evening.

I have had luck with a natural product called Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. It is a lotion and smells nice and sort of works. I now use the Off wipes that come in individual packets. They work very well, but the packets are foil-lined and will set off airport security beepers if you leave one in your pocket, like I did!

In Dominica, a rainy island, you would think they would be worse, but we stay right on the waterfront and the trade winds seem to keep them down.

I've also heard that if you eat a lot of garlic it repels them. It might repel your new hubby too, though...

Have a GREAT honeymoon, bugs or not!

Stay off the beach and away from low-lying areas (swamps). If you can find a mountain resort (an old plantation manor hotel), the air will be cooler and the bugs less invasive. Let's face it; in the tropics you are going to find bugs. We found the biggest, meanest mosquitos on Grand Cayman, fire ants in Nevis, bed bugs in Puerto Rico, palmetto bugs in Key West and no-see-ums everywhere. But then we found mosquitos in Iowa, Oregon, palmetto bugs in Florida and fire ants in Texas. You do what you can.

If possible stick to the dry season - December through April is safest. It's also the windiest time of year so the critters get blown away. Also - DON'T wear black or dark colours as mosquitos are attracted to dark colours. Wear long sleeves and long pants - if they can't get at you they can't bite you!