We leave next week for the BVI's. Someone on Tortola said it is raining and the mosquitoes are out in full force. I always get the bites and my husband escapes with none. I'm trying something different this time, and if it works, I'll let you know. I know there are other females on this post that wish me success. Owa

owa,
I sure hope that your plan works!Nothing worse than itching from mosquito bites on vacation.Good luck!

Christie

We are going to Vieques in June.I remember reading your trip report from Vieques.How does the snorkeling in Vieques compare to St John? It sure looks like a neat,unspoiled place!

Christie

owa, at least you're forewarned. What is it that you'll be doing dfferently on this trip? The only thing in the past that I've tried successfully is the "all Deet, all
de time" approach!

You'll be doing Biras and what other place? I've forgotten...

Have a great trip!

owa,
Have a wonderful vacation! I'll be watching for your trip report.

christiegr, Have fun on Vieques! Where are you staying? I am not the one to ask about comparing SJ to Vieques. Or, anywhere else. It is all about Caneel for us. And, the beautiful beaches reached in a few minutes. When we go with the family this summer, we are splitting our time between Caneel and Gallows Point. At Caneel, my daughters and their husbands will have "a sort of honeymoon". Our granddaughter will room with us. The three boys will, as usual, provide a daily challenge for housekeeping with their own room. When we go on our grandchildren/grandparent trips, I alway aplogize to the maid and tip big time.

We will go back to Culebra next year sometime. Not that we don't like Vieques, but we've been there two years in a row. I just need to find a place to stay on Culebra. Vieques has so many choices in comparison.

ej, I'll let you know when I get back. I'm really concerned about the grandchildren dealing with bites on SJ in August. Thus, my search for the "cure". We have four nights on Tortola before going to VG. I have arranged an all day sail trip with a couple from Canada. We started talking on another board, then switched to e-mails and phone. We are able to choose where we want to snorkel. I hope the weather gods are in our favor. It should be fun and I'm anxious to meet them.

Gosh, I'm going on and on! I'll quit. Owa

Owa: Have a great trip and GOOD LUCK with the mosquitoes. They love me too so I truly understand your pain and your fear.

owa,

We are looking at Tropical Bay guesthouse...but not sure if that is where we will stay yet.We like small inns better than the resorts when we travel without the kids..which we will be doing on this trip. Our 4 yr old,Ryan was going with us.Now my mom said that she will stay with him to give us a break.

Have a great trip to St John!We were considering going back there,but we decided to go someplace new.Maybe we will get back there soon..

Christie

christiegr, I have never heard of Tropical Guest House. Certainly the price is right, and it get good reveiws on TA. And, it sounds like breakfast is included. Good luck on your decision. Owa

Christie: Looking forward to your trip report for Vieques... but I thought you were hoping to go to Jamaica? Owa: We've been there in the summer and the bugs can be fierce. It's horrible when little ones get bitten up since their bodies are so much smaller. My daughter has been going to STJ since 6 months old and has fared well during all times of the year. I admit to being a bit fanatical about it though because she is very sensitive to the bites (big lumps and welts). Our house is well-shaded so the bugs are plentiful. I am constantly looking out for mosquitos lurking in the house, and I don't let her set foot outside without a quick application of repellant. I use the pump kind, no aerosal so it isn't any more airborne than it needs to be. I spray it into my hand, and I pat down the outside of her clothes, a bit on exposed legs and arms and pat some on her hair. I keep it away from her eyes, nose and mouth. I use DEET on her clothes and her hair, and I use "Natrapel" or other non-DEET on her exposed skin. When she's playing out on our porch, I keep a oscillating fan on her and that blows alot of the bugs away and her cool. The only time she doesn't get sprayed is when she's out in bright sunlight (bugs hate that) and when she's indoors. Last time, she came home with only 2 bites. I guess the only thing I'm more crazy about is the sunscreen. Maybe it's a bit intense, but I'd rather be too careful than not careful enough.

Mae,

We were planning to go to Negril..we both have been soo busy and forgot to get our passports.We never needed them until this year.So for now we will go to Vieques..we were thinking of going back to St John as it has been 2 years since our last trip! But we decided on someplace new...maybe we will take a ferry to St John...if they offer that.

Do you have any plans to go to St John anytime soon?

Christie

Talking bout bugs...we were at Carolina Beach a few days last week for our kids Springbreak.At dusk...my husband and I got ate up by these small bugs that fly and the bite stings..not sure if they were sandfleas?I know that they were not noseeums as you could see them.

We had to get off the beach because they were so annoying.We did not take bugspray as we normally do not need it at our beaches in NC.

Christie

Hi Owa
It sure is raining here in PR. Very heavy at night on and off all day, for the last several days. Not sure when it is suppose to end, but last year at this time, as we were about to head home, the same thing happened. Today I see the clouds moving with a bit of blue sky underneath, maybe the sun will come out before I head to work!
As far as the bugs go, my scent of choice is tropical scent off! I put it on first thing in the morning, after my shower,before bed and renew throughout the day! But I hate being bit.
also early in our stay, my husband got very ill, white blood count and platelets got very low, he was down for over a week(and nothing keeps him down). We think it was from a skeeter bite, he does not liketo wear repellant!
Have a wonderful trip, anxious to see what you think of Tortola.
Christie: the snorkeling in VQS does not compare to STJ, unfortunately. There are places to go and you will see somethings, but not like STJ. Green Beach has a nice bed of fans, some corals. There are fish, just not as abundant and the reefs are not as nice.
My husband did some work at Tropical Guest House. Though it is in a lesser neighborhood, he says the place does not fit there because it is clean as a whistle, and they have a great breakfast for you. If I can answer any other questions, let me know.

soggydollar,

Do you live in PR?Is Culebra worth a ferry ride to?
Tropical guest house is not set in stone yet..we are still researching a place that is not too expensive but decent.It does not have to be glamorous as we will not be there much.

Thanks for your advice!
Christie

I just read recently that taking Brewers Yeast keeps those pesky mosquitoes away.

We were in the Bay Islands of Honduras where the mosquitos are big and bigger when it rains. I consulted an immunoligist when we went to Malaysia, borneo/Indonesia and Thailand and she said DEET is your best defense and for 2-3 weeks it will not harm you if you keep it away from openings of your body. She suggested to use 50% spray in the morning and early afternoon and after 3-4 PM 100% DEET (Ben's) in a little orange container (buy 2-3 , $5 each) and 3 cans of the 50% DEET spray cans. Make sure you put it on your back and back of your legs. Also, spray the 50% around the closed windows in the morning and before you go to bed. You cannot sit out in the so called suite after 1-2 because it is too hot (90F+ in May) plus the mosquitos are around if it rained that morning.There is Cactus Juice which is natural but was not sold in the NJ area but I bought it in Honduras. It comes from the prickly pear cactus that grows in Central America but also in TX and AZ. You have time maybe to get a bottle or two via the internet. It is natural and was $10 for 12 oz. It helped a bit, I think.

christie-
we live in vieques during the winter and back to new england for summer and fall. because my husband took me to stj, I just fell in love with the Caribbean and kept talking about living here. He decided enough of the Maine winters as he works outdoors and took the jump to develop a business where we can be in both places. stj was way out of our budget so we searched and found this island, which i have fallen in love with over time. it is such a simple life and you realize you do not need all the "things" one tends to collect over time.
we have only stayed at the Tradewinds, simple room, little outdoor patio, no tv. it is on the malecon(some have mentioned it was noisy at night, we did not notice)so it is very near the esperanza beach. it was nice walking out into theopen air restaurant in the morning and helping yourself to coffee and looking over the ocean. other guest houses in the area are banana's and amapola, all under $

sorry, hit the wrong key, under $100 a night. you may also want to look at casa lalanchita in isabel, they have a pool and are on the beach(rocky though).
a day trip to culebra is worth it,the biggest draw is flamenco beach and there are taxis to take you there. it would be a long day on the ferry since you have to go back to fajardo first, and you can fly for about $50 pp rt on air flamenco.

soggydollar,

You are lucky! My husband and I talk about when the kids are outta the house,moving to an island.We are very low maintenance people (well I am anyways..more so than my husband)I would be fine living a very simple life.
All I need is coffee and the ocean!

Thanks for the suggestions on where to stay..I will print this and check into your suggestions.

Take care!
Christie

Soggydollar, I have some questions about a particular house on Vieques called Las Piedras on Bravo Beach. I'm wondering if you know it? Could you send me an email if you are willing to communicate with me? [email protected]

Owa, I will be thinking about you next week and wish you a wonderful time. Please report back when you have time!
Maggi