Okay, the fact that I’m asking this question now, 3 months before I leave, shows how much I’m procrastinating in dealing with my difficult air arrangements.

This past Saturday morning, the Today Show was on, and they were doing a gardening segment. I was half asleep, but I thought the man said the mosquito bracelets work really well, allowing you to skip the chemicals. Any opinions? Thanks.

How do you get the "bracelets" on the mosquitos?

Ira: =D>

One ad said that the bracelet contains citronella oil, which is a marginally effective repellant at best. If you're headed someplace you expect mosquitos to be a serious problem either bring a product that contains DEET or be prepared to be a menu item.

Anyone else had experience with these bracelets?

I have not, but I always get eaten alive, so I'd love it if they worked. Unfortunately, the Yahoo search I just did indicates that they do not.

DEET is the only thing that consistently gets the thumbs up. I might try some vitamin B6 as well.

Don't get caught up in buying gadgets just because you're finally going to Europe.

How is the flight booking going?

Lesli -- Thanks for researching. I would normally ignore these as gimmicks, too, except that gardener guy on the Today Show mentioned them.

You're so right; it is easy to get caught up in the gimmicks and gadgets.

Flight arrangements all made, thank you!!! Now if I could figure out itinerary so I can make hotel reservations, that would be a relief. One painful step at a time, I guess,

I don't know if all of the bracelets contain the same "repellant", but I've tried one (I'm from the lakes country in MN, so we have TONS of mosquitos) and it didn't help me one bit.

Thanks Jaclyn, that's sad to hear . Sounded too good to be true, I guess.

We sent our son mosquito bracelets from Walmart, the yellow ones that smell lemony..He used them when he was in Thailand.
He said they were a bit stinky but he thought they worked.
He also took Super Duper Deet spray too. I would worry less about the chemicals and more about the mosquito born illnesses.

Maire, where are you going? I've never had a problem in Italy, France, Mexico, England as I've had in my own town.

Very good point, Scarlett, thank you.

Cigalechanta -- we're going to be in Italy in August (Venice, Florence, Rome, Tuscany, Umbria). Mosquitoes amano daughter and I moltissiomo.

oops, posted before I proofed, make that moltissimo

I asked a friend in Normandy why he had no mosquitos or flies in his garden area.
He claimed it was because of what he planted. I think I believe that. My grandfather who came here to New england from Italy, grwe a productive fig tree, never had many flies or misquitos he claimed, by what he planted like nasturians(sp?) between his rows of vegetables and herbs. I wish I had not been so young so that I could absorb some of his knowledge.