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rbnwdln Feb 5th, 2006 07:29 PM

Mosquitoes in Venice?
 
I've read a few times that people have found the mosquitoes to be a nuisance in Venice. We didn't encounter any mosquitoes in Italy last summer but we didn't go to Venice. Do we have those to look forward to in Venice this summer and if so, how bad are they? Thanks!

LoveItaly Feb 5th, 2006 07:33 PM

Hi rbnwdln, do you normally have a problem with mosquitoe bites? I ask because I don't. My daughter was in Rome last June and was covered with mosquitoe bites but her husband wasn't bothered at all. Maybe you two are people that just don't get bitten since you didn't have a problem this last summer. Just a thought.

RufusTFirefly Feb 6th, 2006 03:47 AM

We've never encountered a mosquito in Venice, but apparently many people have--maybe because we've never stayed on the ground floor of a hotel, or maybe there are just certain parts of the city that have them.

Statia Feb 6th, 2006 06:02 AM

I've been to Venice in both the summer and fall and never had a problem with mosquitoes. I am allergic to them and if they are around, they usually find me. ;)

I will add, however, that when we were last there in the fall, our rental agent noted that it is spring and fall that sometimes produce mosquito problems in Venice....more so than in the summer.

barbmike Feb 6th, 2006 06:10 AM

We were there in late September, stayed in a ground floor apartment away from the canal and encountered a few mosquitoes. The apartment provided a "net" over the bed which worked very well as we were able to "survive". Have a great trip!!! Mike

esm Feb 6th, 2006 06:51 AM

I was in Venice in August so we had the AC on in the hotel and no bugs.

After the 2nd day and no bugs while outside, I thought all was well so I left my bug spray bottle at our room. That night we went to dinner and were seated in the "garden room" and the mosquitoes enjoyed their dinner!

zoecat Feb 6th, 2006 10:20 AM

Unfortunately, I have been the meal of mosquitoes many times in Italy. In Venice, Rome, Siena, Florence, Perugia, and Lucca. I've been bitten in January, February, December, May, and October. Warm weather and below freezing. They attack at night and zero in on the area around my eyes. It's usually one or two who sneak in and camp out in my room waiting for the lights to go out before attacking. It's like a bad movie- "Attack of the Mosquitoes!”

I've learned to wear a mask over my eyes when I sleep in Italy.

daisy58 Feb 7th, 2006 11:52 AM

Statia-I am allergic too, so this is good information. They will even go to the trouble of biting me through blue jeans, while my companions may be in shorts, and not even a single bite!
Guess some of us are just yummier to them (:

lhs624 Feb 7th, 2006 12:10 PM

we had problems with mosquitos when we were in Venice the first week in May 2001. My friend went to Venice at the end of May and had no problems. Not sure why we got so lucky. With that said, it didn't ruin our time in Venice.

suzq_trvlr Feb 7th, 2006 12:22 PM

Mosquitos love me too, but they weren't a problem for me last mid-May in Venice. It was pretty cool at night (low 40's) while we were there though, so I may have just lucked out.

LoveItaly Feb 7th, 2006 12:50 PM

I really think that some of us attract mosquitoes and some of us don't. I have a neighbor/friend and we often enjoy sitting outside early evening as the sun sets. Within half an hour she is covered with mosquitoe bites, I never even have one.

When we had a boat in the Delta (CA) my husband would get eaten up alive by mosquitoes, as did my daughter, again I never had one mosquitoe bite.

I have read it depends on the oil in ones skin. I really don't know. Just think I am not sweet enough, LOL.

rbnwdln, if you never have a problem with mosquitoes I would "assume" you will not have a problem in Venice. But that is just a guess based on my own experiences. Best wishes.

tuscanlifeedit Feb 7th, 2006 01:01 PM

I am mosquito bait. Therefore, I get rooms with AC in case I have to keep the windows shut. I never travel without bug spray. Never. Not even to places that sell it regularly. It would be might luck to get there, and they would be all sold out.

I would never avoid travel because of mosquitos, but I always plan for them and I am armed!

kopp Feb 7th, 2006 01:07 PM

Hello rbnwdln,

Mosquitos - I've asked myself more than once what Noah had in mind when he brought 2 of those on the ark - LOL!

Anyway, one time in May when we were staying over in the Dosoduro area, the mosquitoes were quite a bother in the early evenings when we'd have our windows open. So we got real good at making sure the curtains were closed over the open windows. That really helped. Our apartment did open right onto one of the little canals.

Last time I was there it was July, we stayed over near San Marco, and nary a skeeter in sight. But then we weren't on a canal either. So maybe that makes a difference, if you're not right on top of one.

Not fun to get those bites on a trip.

Happy travels!


LoveItaly Feb 7th, 2006 01:12 PM

I am not sure if being near a canal matters if mosquitoes "love you". My daughter had bites on top of bites during her month in Rome and the family house isn't near any water. And I live in the Sacramento Valley, not near any water except for a few canals or creeks which are some distant away and yet my neighbor gets eaten up alive. But again, I sure don't have any medical knowledge or scientific knowledge about this.

chuut_riit Feb 7th, 2006 01:24 PM

Many years ago, I stayed in Venice on the Grand Canal, and got eaten alive. We had gone out to dinner and left the window open and the lights on. I think every mosquito in Italy was in my room that night. I'm getting itchy just thinking about it.

kopp Feb 7th, 2006 02:22 PM

Even if you're not the one those pests love to eat, coming home to a room filled with the flying buggers is not my idea of fun. You spend the next hour or so trying to get rid of them all so that you don't hear this little buzzing all night long.

Good idea to just keep the windows closed, or at least come back before dusk and close them then.

And you're right, LI. It doesn't take a canal to breed those guys. Just a small amount of water in a bucket or drip tray for your plants is enough to start the cycle all over again. Every time it rains (which hasn't been much here in Austin lately) I have to empty all the plant trays...or else!

Eew, just the thought of these things gives me the heebeejeebees.

LoveItaly Feb 7th, 2006 03:18 PM

LOL Kopp, your post reminded me of when we spent a week on Sardegna. We had a lovely two story house at a resort. Beautiful terrace etc. No screens on the windows of course. Hotter than you know what plus humidty. No A/C. So windows and french doors opened during the night so one could breath.

Again, I don't get bitten by mosquitoes but my husband was loved by mosquitoes. Anyway, those little buggers were flying thoughout the bedroom the entire night..bzzzz, bzzzz, bzzzz. I ended up pulling the sheet over my head while I slept in order to not hear them buzzing around the room. It didn't work!!!!


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