Avoiding mosquitos at all inclusive in Riviera Maya?
 

Daughter returned a week ago from Grand Palladium Colonial in Akumal. Horrible mosquitos, will never go back. I realized too late that since the property has a LOT of foliage and ponds, of course the mosquitos were horrible. I'm sure this is common in many of the Riviera Maya properties that are very lush, though this one also has a lot of standing water (ponds, streams). Also a lot of rain before they arrived, can't predict that. My hubby & another couple want to go down to an all inclusive in the area, but want to avoid a mosquito ridden place. Really wanted to avoid Cancun because it's so crowded and touristy, but that seems to be the place that would be less "buggy" due to having more concrete! We also wanted to be close to good snorkeling. Suggestions? THANK YOU!!!!

It must be the time of year. We go to Akumal every year in February, never saw more than one or two mosquitoes.

Just use repellent. Places are not individually "mosquito ridden", entire geographic areas are at certain times of year. So you can stay indoors, stay in a concrete jungle, or use repellent.

Definitely has to do with weather and time of year.

Just buy or bring some repellant and use it every time you go out (if it turns out the bugs are bad).

<Horrible mosquitos, will never go back. >
Also, this is ridiculous.

When we visited that area, we stayed in Tulum. It is very natural down there, with a lot of foresty areas. It was March, so not really the season for tons of mosquitoes, but there were some. We found that whenever we were in the sea breeze, the mosquitoes weren't a problem at all. Outside in protected areas, away from the breeze, there were some, so we just sprayed our legs and feet occasionally and it was fine. The only time it was a particular problem was right after it rained, then got warm, but there wasn't much of a breeze.

<since the property has a LOT of foliage and ponds, of course the mosquitos were horrible>

You are drawing conclusions that don't necessarily make sense. Just because there is standing water and foliage doesn't necessarily mean a place will be teaming with mosquitos.

There was a huge rainstorm the first weekend of June this year, just use wipes with DEET, especially around your ankles and lower legs. I stay in Akumal, non-AI and get a bite now and then, no big deal really unless you have a bad reaction to them.
I think the only place that might not have skeeters would be a place with lots of concrete like Cancun which you say you want to avoid. Maybe look into Isla Mujeres plenty of places right on or near Playa Norte with a nice breeze. Not a good place to stay AI though, too many good restaurants.

Or you could go in the winter and avoid the rainy season.

Consider using Picaridin, and using it faithfully as directed.

Good luck!

Another tip I have heard but not put into practice is to soak your clothes in some kind of repellent--maybe Picardin? But it apparently lasts for several washes and is easier and more pleasant than applying repellent directly to the skin.

I wouldn't count on Picaridin lasting on clothes for several washes. See:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbo...and-arthropods

I didn't find it unpleasant to apply Picaridin to my skin. JMO.

You don't have to go to Cancun to avoid mosquitoes. I suspect it does have to do with time of the year, as well as perhaps that exact foliage situation.

I've been several times to Cancun (once, not that crazy about it) and Playa del Carmen (like better), and I never had any problem whatsoever with mosquitoes. I don't stay in AIs, so can't recommend one but I know there are quite a few right around PDC (there was one right on ave Constitucion at the ocean which isn't too far from the area I stay; and there are a couple right on the southenr edge of town, I believe). Their setup would probably be similar to where I styaed. I just stay in a hotel in-town, so there isn't a lot of foliage right around there, that's for sure. But those are basically in-town as far as that is concerned, they aren't rural.

I go in November, though, which is a great time to good -- better rates than starting the holidays and Spring and past the hurricane season. So if you want to go, I'm sure you can, but if you insist on certain months maybe that's part of the problem.

We own a condo in Puerto Aventuras and rarely see any mosquitos, rarely. Often been to Akumal and the same applies...There is almost always a breeze from the ocean all along the Riviera Maya coast. Those who have travelled the area would certainly agree. It must have been a rare combination of weather and location...
Great snorkelling in Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, and certainly Akumal.
Not so much in Cancun as the waves can be quite invasive. I would rearrange my schedule so as to be in the area from December to May.

Rohelio: The thread is more than a year old . . .