I am almost embarrassed to ask this, but do people have recommendations about the necessity for mosquito spray and types to use. We will be there end of November. Thanks.

Hello,<BR>That is not a question to be embarassed about!<BR>Bug bites can put a serious damper on a vacation - not to mention all the nasty stuff mosquitos carry...<BR>I had battled this problem for years. <BR>I just read a recent article that gave the length of time various products kept bugs at bay.<BR>The winner by FAR was Deep Woods Off with DEET. It kep them off for 300+ minutes.<BR>What I used to use - Avon Skin So Soft - was waaay down the line at only 10 minutes. (I like the way it smells - so do the bugs <BR>I've also heard good things about a product called Mosquito Milk, but I have never used it...

Dianne - it's really a very good question that you ask. I took Sawyer's 20% deet, which I ordered online from Campmor. Mosquitos love me, so I was very concerned about the effectiveness of my bug stuff. As it turned out, the Sawyer's was pretty much useless - by the third day, my legs were covered with mosquito bites. I thought my vacation would be ruined by mosquitos. Fortunately for me, one of my traveling companions brought along a huge bottle of brewer's yeast tablets. We had read that this was effective in deterring mosquitos, but I was skeptical. I was desperate though, so I started taking one in the morning and one at night. It worked! Over the next 15 days, I only had 4 or 5 bites total.<BR>I'm not advocating that you not use any bug spray (I continued to use mine), but you might take some brewer's yeast with you just in case. Next time I go, I will probably try the Deep Woods Off. It was available in most of the stores we shopped in Costa Rica.

The worst bugs I found were "ankle-biter" sand fleas at the beach; more than one application of "Off" per day was required. Where there was a breeze, it was less of a problem. Mosquitoes can be bad where there is a lot of standing water (river estuary, etc) but in the central highlands around SJ there was no worries.

Mosquitos love me and I love Cutter's in stick form. You can put it on without getting it on your hands (great for dining al fresco and for middle-of-the-night-without-turning-on-the-light application). You don't breathe it in like an aerosol spray. It's got DEET and it works for me, although I do reapply as necessary. I literally don't leave home without it.

Thanks to all of you for responding so quickly! I'm heading out to buy brewer's yeast right now!

You'll need to start taking the brewer's yeast about a week before you go. It has to build up in your system for a few days before it works. It is a GREAT homeopathic rememdy, and it works to keep fleas off dogs, too!

Am planning on taking brewer's yeast how much per day do I need? Will also use DEET. We go for 2 weeks in January 2003. Thanks.

Also, Watkins bug repellent lotion is really good. I like that it is a lotion, and it has a very high DEET content so works like a charm. Not sure if Watkin's products are available in the US, but we have them in Canada.

Dianne - Re brewer's yeast, I took 2 in the morning with breakfast and 2 in the evening with dinner.

Please let me know is there are there any unpleasant side effects to the brewer's yeast regimen? Thanks. Does anyone know where to buy Permethrin solution to rinse clothes?

Judy - Permethrin ( I think that's the way to spell it) I believe comes in a spray form that you apply to your clothes &amp; it repels all kinds of bugs. Try outdoor sports stores like REI or you can order it at www.magellans.com, which sells travel products.

Hi Dianne.<BR>I live in Puerto Vallarta and have found bay leaves! Boil a handful in a pot of water, let cool and put in spray bottle. It works. Also, for bites, cut a piece of lime and heat in a pan then apply to bite. Be careful not to burn yourself. This will stop the itch, in most cases, with one application. I was skeptical but this is a miracle cure.

In ten years of traveling all over CR I have had very little problem with mosquitos. There are other little black beetle bugs that will draw blood. Those are what gets me. I would definitely have some Deet spray to use when needed. I don't like to use it all the time but when you need it you really need it. You will be arriving at the tail end of the rainy season which could present more of a mosquito problem than the drier months. Dengue fever was a real problem last fall and it is carried by mosquitos. Better safe than sorry. Use the sure thing like something with deet.