I'm sorry I forgot to ask this in my previous post. There are thousands of different brands of bug sprays and I have no clue which ones to pick!

Everyone tells me to get one with Deet. I want to use this on my face as well and I heard some cause rashes. Which ones are the best and most effective? I'm not worried about price.

What would I do without this board?

Thanks in advance everyone!

It seems like price is the only thing you are not worried about. If "everyone" is telling you Deet, exactly how many people do you need to ask? Please relax and enjoy your trip. Remember, nothing is perfect or you will be disappointed. Roll with the punches. Have fun!

I don't know where you are going! When we travel in Costa Rica, we take a spray (no particular brand) with at least 25% DEET. This will take care of you.

I would recommend Ultrathon made by 3M. Awesome bug spray....featured on the Today Show last summer. We used it in CR and had no problems.

I agree, Ultrathon! A CR "best": highly efffective and long-lasting.
I used it throughout the wet and dry tropical forests of Panama (incl the Darien) and Costa Rica and in the VIs.
Get it @ Walmart and don't pack it (the spray-on) in your carry-on bags.
M

Further, a testamonial, I personally have seen Africanized bee swarms avoid folks with properly and liberally applied Ultrathon!
Others were less fortunate.
I think the mosquitoes carrying yellow fever, malaria, dengue, and the various encephalitis viruses are repelled as well.
That said, the yellow fever vaccine (like HepA) is nearly 100% effective for long term (10 yrs +), just don't look at it when it is injected.
M (MD - ABIM, ABNM, ABR)

Why not pack bug spray in carry-on luggage? Is this a restricted item? I was hoping to travel light on our upcoming trip to CR, and would prefer not to have to check a piece of luggage just for bugspay!

I don't know their criteria, but I had a can of Raid confiscated by the TSA out of my CHECKED lugggage. Their note in my luggage read "Raid is a hazardous material".

Raid, huh? Just how big ARE those Costa rican bugs? LOL!

It's highly flammable and will be confiscated from your carry-ons!
M

I've been reading this post with interest because we are going to CR in August. You mention that Ultrathon is flammable. Are all bug sprays flammable? If so, I didn't realize that. Makes me nervous about using it. But I assume it is a necessity.

Hi Kwoo,
Once it's sprayed on, it's not flammable, but, like most stuff in a concentrated spray "can" it is potentially dangerous.
M
PS the smell and texture is not bad after a few minutes and the protection is "good" for many hours more than most. Better than some "Antimalarial Drugs".
M

American Airlines, the airline we're flying with, allows up to 70 ounces of "personal care items containing hazardous material" {no more than 16 ounces per container}in carry-on luggage. I'm going to check with them if bugspray is excluded from this allowance for some reason.

I am wondering if perhaps not all airlines adhere to the same policy. We have traveled there with spray cans in our carry on and also checked. Never had a problem either way.

I once had aerosol contact lense solution taken from my carry-on bag. And it was pre 9/11. My understanding is that aerosol cans can explode under pressure so I would creams/lotions should be o.k.

You can purchase non-aerosol insect repellant containing Deet at Wal-Mart.