We have all been there. Laying in bed on holiday listening to the constant buzz of a mosquito working its way around the room. In the morning you can’t help but curse for not having prepared yourself better against the invasion of insects as you itch and scratch.
Having recently returned from a twin-centre holiday, I have learnt that prevention is better than cure, so here are a few of my top tips to help you avoid the irritating bites and inflammation on your next holiday.
Tips to avoid bug bites on holiday
Book your hotel away from water
The first way to avoid mosquitoes would be to stay well away from them, especially away from their breeding ground of water. Ensure that when you book your holiday that the grounds don’t have any streams or water running through them, and preferably don’t book a room on the ground floor near the pool.
Wear loose long clothes and spray clothes
It might sound obvious, but by covering up in long, loose clothing will stop mosquitoes from being able to access your skin. With this tip in mind…
Avoid dark clothing
Mosquitoes are attracted to warmth, so opt for light coloured clothing to keep your body temperature down and the bites at bay.
Incense or candles
Burning citronella candles or incense is an easy way to keep insects away. By strategically placing these underneath tables, or by open windows, you can avoid the agonisingly annoying ankle bites at a very cheap cost.
Lemon
An affordable, natural, alternative to insect repellent sprays. Head to your local market for a fresh lemon, simply chop in half and rub the lemon juice directly onto the skin. Not only will this help to deter bugs, but will also keep you smelling fresh!
Garlic
Whether you decide to use a spray or rub yourself with the juice, fresh garlic cloves are a great way to prevent mosquitoes. Eating food heavily dosed in garlic is also a popular approach due to the gradual smell of perspiration on the skin, although it may not be just mosquitoes that you end up deterring. However if wandering around on your holiday with a string of garlic around your neck and lemon juice dripping from your body isn’t your desired look (or smell) perhaps opt for a branded insect repellent or easy roll on.
As previously mentioned, prevention is better than cure, however if you do let your guard down and are unfortunately attacked by insects then here are some easy tips to help cool down the itching and inflammation:
Ice cubes
Take a trip to your hotel bar in search of ice cubes to cool down the inflammation and in return this will numb the itching.
Toothpaste
However bizarre it may sound, but by putting a small dab of toothpaste over an inflamed bite, sting or burn can reduce redness and itching. By temporarily relieving the skin from weeping it allows the area to heel, so cover the bite before heading to bed for an itch free night of sleep.