My husband and I are returning to the island next week. We will be bringing some friends with us. Our visit will be from June 23 to 29. How are the mosquitos at this time? During our visit last November, I recall the mosquitos being terrible on just one evening. The rest of our trip went well.

Can't wait to be back!

Awesome! Welcome back fellow Texan!

The mossies depend on the rain, so check the weather this week and see if it rains a lot. So far so good right now though. The no-seeums always seem to be ferocious early in the AM and at dusk, but maybe it's just me they like to eat, as my husband seldom gets bitten.

Your husband may get bitten more than he realizes. Potentially, he just doesn't have as strong a reaction as do you.

For myself, I notice that when I return to Belize many times in a year, my irritation from the sandflea bites drops considerably, but when I've had a long break between trips, it can be as itchy and annoying as ever.

That doesn't help me much...I live here. It never seems to get better, and yeah I know it's the reaction. They just bubble up, itch like crazy, and all types of cortizone or local meds don't help. Also, it's really important not to scratch them or they will make welts that won't heal. My breaks are when I leave the Island for a week or so, and let them heal up.

Oh my gosh!

Yeah, I know it is really important not to scratch them. Even if they do finally heal after you stop scratching, then there is bad scarring.

OK, have you tried baby oil? I mean, slather your ankles, lower legs in it. It drowns them. Then also put it on your upper body too, but of course, too messy to slather it up there. Also, use the heaviest DEET you can handle.

Do you ever take an antihistamine, ie: liquid Benedryl to help with the itching? That's what we've done when it was the worst. Liquid Benedryl and the highest cortizone cream we could get our hands on.

Avon skin-so-soft does the trick for me on the no-see-ums. When they or the skeets do get me, I use calamine lotion (it's very attractive as well - at least my husband says so - LOL).

Note that that has to be the version of Skin-so-Soft that contains insecticide, and it states that on the packaging. Most versions don't.

I just use the regular kind - I suppose it drowns the no-see-ums like the baby oil, just has a nice smell. Minimal if any affect on mosquitos.

BTW - I love the little wipes that come in packages - they are handy for trips, etc when you don't want to carry a whole can of spray. Bring them with you, though - never seen them on the Island and if they were... $$$$$.

Yes, I have friends from Canada that bring the packets..very nice and neat!