Have just read horrific thread re mosquito's in Marco Island/Naples Help

[kazd]

Am now truly fed up, best go out tomorrow and buy the strongest bug repellant I can find.

Which has the most deet in the UK, anyone know.

Thanks

Kazd

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

When are you going? We've been down to Marco/Naples last two years and not had a problem at all.

I got a few bites in the Everglades, which I was expecting, but even so one of their Audubon parks (special reserves) claims to be bug free because of the things down there that eat the larvae , didn't get a single bit there and didn't even have my mega strong bug spray on.

We've been in October and never had a problem, and it's still hot and humid down there then, but obviously not so much as summer.

 

[kazd]

Hi MrsDazzle

We leave this Friday for the airport (doing the twilight checkin thing), fly out to Orlando on Saturday for one week, then down to Marco Island for one week.

I am off to Boots today to get some bug repellant. Was refreshing myself on Deet last night. I used to buy it when I lived in the US. Have you any recommendations for repellants. However , too late to do anything about it now. So,

on a lighter note, if you have been there the last two years I assume you really like it. Have you any recommendations, we are going with our three children, 9,6 and 4. We had thought about hiring a boat for a day? Not sure about a trip into the everglades but we will see. I went for Naples because we wanted a Gulf Coast beach holiday for the second leg. We went to Sarasota, Siesta Key last time (however, we did not do Disney then) and it was there that Naples/Marco was recommended.

Any decent shopping malls there and recommendations on restaurants would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Karen

 

[Hilary]

We didn't find mozzies a problem at all in Naples / Marco last month and, believe me, if they're around they'll always find me!

On my last few trips, which have all been in October, I have come home covered in bites - but picked up just as many in Orlando as on the Gulf Coast. In my own experience, it seems to have more to do with the 'when' you visit than the 'where', although there are always more mozzies around water.

Go prepared with a good insect repellant and cover up at dawn and dusk if necessary.

 

[keith&carol]

Any good camping shop will sell 100% deet spray but personally we have found Avon's skin-so-soft range to be nicer to use and more effective. They also do it in a proper bug spray now . We bought ours from the Flea market near Fort Myers.

 

[bath1960]

Having being used to mosquito's after living in the tropics my advice would be to buy an insect repellent locally. You usually find that the local pharmacist will be able to advice on the best one - some insect repellents bought here will not be as effective over there.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Karen - oh lucky you going down to Marco Yep, we love it around that area. We've stayed at the Marco Hilton the last two Octobers, but next trip that way we're staying in a friend's apartment on Fort Myers Beach.

Tips - there are so many For eating, definitely recommend The Snook Inn - if you have the time they do have a website to check out their menus. You can sit on the deck overlooking the bay (the inland waterways, dolphins and pelicans abound). Also recommend Porkys on Marco - go in the main family lounge. The food was brilliant, excellent value for money and they have loads of things for the kids to do. We didn't particularly like the look of this place from the outside our first trip, but it was the only thing nearby so we went in, must be regulars now!



Take a trip on the Naples afternoon Trolley Bus tour - it takes about 2.5 hours and takes you all around Naples giving you loads of info (although seeing the ages of your children it might be a little too long for them, but you can get on and off).

The beach at Marco is fantastic. Shelling is the national past-time as you know down on the Gulf Coast and at Marco it's brilliant.

We didn't do any boat trips down in Marco, but there are loads around. We were recommended the Kahuna yacht, but never got around to it.

The Everglades airboat rides are brilliant, perfectly safe for your littlest one.

If you need shopping - doesn't get much better than in Naples for real designer stuff There's a Walmart on the way to Naples!There's a nice mini golf also on the way to Naples, on the right hand side (blowed if I can remember the road numbers!).

The one thing about Marco and Naples - there's tons to do if you want to be kept busy, but if you just want to chill out and relax, do that as well.

My DH is a bit of a twitcher (especially birds of prey) so we spent a few hours in one of the US' national Audubon parks (reserves) - beautiful place, saw raccoons, bald eagle, gators, loads of different birds (bore me silly but the walk around the boardwalk was lovely!).

Enjoy - buy your repellant over there, if you need it. There's both Walgreens and Eckerds on the Island.

Lucky you

 

[kazd]

Many thanks for your informative reply. We will definately give The Snook Inn and Porky's a try. If I make it that is, just did the most stupid thing. I was on a major roundabout,( with T/L on), busy thinking about what I had to do before picking up my preschooler from playschool. Realised I was in the wrong lane, crossed lanes and went straight through the red light like it was a normal roundabout. It wasn't even turning red, it was red. Now I have to wait and see if I got caught on Camera which will really be the icing on the cake. There is a camera there but not sure if its for people coming up the slip road to the roundabout.

This is all stress, trying to sort out everything, mind going ten to the dozen. Roll on Saturday thats what I say.

Kaz