Are the bugs really bad this time of year? Meaning end of Jan/ early Feb?
Planning my packing list and wondering how much bug juice to bring. Also, I know it's been debated before, but DEET or picaridin, that is the question???

I'll let you know about bugs next week.

We use picaridin and prefer the Repel 15%. We can buy the Cutter Advanced picaridin bug spray at Food Center on St. Thomas, but its not as strong. 6 oz lasts us about a week and a half. We're also going to try the Repel lemon eucalyptus oil this trip. We're still looking for something that is foolproof against noseeums. An antihistamine, we use claritin, helps with the bumps.

Why not just use DEET? It certainly works to keep the bugs away. It also melts plastic, stains upholstery and has a lot of side effect. I've personally become very sensitive to it over the years. It's also not recommended for children under 2. So, our boat is a DEET-free zone.

Cheers, RickG

We've been back just over a week and they dont seem too bad..

We generally don't find the skeeters bad, but the no-see-ums can eat you up near and after dark on the beach or at beach-bars. A steady wind helps. Deet helps, of course. Gin works in a pinch.

We always carry mosquito spray for the beach and beach bars. We usually only use it 1-2/trip but when you do want it, you really want it.

We bought bug spray on our trip in November. Total waste of money. I don't think we used a drop. I'd be surprised if they are an issue now. Then again, you didn't say if you were sailing or land based. I think the only place you'll have any possible issue would be on the beach at dusk. This is coming from the "canary in the coal mine" of skeeter persons. I am always the first one to get bit, they just love me for some reason.

Buy a small bottle of deet bug spray when you get down there, just as insurance. Don't bother to bring it, it's not hard to find. If you end up using the first bottle, then go ahead and get more.

I used an entire can of OFF on our trip at the end of October and still got bit, no chimichanga or dengue ones got to me though thankfully.

We were down first week of December and the only insect I saw was a fly that visited our boat by Sandy Split. Heading down again February 14 so I'll be watching this post for more reports.

Get it straight, Laura...it's chimichanga and BENGAY...<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

We're here now on VG and it is fine. We hear one or two at night but the Christmas winds have largely kept them away.
October has always been the worst month for us. Late November thru June are normally terrific.

Would think they are not as plentiful as the rainy season, We were there for 2 weeks end of November in a villa in the hills overlooking Long Bay and they were plentiful, somewhat of a nuisance , just have to spray every morning and in the evening. We liked the skin-so-soft wipes with Picaridin from Avon or the deep woods off if you don't mind the Deet Also found the mosquito coils from One Stop lite around the villa worked great. Still had a great time and no problems on the beaches during the day. Have a great time! Love the BVI!!!