When defrosting the car or checking the snow forecast before work, grabbing a coffee and slipping on ice – don’t you start dreaming of sipping a cocktail on a beach, instead?

You do? You’re not alone. This winter, 22.3 million Brits plan to leave the UK, blaming the cold weather and early darkness! (1) 

My Weekly (1) and The Telegraph (2) listed the top destinations for winter sun. They sound absolutely perfect. Except… there’s trouble in paradise: the risk of mosquitoes and tropical diseases.

And how do you know if to pull out all the stops of mosquito bite prevention? How do you know if you need to prevent the misfortune of incognito founder, Howard Carter, catching malaria and Dengue Fever on his travels? 

Fear not! We checked ahead at 5 of your top destinations and come back with a full report on mosquitoes, diseases, and what to pack to protect yourself. If your favourite holiday isn’t here, check our next blog for 5 more!

Florida 

Many families and children go to Florida for Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Seaworld… and 12 other theme parks! Relax on the best beaches outside of the Caribbean, such as St Pete’s and Fort Myers, or shop in malls the size of cities.

Hike, kayak and hot-air balloon across the Everglades National Park and see alligators in the dense forest and swamps. However these are ideal mosquito breeding grounds, so be sure to use our insect repellent. (Note: incognito doesn’t protect against alligators!)

Are there mosquitoes in Florida? Yes – high risk of mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, Zika, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and West Nile Virus.

In Florida, warmth and water provide the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Hurricane Irma left floodwater in its wake, and more mosquito eggs have hatched. Miami had a bad mosquito season this July, as insects were blown over from the swamps. In Hernando County, over five times as many mosquitoes were caught (3).

Family-friendly Florida calls for family-wide protection.

The incognito insect repellent spray and roll-on is safe for all the family and can be applied directly onto skin, clothes, and your luggage. Kids often find the roll-on easier to apply themselves!

In the Sunshine State, you have SP30 protection against UV rays with our suncream. Reapply both suncream and insect repellent after waterpark rides, swimming or washing.

For longer stays – wash the whole family’s clothes with organic Java citronella oil added to a neutral detergent. Your clothes will smell fresh and lemony, while the insects will avoid you!

At night, if you’re not staying in an air-conditioned room, sleep under an impregnated mosquito net – warm nights can mean windows and doors are left open. Room refreshers and incense sticks will help drive insects away.

What to pack – the essentials

• Insect repellent spray (approx. 1 bottle per adult per week) and roll-on (approx. 2 roll-ons per adult per week).
• Suncream insect repellent (SPF25 UVA & UVB protection).
• Hair and body wash and/or soap.
• Organic Java citronella oil.
• Impregnated mosquito net to fit your sleeping area.
• Room refresher for each room
• Incense sticks for inside and out.

Cuba 

The largest island in the Caribbean, Cuba has a distinctive culture of cigars, cadillacs and rum under a hot sun. Perfect for sunbathing by day and salsa by night.

In the capital city Havana, you can see romantic architecture, visit the stunning cathedral and drink rum in the famous Bodeguita del Media. At Varadero, you’ll find 13 miles of soft golden sands, candle-lit restaurants in caves and cocktail bars overlooking the clear ocean.

Are the mosquitoes in Cuba? Yes – high risk of Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and Zika virus.

In Cuba, mosquitoes are active throughout the day and evenings. The NHS warns pregnant women to postpone non-essential travel to Cuba as there is a high risk of Zika, as well as Dengue Fever and Chikungunya. There are no vaccinations against these diseases, so the only reliable method of prevention is avoiding mosquito bites – don’t leave it to chance! Malaria is not usually present on the island, nevertheless malaria can be transmitted at times due to high numbers of tourists.

Cuba is a classic honeymoon destination. If you go those candle-lit restaurants or cocktail bars in the evening you need to apply our insect repellent spray or roll-on – you can spray onto skin and over clothes for extra layers of protection. Insect repellent in Cuba is often seen as a luxury item, so take spare bottles and roll-ons as you might not find any (or the most effective products) out there. And be warned, drinking those cocktails makes you more attractive to insects!

Before you go out, wash with our hair and body wash or soap, and avoid your usual fragrances which attract insects. Leave off the perfume and cologne – preventing tropical diseases is more important than smelling nice, even on your honeymoon!

Cuba is very proactive in fighting mosquitoes and most holiday resorts ‘fog’ morning and night. However, it is safest to bring your own impregnated mosquito net. Place a room refresher and burn incense sticks in each room in your accommodation to help keep insects away. 

What to pack – the essentials

• Insect repellent spray or roll-on – 1 bottle or 2 roll-ons per adult per week, and bring spares.
• Suncream insect repellent (SPF25 UVA & UVB protection)
• Hair and body wash and/or soap for washing
• After-sun moisturiser
• Room refresher and/or incense sticks
• Impregnated mosquito net

Barbados

Barbados is a paradise of swaying coconut palm trees, soft sandy beaches and turquoise waters – and winter marks the end of the humid season, so you have high heat with cooling breezes.

It’s a perfect spot for spending all day on the beach, swimming through vivid coral reefs, and ending the day with rum punch and Calypso beats. Barbados has some of the best beaches – Platinum Coast is a favourite with celebrities.

Are there mosquitoes in Barbados? Yes – high risk of Zika virus and Dengue Fever.

Mosquitoes in Barbados are most active during the day and evenings and the NHS recommends travellers should practice strict mosquito bite avoidance at all times. There is a high risk of Zika virus and Dengue Fever transmitted by mosquitoes.

For maximum protection against mosquito bites, our 3 step “pamper and protect” regime is a good place to start. Sunbathe with our suncream  and use our insect repellent spray or roll-on on top for longer lasting protection.

Before you go out, wash with our hair and body wash or soap. Moisturise with our after-sun moisturiser and apply insect repellent. 

What to pack – the essentials

• Insect repellent spray or roll-on (1 spray or 2 roll-ons per adult per week) for regular use during the day and evenings.
• Suncream insect repellent (SPF25 UVA & UVB protection)
• Hair and body wash and/or soap
• After-sun moisturiser
• Room refresher
• Incense sticks

Gran Canaria

This Canary Island is a miniature continent – green up north, mountains in the middle, and desert down south. Hike or cycle across the island for breathtaking natural views, including Canarian banana plantations!

The younger crowd go to the larger, trendy resorts at Playa del Ingles and Maspalomas for serious sunbathing and nightlife, while quieter travellers or families go to Puerto Rico and Bahia Feliz for spacious beaches and low-key evenings. The strong mid-2os sun during winter is a draw!

Are there mosquitoes in Gran Canaria? Yes – no risk of diseases.

Hot sun all year round has one downside – winter is never cold enough to get rid of mosquitoes! These mosquitoes are most active in the evening. The NHS states the Canary Islands, and the rest of Spain, is free of mosquito-borne diseases. 

If you are not particularly attractive to mosquitoes, our suncream and moisturiser usually provides enough protection across most of Europe. However, if it’s your first trip and you’re a ‘mozzie magnet’, you don’t want the island’s mosquitoes flocking to the tasty new visitor! If that’s you, take our insect repellent.

Exercise attracts mosquitoes as you sweat and emit more carbon dioxide. If you hike or cycle without using insect repellent, take our Zap-Ease around your wrist.

What to pack – essentials

• Suncream insect repellent (SPF25 UVA & UVB protection)
• After-sun moisturiser
• Zap-Ease
• Incense sticks
• Insect repellent spray or roll-on if you are a ‘mozzie magnet’.

Dubai 

Dubai was voted top winter destination for Brits (4), followed by Barbados and Florida. Steady high-2os winter sun makes Dubai perfect for outdoor activities, including the most spectacular New Year’s fireworks display in the world.

You can ride a 4 x 4 through safaris, ride a camel through eerie sand dunes or simply relax on beaches. The Aquaventure Waterpark has record-breaking rides for the brave, and gentle rides for children (or the timid).

The world’s largest shopping mall in Dubai has an ice rink, aquarium and 500ft jet fountain. And you must go to the viewing deck of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building (unless you have vertigo)!

Are there mosquitoes in Dubai? A few – no risk of diseases.

Mosquitoes will find you in the evenings near mountains and still water, with minimal numbers in cities. 

TripAdvisor users say that a mild insect repellent is enough. Our suncream insect repellent offers SPF25 protection against the desert sun while actively repelling insects and moisturising your skin. 

If you’re one of many women going for the designer shops, you should be aware women baring too much skin can receive a police warning. This dress code (more liberal in Dubai than other Arab Emirate states) has its’ advantages – covering your skin will help you avoid insect bites. Did you know women get more insect bites than men? Also, pregnant women are more than twice as attractive to mosquitoes.

And here’s some fashion advice: mosquitoes are more attracted to black, blue and green clothing, and floral patterns. To avoid insects, dress ideally in white, olive or light brown clothes.

As Dubai is free from mosquito-borne diseases, if you decide to apply no insect repellent, carry our Zap-Ease around your wrist.

What to pack – the essentials

• Suncream insect repellent (SPF25 UVA & UVB protection)
• After-sun moisturiser
• Zap-Ease
• White, olive and light brown clothes!

In high risk countries (Florida, Cuba, Barbados), you should always use our insect repellent spray and insect repellent roll-on. They have 100% efficacy for 5 hours in clinical tests against disease-carrying mosquitoes. Apply on skin, clothes and luggage. Safe for all the family, including babies from 3 months old and pregnant women. Reapply repellent every 5 – 6 hours, or after water. 

Use our suncream insect repellent for SP30 protection against UV rays with PMD, the active ingredient in our insect repellent. Reapply suncream every 2 hours, or after water. 

Wash with our hair and body wash or soap to reduce your attractiveness to insects and use our luxury after-sun moisturiser to moisturise (and to soothe sunburn). Their natural ingredients to help you repel insects, particularly organic Java citronella oil – and they’re great for your skin, too! When you apply our suncream and insect repellent spray or roll-on after this, you have unprecedented layers of protection.

For best practice, see our 3 step “pamper and protect” regime.

Sleeping under your own impregnated mosquito net is the only guaranteed protection against mosquitoes all night. Burn incense sticks to smoke insects away and leave room refreshers in your accommodation. 

In safer countries (Canary Islands, Arab Emirates) take our Zap-Ease around your wrist. If you get bitten, zap the bite to reduce swelling and itching.

Reference:

(1) The Weekly, “Brits in Winter Exodus”, November 2017

(2) The Telegraph, “The 25 best destinations for winter sun in pictures”, October 2017

(3) CBS Local, “Florida hit by mosquito horde after hurricane – trap nets 26,000 bloodsuckers in one night”, September 2017

(4) The Mirror, “Dubai voted Brits’ favourite holiday destination”, March 2017