[justmakebelieve]

So, the ubiquitous mosquito net question....

Coming at it from a slightly different angle though, I'm going to be in Chennai on Dec 20th, then travelling through Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Masharastra and Rajasthan until about March. Budget for hotel rooms is under 400rupees (I'm on my own).

Are hotels in that budget likely to have AC, or be airtight enough with a decent electrical supply for a plug-in vapouriser thing? I don't really want to have to carry a mosquito net with me (my pack s only 45L, and a net takes up valuable shopping space!) but don't want to just leave bites to chance either! (I'm taking the leap here of presuming that mosquitos will be present in those states at those times, so if I'm horribly wrong then please point it out )

[WonderWomanUSA]

I use the nets when the hotel provides them, otherwise, sleep under a moving fan so the mossies can't land! Sometimes I use mosquito coils and they work pretty well, too. Iv'e never used those little plug-in things, but everyone says they work very well, with no mention of how "air tight" a room might be.

I would think that taking a mossie net would be a real PITA, because in every hotel, you'd have to figure out how to hang it. Most of the beds do NOT have posts on which to drape it, and you can't tie it to the fan -- if you could ever reach the fan.

[malkers]

I think in over 2 years I have only stayed in one place with a net and a damn mosquito was hiding under it so I got more bitten than normal.

Most places should be air tight for that budget but if you do find gaps you can always carry some tape with you and tape it up, if you notice any before you go to bed then slap on some cream or spray and pop in a plug in and you should be ok.

You'll get the odd bite whatever you do but you can lessen it without too much trouble!

Cheers
Malc
PS: Tiger balm by the side of your bed following a bite will reduce the itching pretty quickly so you can get back off to sleep again, white stuff works best for me!

[cyberhippie]

In my experience you're unlikely to get AC rooms on that kind of budget, this being India there are always exceptions to the rules but a room budget 0f 400 rupees won't get you AC in most places!!

Hotels in India don't usually provide a mossie net, so it may be better to carry your own, as wwusa says putting them up can be a worry, I recommend, gaffer tape, a good knowledge of knots, some blue tack and a good eye for geometery, oh and a Blue Peter Badge (not from ebay)

A moving fan helps, as does the plug in mossie zapper, available all over India................

So the lowdown on "travelling nets'

Ideally your net should be based on the idea of "one hang point" lots of nets on the market are for residential use, With four or more "hang points" this is to all intents and purposes, useless for travelling!!

Trying to sort out just one "hang point" will often have you wishing you had been in the Guides/Scouts.

So ok we've got the single "hang point" net sorted.........................now you have to hang it!! Not a problem you might thinik. Well your bed's under the moving fan, there's not a hook in sight and you didn't bring a drill (silly me)

So tonight's task is to string a piece of parachute twine between two points, that allows for a "hang point" that gives you some feeling of space and protection and doesn't bring any tangled issues with the fan!
Hah it's going to be a long night!!

So with some measure of common sense, a few hitches to pipes, grills, coat hook's and a planning process worthy of Google, you've laid the line to hang your precious "one Hang Point" mossie net.

It's gone twelve, there's a shrill buzz within the net and you need a pee

[Poiple Shadow]

Another solution is to have clips and a window sized piece of mosquito netting most hotel rooms normally have one window so clip the mosi netting to the window bars (which I presum are common all over India??? Othwise use a knife and push it down the cracks of the window frame... This is (IMO) the best option. Then get a plug in mosi thing, work wonders in smaller rooms, not so good for bigger rooms... A Fan is good and also a thin sheet. We had a mosi net over our bed but we always used to get bitten MORE!!! - don't ask, I just don't know... :os

[john.sw]

It is important to arrange your mosquito net during the day, before the mosquitoes wake up and get inside it. Also remember that they can bite through the net, so try not to have any part of your body touching the new when you’re inside it!

An aerosol insect spray that can be used on fabric and as an insect knock-down is also a good idea. You can close the window and spray the mosquito net and around the room for a few seconds - leave the room to let the smell go away and come back to an insect-free room.

I have my own mosquito net and travel with a Leatherman tool (an all-in-one tool a little bigger than a cigarette lighter, with built-in pliers, screwdrivers, etc), a nylon washing line, string and a few screws and there is always a way of putting up the net when it is needed.

[justmakebelieve]

I think i'll take mine along, and post it home if it just gets annoying.

I have a pen-knife, washing line and about 12 years of girl guides experience, so should be able to find somewhere to hang it!

knock-down spray - I presume it has a large picture of a mosquito with a red line though it.... but any brand names to aid me in my shopping?

[cyberhippie]

So adding to the essential list you'll need

A leatherman
Some Washing Line
A few Screws
Some Clips
Gaffer Tape
Mossie Zapper
Can Of Spray...................

One Nail Gun
Cuddly Toy
And a set of sliding doors

[john.sw]

We country bumpkins have a kit that we carry about when we're in the wilderness.

"Something to cut; something to tie; something to burn; something to buy"

So:

• Knife
  
• String
  
• Matches
  
• Money

These come in handy in India too!

[malkers]

And something to wipe one's butt with is also a bonus too!

[john.sw]

malkers, on Sep 24 2006, 03:53 PM, said:

And something to wipe one's butt with is also a bonus too!

Does personal hygiene (or your lack of it) have any effect of mosquitos?

[jyotirmoy]

Many hotels in mosquito infested places provide those plug-in devices. Ask for extra mats for these. In the evening shut the windows & turn on the device, close the door & go away. In the night open the window for a while for the mosquitoes to escape. Keep the device on while you sleep. These mats last only for 8 hours so you may change it before retiring for the night.
Another idea is to spray a mosquitoe knock down spray & leave the room for an hour. Come back & open the windows for a while for the smell to disappaer then turn on the plug-in device while sleeping.
Baygon is a popular spray & mat maker. Different spray is available for mosquitoes & roaches so choose the right one before buying.
And OP I don't think you can get an AC room at Rs400.

[malkers]

Having lived in India and stayed all over in a varying range of places from 5 star down to no star I've still yet to use a net in India, strangely enough I don't think I ever saw one in a single place I stayed. I had one in Sri Lanka once and went to bed with a mosquito trapped on the inside which totally ate me all night.

I always take a spare plug in device with me and some cream or spray if there are gaps at the windows and never had much problem, just the odd bite or two.

I really don't think it is as big a problem as many folk make out!

[iwanttogoback]

the ideal solution, of course, is to travel with someone more attractive to mosquitoes than oneself.

[Bumblebee]

Hi, seems I was so stupid to delete my own post and can't be retrieved
So, I was telling that I had difficulties hanging my mosquito net while in India. And moreover it was often too small for my bed (although the net was for 2 persons, it was a Care plus one). and in the end didn't use it, which was OK since I stayed long in the same room where I had nets in front of the windows.
So, I wondered how you guys fixed the two hanging points? With a screw and screwdriver? I had problems, f ex the upper layer of the walls could be crumbling or I could not get my screws in ...
Any brilliant ideas?

[priya]

Well, whatever Malkers has said about mosquitoes not biting, I'd take with a pinch of salt. If they like you, you're in for a hard time and, even though I'm accustomed to mosquitoes in Africa, the Indian ones are better house-trained and far more tourist friendly.

I would've found a mosquito net an added nuisance......and certainly couldn't have been bothered to try and erect it between two points - some eucalyptus oil is a much nicer alternative or a pleasant smelling mozzie repellant cream.......

Bumblebee, are you still thinking of taking a net with you after the initial problems you had?? I must certainly commend you for your patience.