St. Lucia, rainforests, and Garlic pills - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**mbo108** · 10-06-2006, 11:42 AM

Okay, so i'm leaving in little over a month for my honeymoon in St. Lucia. Yes, doing the whole touristy thing at an all-inclusive (i know a guy, i got a deal) but restless me, I need to go exploring the island somewhat. Have heard there are organized hikes and mountain bike trips into the rainforest to see waterfalls you wouldnt normally get to see...there is also a volcano to explore...

i heard that if you start taking garlic pills, the body's alkalinity level changes and mosquitoes and other bugs leave you alone. i'm sure the resort sprays and stuff for the bugs, but i'm worried about these trips into the "jungle."

then again, what is actually going to be changing? I mean, i will be on my honeymoon and i'm not trying to repel my new wife, only bugs. anyone have first have experience with this?

**The Monsignor** · 10-06-2006, 12:26 PM

I've used garlic successfully in my pets to repel ticks. I'm not absolutely certain as their effectiveness on mosquitoes, however. I'm generally a non-mosquito-eaten individual, but when the mosquitoes are bad, not even I am safe.

I would say that it can't hurt (and they have pills out at the vitamin shops that claim to be de-odored garlic). Keep in mind that frankly, you're probably gonna need good old fashioned DEET repellent, but you can spray it on your clothes, rather than yourself, and it works fairly well that way, too.

**omisan** · 10-06-2006, 01:49 PM

You can sometimes seep garlic from your pores when you eat a lot of it or take the pills, but with general use for most people, it's undetectable to others...

While I'm usually a mosquito magnet, I've gotten very few mosquito bites in the Caribbean. Not sure why... at any rate, one thing to *not* do is eat bananas, even though they're all over St. Lucia. Eating a lot of bananas apparently attracts the little buggers.

As far as hiking, etc., go - your all-inclusive will probably offer various excursions. Ask at the reception about your options or for brochures. I usually avoid this kind of stuff because it's more expensive than DIY, but hell, it's your honeymoon. Go for the convenience of being picked up/dropped off at your resort

**mbo108** · 10-09-2006, 11:05 AM

thanks for the replies...yeah, i know, i figured its the honeymoon, once in a lifetime event, just shell out some cash for the convenience.

**bluepea** · 10-09-2006, 01:44 PM

^^ I agree. You have to have luxury every now and then, especially at a time like this.

My husband and I went out camping this weekend. I live in a marshy, subtropical, coastal area and we were just bombarded with "skeeters" as soon as we started setting up the tent. They were soooo bad and I'm a magnet to them. I just hosed myself down with some Off full deet (no cutesy scented stuff or anything - just the good ol' backwoods stuff) and was completely left alone after that.

**worldwidemike** · 10-09-2006, 03:13 PM

St. Lucia is a cool island. The area around the "Pitons" -- two volcanic peaks that drop down almost to the sea, is incredibly scenic. I'm sure there's plenty of hiking to do in that area. I think you picked a good island to do a week on. It's not "just" a beach. Pick up a guidebook on the Caribbean, I'm sure they'll have all kinds of suggestions.

Have fun!

worldwidemike

**PlayPal** · 10-09-2006, 05:14 PM

Didja know that if you spray deet on some types of plastic it will actually melt and crack it? Just a thought.....

I've heard the garlic theory also, but was told that you had to have a ridiculous amount of it in your system to do any good. Maybe if you wife is taking it also, you won't have to worry about the smell. Yeah, I know there are garlic pills that say they're de-odored but come on...it's garlic. Maybe it doesn't give you bad breath, but what about when you sweat?

**LiveFreeorDie** · 10-09-2006, 06:19 PM

I did a rainforest hike on St. Lucia a few years back and the bugs were not bad at all. I think we may have used some bug repellent, but it was fine. Enjoy the trip, St. Lucia is a beautiful island. As Mike mentioned, the scenery around the Pitons is breath taking.

**benna2** · 10-09-2006, 06:23 PM

I get very bad bites and the thing that has worked the best for me is AVON SKIN SO SOFT. It smells nice and the bugs do NOT like it at all! They leave me completely alone when I put it on.

Congratulations on your new marriage and hope you guys have a fabulous honeymoon!