11 Plus Exams Forum

Hoping to collar some info from more frequent travellers than us... we bought DEET repellents for a vist to the Caribbean 3 years ago, will they still be ok to use now 3 years later for trip to Dubai? None of these products seems to have dates on. They have both stored away from light in cool/dark, one is in a tin/spray type, the other just in a plastic bottle. I am about to buy all new sunscreens as some are 2-3 years old, and obviously want all the products to be effective, esp for DH who does get bitten. Also any opinions on whether DEET might be overkill for UAE and I just need normal insect repellents like lemon/eucalyptus type products?

Thanks in advance.....

I think there's been some recent research saying that DEET isn't actually that effective as a repellant any more. The mozzies seem to have got used to it and after a while it has no effect.

Some years ago, I worked for a company that made insecticides. When I was about to go on holiday the technical director told me to soak my clothes in permethrin. Apparently that is what the British army were doing at the time. Didn't really need to as having worked there for a while nothing seemed to bite anyway
Not sure whether its still recommended, or even if you can buy permethrin easily. These days it is rarely available as a pesticide in garden centres because other stuff is more effective and lasts longer. You can get it as headline shampoo though.

Lavender, rosemary, tea tree etc are all supposed by good repellents.

Not sure whether you need it for UAE.