Re: Mosquitoes
Last year I travelled to the US (Yosemite) and used a natural product with lemongrass in it. Let me just say that this did nothing to deter the wee beasties from sampling Irish blood.
This year I was at the same location and travelled well armed: Piriton (anti-histamine) and Boots mossie repellant with Deet.
I took the Piriton one day before my trip and continued to use it while there and for one day after.
The spray was incredibly strong (so much so that it was impossible to breath while applying it and therefore, I may not have covered all exposed areas). I did get one or two bites and one on my cheek, but none reacted as they had last year (like balloons full of pus). This is due to the Piriton. It doesn't stop them from biting you, it just lessens the allergic reaction to the bite.
My chemist did also recommend the B6 tablets but I didn't take them. I reckon if I had I would have had every angle covered.
Another tip, though not very glamorous, is I covered up from dusk onwards, long trousers and long sleeves.
I suppose you could look at it this way, be unglamorous for the few hours at night versus being unglamorous for the whole holiday with bites the size of eggs all over.
Best of luck!!!!
— but my wife does, and she found them very good. Whatever about in Ireland, you can get them over the counter no problem in France and Spain.