Mosquito repellant and what foods are really expensive

Hello

I am travelling to Tonga next week from New Zealand and am wondering what mosquito repellants are the most effrective.

Also want to take some food over to give to people I am staying with. I have heard that cheese and coffee is expensive. Anything else?

Thank you

The best mosquito repellants contain DEET. If you are staying with village families, balloons and sweets go over well with the children.
If you are staying with expats, chocolate.

Ditto on the DEET for mosquito repellent. Try to get it 100% DEET, liquid form. Use just a few drops at a time. Three ounces will last you for months. Keep it away from plastics, like plastic watches. Also it will ruin some rain gear and all Gortex. For these reasons I don;t recommend spray applicators.

want to take some food over to give to people I am staying with

Carry food from NZ to give to some of the World's most obese people???
Dunno who you are going to stay with, but I haven't seen any Tongans starving...
I'd reconsider gift ideas. Cheese is neither popular nor lasts long in many tropical countries, BTW.

One thing about gifts for Polynesians that some folks may not be aware of....

The Polynesians are very generous people and gift-giving is an important part of their culture. Be sensitive about the value of what you give because a gift brings with it an obligation to do something in return. Presenting a lavish gift to someone who is not in a position to fulfill this obligation could leave them in an embarrassing position.

Some of the most rewarding experiences my wife and I have had is when we have given gifts to those who do something nice for us. That way you are responding to a kind gesture or gift in true Polynesian tradition.

Gifts to kids don't seem to fall into the same category as a gift to an adult. The same goes for gifts to an institution like a school.

Our preferred bug repellant is ''OFF". Google it.
It does not contain DEET.

Cheers,
Peter

"OFF" brand repellent (at least the one from S C Johnson) comes as several of repellent products, most contain DEET, some up to 98%. If you want to stay away from DEET be sure and read the label. I think the ones that don't use DEET are labeled "Botanicals." They don't work as well as DEET products.

The biggest difference is the amount of time they will work. Most of the non-DEET products last 2 hours or less before an additional application is required. In the case of DEET-containing products a light application will last 8-10 hours. I've seen many converts to 100% DEET after a few days in the Alaskan bush. When things get really tough there you need a head net to keep from inhaling them as you breathe!

One more thing my experience in Alaska taught me.... be careful with smoke products like PIC coils. Some people have developed lung problems after repeated exposure in confined areas.

Just want to thank all of you who replied. Really helpful - especially the DEET and present giving.

Cheers

Virginia

"OFF" does not contain DEET. It has a quite different active ingredient. Nor is it "Botanical".

Cheers,
Peter

mmmmmm... could be that we're talking about different products.

In the US, the insect repellent brand "OFF" is manufactured by SC Johnson Co. They market about 28 different products under the brand name of "OFF." Most of them contain DEET.

Here are some sources:

The "OFF" website: http://www.off.com/default.aspx

Some information about DEET from US Center for Disease Control:
http://www.keepsbugsoff.com/en-US/Pages/active-ingredients.aspx?sid=SEM_G_306.kw7682

Cheers.... H2ooh

The active ingredient in the insect repellent sold in Australia by SC Johnson Co. under the name of "OFF" is 'Picaridin'.
http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/factsheets/picaridin.pdf

http://www.picaridin.info/
"Picaridin - An Effective Alternative to Deet
Picaridin is a repellent for mosquitos and other insects which is similar in effectiveness to DEET, but more pleasant to use and much less likely to cause skin irritation. This Piperidine derivitave, developed by Bayer®, has been available worldwide since 1998 and is one of the best selling insect repellents in Europe where it is also known as "Icaridin" and is marketed under the name Bayrepel®. As of 2005, Picaridin is now available in the USA."

Cheers,
Peter

That makes sense. When I was in Solomon Islands in the first half of the 90s, and malaria was more prevalent than it is now, DEET repellants were the only effective ones.