Tuesday, 02 February 2016 11:17

Tip Of The Day: Effective Ways To Avoid Mosquitoes In Gran Canaria

Mosquitos in Gran canaria are rare and don't carry any diseases Mosquitos in Gran canaria are rare and don't carry any diseases Wikipedia

There are mosquitos in Gran Canaria but they are rare in the resorts and don't carry any infectious diseases. Here's what to do to avoid the pests.

Buy a plugin device from local supermarkets. The ones that have a little canister of liquid are the most effective and last for at least 30 days. They don't contain pesticides but emit a chemical that smells horrible to mosquitoes. One is enough to keep a small apartment or bungalow mozzie free even with the windows open. You may need a couple for a villa or a big apartment. 

Local insect sprays are effective against mosquitos but make sure that you buy one with a picture of a mozzie or fly on the can rather than one designed to kill cockroaches. Spray a room and then leave it for at least 15 minutes before going back into it.

Gran Canaria mosquitos only come out in the evening and at night so you have to watch out when sitting outdoors. Wear long trousers or a skirt that covers your ankles (that's here the mozzies seem to aim for), or bring anti-mozzie bracelets with you from home. The most effective ones are impregnated with DEET rather that with citronella oil.

Mosquito repellent creams also work well if they contain DEET. Herbals ones work but not as well. Mosquito coils don't seem to do much except give you a headache and nobody in Gran Canaria uses them.

Most people who visit Gran Canaria and stay in the resorts don't get biten by mosquitos but even if you do, don't worry as the mosquito species that lives here doesn't carry any infectious diseases at all. Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands are completely free of Zika, dengue, malaria and yellow fever.

Published in Tip of the day

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Tip of the day

  • Tip Of The Day: Avoid Bank Card Charges By Paying In Euros
    Tip Of The Day: Avoid Bank Card Charges By Paying In Euros

    Save money and avoid rip-off bank charges while in Gran Canaria by paying in euros when using your credit or debit card.

    Many bars and restaurants in Gran Canaria, and in almost all European holiday destinations, give you the option of paying in euros or in your home currency. Opting for your own currency, while it may seem like the safer option, can add as much as 5% to the bill as it triggers dynamic currency conversion. 

    DCC basically means that the exchange rate is calculated at point of sale rather than by your bank. It allows you to see the total cost of the transaction in your own currency but adds up to 5% to the total because it uses a terrible exchange rate. 

    Since the extra money is shared between your bank and the merchant, some places will automatically bill you in your own currency and hope you don't notice. You have the legal right to refuse and void the transaction should this happen. 

    ATMs too

    The same applies when taking money out of ATM machines in Gran Canaria (and anywhere in Europe); Always choose the local currency option to avoid losing money to poor exchange rates.

    If you opt for the local currency option, using bank ATMs is often the cheapest and safest way of getting euros in Gran Canaria. It's far safer than having a big pile of euros hidden in your room or tucked into your shorts.

    More details in this Daily Telegraph article.

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