socaltraveler

Anyone have a recommendation?; need to buy something new for our upcoming trip. Thanks.

DebitNM

This seems to have good reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Tourmaline-Cer.../dp/B00GPKNK2Y

There are others on Amazon; google is your friend.

socaltraveler

I have looked at Amazon, thank you, was wondering if anyone had any personal experience. Google is usually my first friend.

dotheboyshall

Get one when you arrive, it's going to be a safer option

CarolA

I have a Revlon one I bought at Target. Standard curling iron and it's worked great on numerous trips to Europe.

elberko

I decided buying a 220v appliance was the safest way to go, and didn't want to wait till I got to my destination, so bought this:
http://www.amazon.com/Braun-ST550-St...ilpage_o05_s00

It's worked well, and I bought an inexpensive adapter to use in Europe as well as the UK.

jubilada

People iron on vacation?????

elberko

Hair appliance, Jubi.

jubilada

Oh, I see. I am ignorant as to all this, I guess.

People worry about their hair on vacation?

elberko

Yup. I'm not high maintenance, but 5 minutes or so with a flat iron after I wash my hair makes a huge difference.

janisj

In Europe that would be called a hair straightener (they'd assume a 'flat iron' is an <i>iron</i

I would also get a 240v single voltage model -- either on line here or after you arrive. Anecdotal stories that 'my dual voltage one works fine' are fine - but won't help when you blow the circuits in your entire B&B, or it melts . . .

90+% of the time a dual voltage one works great -- but the failures can be spectacular.

socaltraveler

Thank you all very much. Not only is Google my best friend, so is Amazon Prime . And the personal recommendations are much appreciated.

jaja

I found one for my granddaughter before our trip, on eBay. She is going to Spain for college this summer so I suppose it will come in handy.

denisea

I am with those that recommend getting a 220 straightener. I bought on in Paris 9 years ago and it still works great and I have used it in France, Italy and Portugal. I had to buy it because the dual voltage appliance I bought with me was fried on the first try.

sassy27

I have a non dual one that I have been using for years. I bought it on vacation in Florida when I forgot mine. I use it for all my European vacations with an adaptor and never had an issue so don't limit yourself to dual voltage.

fuzzbucket

If you're really only going to use the flat iron for 5 minutes, it won't "fry" anything. These machines don't use that much power, and for only 5 minutes, I would just invest in an adapter.

janisj

>>it won't "fry" anything. <<

yes -- they can and do . . .

nyse

The curling iron I bought at a Boots Pharmacy in Dublin remains one of my best travel purchases - never a worry when I plug it in and I have a UK to Europe adapter for other trips. (I know Ireland is not UK, but still.)

fuzzbucket

Not for 5 minutes, they won't - even in a seriously-underwired rental apartment. Anything longer than that would be a problem.
But then, 5 minutes doesn't seem like enough time to tame anything other than your bangs, and I wouldn't even worry about that.

Hairdryers are the main problem appliances, since they pull an enormous load right at the outset.

elberko

Since I'm the one who mentioned 5 minutes...

That doesn't include preheating to a pretty high temperature--probably hotter than a hairdryer. Others with longer hair probably use it for longer, too.