European chargers, Garmins & phones

Old Sep 11th, 2015, 11:22 AM
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European chargers, Garmins & phones

Hello,

We are going to Czech Republic and Austria. Due to visiting small towns we will be driving from Prague to Vienna and back. We rented a vehicle through AutoEurope. We could use your help with some related questions.

1. We own a Garmin purchased in the US. Is it usable in Europe, or is there a plug-in or way to make it usable? Do I pay a fee for GPS in some way?

2. I have a Moto X phone that is unlocked. I plan to buy a SIM card from Vodaphone in the Prague airport. I would like to buy it with data. Should I just use that for my mapping?

3. I would like to use my phone before our flight to Europe when we change on the East Coast etc. So then I have an extra nano SIM card that I have to carry around. Any suggestions in how to store that safely?

4. From my reading, it appears that European cars use the same cigarette lighter 12v chargers as we see in American cars. Do rentals always have these? Do rentals also have a USB port or is that uncommon?

5. For the lodgings, I have a 220 converter with the two small, rounded plug ends that worked in Italy. Does that style work in Austria and Czech or do I need something else?

Thanks,

5alive
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Old Sep 11th, 2015, 01:18 PM
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Googled the answer for your first question. Garmin might be the best source of information.

http://gpsinformation.net/usagpsoverseas.htm

AFAIK, GPS is the only signal left that we don't pay for. If you have to load additional maps, you might have to pay for those.

Another awesome site I found that will help with your adapter questions: http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=143

I don't know what a MotoX's capabilities are, but you need to be sure the phone will work in Europe. Again, the manufacturer will be the best source for that. Not all phones are "one world phones". Data is more expensive overseas and the plans work differently than they do here; I would look into Vodafone's plans and coverage areas before making that decision. Personally I wouldn't rely on a cell signal for map capabilities in a foreign country, but that's just me. I'd get a road map of each country to carry on my person in the car since signal strength isn't always predictable, and that's true for anywhere.

I don't rely on USB ports in rentals here or overseas myself. Again, that's just me.
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Old Sep 11th, 2015, 10:24 PM
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Thanks for your answer, Tigger. That website is really a great one with pictures of all the plugs and explaining how it all works.


I ordered a couple of Michelin maps but I do really want to use a mapping service, either with the phone or a GPS unit (ours is actually a Tom Tom, which I did not realize). My phone is definitely unlocked and usable in Europe.

Any further thoughts from other travelers would be great.
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Old Sep 14th, 2015, 05:52 AM
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Unfortunately there are two two-pin rounded end standards in Europe, one northern and one southern. I think the adapter you have will work in Austria, not sure about CR. For instance, a charger I bought in Budapest works with an adapter I bought in Portugal (so I could use the charger in the UK and US), but a hairdryer I bought in Germany doesn't. (I assume you mean adapter, not converter?)

I have been using the maps app on my phone extensively in Europe, but I am not driving. How much are you planning to use your phone on the east coast? Can't you just use roaming?
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Old Sep 18th, 2015, 09:35 PM
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Thanks thursdaysd.

Good to confirm there are two sizes of the round pin standard. That is what I was unsure of from looking at pictures. I already have a converter box from 220 to 110 and the output plug on it worked in Italy so I didn't need a second adapter. I think I will stop at the AAA store. Most places want to sell you every version of plug and I just need one more.
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Old Sep 18th, 2015, 11:44 PM
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Why do you have a converter? Most devices will switch, usually automatically although hairdryers tend to have a physically switch. Read the very small print on the items you are taking.

This morning I dried my hair with the German hairdryer plugged into the universal to UK adapter that was plugged into the universal to universal adapter that was plugged into the southern Europe adapter... Surprisingly the adapter did not fall out of the outlet and the hair dryer survived!
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Old Sep 20th, 2015, 10:52 PM
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My dad really wants to take his electric razor and that definitely needs a converter. I have an Asus Tablet with keyboard. I don't have the original box, and it's unclear on the web what pertains to this model.

Is it hurting anything if I use the converter?

Thanks!
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Old Sep 21st, 2015, 12:31 AM
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I would be astonished if you needed a converter with a tablet.

Have no idea about the razor, but you might ask your hotels whether they have an outlet in the bathroom that will provide the correct voltage, I have seen this in some hotels.

I would expect that if you plug something that doesn't need a converter into a converter it will work fine, but since I have never used one you should not rely on my opinion.

I travel light, I try not to take anything I won't need.(Not that I am always successful!)
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Old Sep 21st, 2015, 07:14 AM
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Hi, Thursddaysd-- I know I am correct about the razor so I need to take it. Many American household appliances(not high tech) still are not dual and it will "fry" their circuits if you plug them in without converting.

Best Buy employee did not help me regarding the tablet because they didn't want to be responsible for telling me the wrong thing. He was encouraging the converter to be safe. I've done some more looking and I think you're right, it's unneeded. I found a link about my tablet that talks about it specifically.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2015, 09:44 AM
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The reason razors and hair dryers need the correct voltage is the motors are cyclic and are tuned to turn at a certain rate with 120V. At 240V, the motor spins faster and out of sync, and even with a transformer the appliance is less efficient. I long ago invested in a travel-sized 220V hair dryer; I go to the UK quite a bit (my husband is a Brit) and used to live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I got tired of hair dryers being so inefficient (and of burning up motors; forcing that thing to rotate at a faster speed eventually makes it smell like melting rubber - I'm not kidding...).

Most European hotels I've been to have a 120V plug in the bathroom, but it will only work with a razor (I've never found out why). You can buy a transformer from just about anywhere (Target, Amazon, Best Buy - you name it) and they don't take up a ton of room; you can pack it inside a shoe or stick it down the side of your case.

Tablets and cell phones are generally "one world", so to speak, for power purposes. I used 220V with only a plug adapter to charge an iPhone 3GS eight years ago, so I doubt that tablet you have needs a transformer. They have no moving parts to speak of.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2015, 09:51 AM
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>>My dad really wants to take his electric razor and that definitely needs a converter.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2015, 10:36 AM
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Most small US appliances aren't dual voltage for the same reason most European ones aren't: it's unnecessary and it only makes the appliance more expensive. People buy ones specific for travel when they need them.
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Old Oct 4th, 2015, 11:50 PM
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The wall chargers for tablets, phones, Kindles, etc. are always dual voltage so all you need is a plug adapter. I just use use one of these: http://amzn.to/1Lsm9BI

I have used my German plugged products in Czech Republic with no issues so I would not sweat that too much.
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Old Oct 5th, 2015, 10:24 AM
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An appliance is dual voltage if you see "110V to 240V" on the label. Then all you need is a plug adaptor, not a transformer.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 12:13 PM
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I realize I never posted back on this. In both lodgings in Czech Republic, we did end up needing an actual voltage converter for the razor. One was a small town pension and the other was an apartment in very old building.

The razor worked fine with it. However, Dad's next trip, TSA did not repack it after his suitcase was checked, and it broke in transit.
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