wendy

I have been told it would be more economical to purchase a blow dryer when I get to London instead of buying a converter for my own hair dryer. Is this true? And if so- where can I buy one the first day I arrive? I will be staying at the Thistle Westminster. Does the hotel sell them? Or perhaps the airport?<BR><BR>

xxx

This has been answered many times here. Either buy one locally there in a department store, or buy one here at Walmart or KMart or similar -- for about $18, you can get a dual voltage model that you switch to European voltage. You then only need an adaptor plug -- not a voltage converter.

blow

If you're looking for excitement, taking your own blow drier is definitely worth a try! I plugged mine in in Paris, right adapter, right setting on the dual voltage, turned it on and voila, "BAM**@@$%^&(!!!" I had to double check to be sure I was still alive. <BR><BR>To my surprise, my blow drier actually worked when I returned to the States! It was a miracle! <BR><BR>

Elaine

If they sell hairdryers at the airport or hotel, they will probably only have the most expensive models, or the fiddly little travel ones. <BR>You'll be able to choose from a much wider range at any Argos, Index or Boots store. Index start at 5 pounds, Argos just under 6 and I don't know about Boots, but probably slightly more expensive. <BR>Just ask your hotel concierge where the nearest one of these is - I should think there will be at least one of them fairly close to your hotel.

xxx3

First, you should check with the hotel. They might provide them.

lilly

I've traveled through out most of Europe and never stayed in a hotel that DIDN'T have a hair dryer....if not built in, they have them at the front desk. I have never stayed at anything like a hostel though so this might be different??? Check where you're staying before you buy anything.

Dallas

Definitely check with your hotels to see if they have one before you buy. I never carry one anymore since I nearly burned up an old hotel in Salisbury with my hair dryer. Like Blow, I was using the right voltage converter and adaptor plug, but the wiring in those old hotels is very old. When I turned on the hair dryer, it blew the lights in half the hotel and burned out my TV.<BR><BR>Rather embarrassing, even though they were as nice as could be about the whole thing.

S

I thought it was just me, I swithched my travel hairdryer on in a hotel in Chicago and promptly fused all the power, lights etc!

xxx

Is it possible for you to stay at a hotel that provides a hairdryer in the bathroom? That way you won't have the extra expense of buying one plus the adapters.

Davis

My hairdryer from home with all plugs and adapters melted in Ireland. We were out of town, but I had really lank hair for 10 days.

Bob C

We have had two dual voltage dryers and didn't like them because they only worked on low in the 220v mode. On our last trip to England we picked up a 220v dryer and loved it. We also picked up one in France and now are set for about anywhere.

Tracey

I just went on their website and they have hairdryers in each room.<BR>http://www.thistlehotels.com/main/ho...ster/index.xml

Beth

Our hotel came with a hairdryer, but it had no power (just a quiet little wisp), so we were really happy we had brought a dual-voltage with the converter plug. Just make sure you switch your travel dryer back when you return! I stayed at a local B&B the following weekend; fortunately I had not removed the converter plug, which was enough to jar my jet lagged memory - otherwise I would have blown the fuses in the entire house.