Curling iron/hair dryer
 

The last time I was in Rome I used one of those international plugs to plug in my curling iron and it melted? Any suggestions where I could purchase an curling iron in Italy when I get there to use for my trip? Also, do hotels have hair dryers?

Most of your 3-star hotels have hair dryers. As for the curling iron, just get a dual voltage curling iron then all you'll need is the plug adaptor to plug it into the wall. Same for the hair dryer if you want to bring your own.

If you buy one in Rome, you will not be able to use it in the States because more than likely it will be just 220V.

Google dual voltage curling irons. Conair sells them. ((b))

I would buy one there. Then when you go back next year, you have one to use. You will have to buy plug converters, Italy is different than UK, and so forth, but at lest they are the correct voltage.

If you buy dual voltage appliances, they usually work better if you operate on low. You will still need the plug adaptor, but not a converter.

I'd buy one there. Try an elettrodomestici shop (home electronics - more or less). The curling iron is called an arricciacapelli. Hair dryer is asciugacapelli. Hope this helps.

&quot;<i> . . . they usually work better if you operate on low</i>&quot; They often will <u>only</u> operate on low. I'd definitely buy a curling iron over there since a dual volatge one will be pretty wimpy (if it doesn't melt)

I bought a dual voltage curling iron at Target I believe as well as a small DV travel hair dryer. Both work very well. The curling iron has a dial to control the heat and it's not wimpy at all!

They make butane curling irons that you don't have to plug in. Then you will be all set anywhere!

OMG! I will never forget at Empire Palace Hotel. The lights went out in our room and after a minute or two we peaked out in the Hallway and seen the lights were still on there. Hmmm some sort of problem I'm sure they'll take care of it. A second or two later we find out it was my MIL who plugged in a curling iron and blew out the power in some of the rooms. I wanted to hide under the bed while they were all working on getting it fixed. But they treated it like it was no big deal (it happens all the time, those stupid Americanos;)

We still giggle about all the Faux Paus(?) we caused. They must have liked Us though. They sent us a Christmas Card and said they were looking forward to Us visiting the Hotel again soon. Those lying Romans;)

Yes but THERESA those Romans are sooooo charming when they tell lies, si?

BTW, your experience is what my husband had with his electric razor one time. After that he never took an electric razor to Italy, lol.

Butane? I would check to see if that is allowed on the plane even in your checkin luggage hpotter. I don't know but am wondering?

You certainly can buy them there as nnolen posted and that is probably the safest idea. When you get home just put them with your other travel items.

I have used a Conair dual voltage curling iron on many trips to Europe. I have not had any problems with it.

Those &quot;international plugs&quot; only adapt the plug style from U.S. to European, they do not change the voltage coming out of the wall socket. For that you'll need a voltage transformer from 240v. to 120v, which is a device you plug into the European wall socket using that &quot;international plug&quot; adapter, and into which you plug your U.S. appliance. No wonder your curlilng iron melted! You can buy this transformer in any travel shop including AAA, or at Radio Shack. They're even sold at WalMart.

&quot;<i>I have not had any problems with it. </i>&quot; And most most folks don't either - but it just takes once to change that tune. <i>Most</i> of the time a dual voltage one works - but they do fail often enough to make buying one in Europe a good idea.

I had a dual voltage hair dryer I must have used on 8 or 10 trips - and then I blew the fuses ( circuit breakers (?) ) and melted the plug. It died a spectacular death.

Butane is not allowed on airplanes. Not in carryon luggage, not in checked luggage, not in lighters. And probably a good thing, too.

Braun makes several butane curlers whose fuel is available everywhere. Carry the curler over empty (or get one when you arrive), buy a cartridge, use it, leave it there.

froogle: <b>braun butane curling iron</b>

Does my laptop need a converter? Would be upset if I ruined my new computer!

It's possible. Look on the specification plate for something like &quot;100/240V Autoswitch AC Adapter,&quot; &quot;120-240v.&quot; or &quot;dual-voltage&quot;, and maybe a selector switch for both voltages. Better still, if its new then it's still under warranty and you probably have tech support. Call and ask, and if you need something buy it from the manufacturer. At the very least you're going to need a plug end adapter appropriate for your destination.

This concerns my last trip to London. I took my flat iron and the adaptor and transformer that I bought at WalMart with me. Plugged it in and the light came on but the iron would not heat up.
I'm going for the curly look this trip, no use packing the iron.
Also, the hairdryer I brought with me in 2000 barely kicked out enough air to blow dry a bald man.

If you truly had a transformer (not a converter), and it weighed less than 20 pounds, it was undersized for the job.

Generally speaking, transformers are low-power (wattage) devices for small electronics, not for things that heat up. A hair dryer would need one big enough to run a Danish toaster.

This thread has been very helpful to me...I suppose I will try doing my hair without my beloved flat iron...I was going to buy the adaptor and converter but it sounds like that may not work!

Last summer in Spain I bought a hairdryer with various European adapter plugs. I'm going to Italy this coming June and planning on purchasing a curling iron once I arrive in Rome. I know that Spain had El Corte Ingles in almost every city that we visited. Is there a similar store in Rome. We're staying near the Spanish Steps. Thanks.

McAllister, just buy a dual-voltage hair dryer/curling iron and a a plug adapter. Very common in drugstores. Then no converter is necessary. Most other equipment -- like battery rechargers -- span a range of voltages and will handle 220 as well as 110. So once again all you need is a plug adapter. For more information then you'll ever want: www.kropla.com/electric.htm

The newer converters switch from high to low wattage and operate 0-2000. Curling irons/flat irons require this type. Weighs less than 1 lb.
http://www.franzus.com/page/FOS/PROD...CONV/TS-2000-1

I carry adaptor plugs along with a dual voltage hair dryer and a curling iron. Have not had any problems with them in Europe or Asia. The curling iron converts automatically, but the hair dryer has a setting that is easy to change with a coin.

In Vienna I decided to use the hotel's hair dryer. Sparks flew all over the bathroom, and one of the sparks burned a spot in the tiolet seat. The hotel's hair dryer didn't work after that fireworks display, so I was glad to have my own hair dryer to use.

Robespierre: Can you tell me if I truly need a surge protector for my laptop in Europe? (I called HP and was told that I need one, but I sometimes think there is a language barrier when you talk with someone in India) and I thought I remembered your saying that surge protectors were not necessary for Europe??
Thanks

Your laptop's AC adapter/power supply will protect it against anything a surge protector will. But one of those little &quot;wall wart&quot; suppressors will give some level of protection to your power brick. I never use one (that's my version of living on the edge).

Thanks Robespierre. I am going to Walmart today so I will check them out.

You can always buy a European 220v hairdryer and curling iron (amoungst other things) from these guys:

http://www.houseof220.com

Apres, Thanks for posting this link! Have you purchased anything from this company?

Robespierre: Checked Walmart and they did not have a suppressor. Could you please tell me what I am looking for? Is it the same as a surge protector and is it heavy or big for packing? No one knew what I was looking for and the surge pr. were way to large for packing. IMO

Thanks for your help.

Whatever you buy, don't use this uncertified 220/240V illegal crap you can buy in the US. Look for the &quot;CE&quot; mark. It's not only about producer guarantees for safe operation, but using illegal stuff will make YOU (and only you) responsible for the damage that might be caused. You wouldn't want that, would you! For all others who jump out of an airplane without parachute, telling themselves &quot;Up to now all went well&quot; every few seconds, go ahead but remember electricity kills!

End of sermon :-)

I also confess to have fried a circuit or two in Europe using my curling iron!

Wall <u>w</u>art, not Wal-Mart. Like this:

http://www.electronix.com/catalog/images/45-106.jpg

lucy_d: Yes, I recently bought two 220v Braun hairdryers and a dual voltage Oster travel iron (in person, not via mail order).

This store has been around for forever, and they have more than what's shown on the website. Just tell them what you want, and where you'll be using it (ie I also needed UK plug adaptors)

For hairdryers, they have a handful of brand names and different wattages. They also have things like curling irons, electric razors and toothbrushes, radio alarm clocks, almost anything you can think of.

I'm so glad I'll have a *proper* hairdryer with me on this trip, and the iron, too. Smooth hair and pressed clothes make me happy :)

Oh wow...This brings back memories. I was 16 when I took my first trip to Europe (Russia and the Baltic States) and was with a large group of high school students. I, too, experienced the melting curling iron...But only after burning off my bangs!! I think we were in our second hotel of the trip - in Estonia. I plugged my curling iron in (I believe that I plugged it in correctly with the adapter, but it didn't come with instructions, so I could have done it incorrectly) and realized that it heated up very quickly, so I went ahead and used it. I picked it up in my right hand, held my bangs in my left hand, clamped it on to my bangs and began to curl when all of a sudden there was a cloud of white smoke and when I pulled the curling iron tight, it came right away from my head with my bangs fried to the curling iron! My roommate had a pair of embroidery scissors and helped me cut some more of my hair into bangs to hide the mess I made, but in order to cover up the burned ends of hair, I had to keep using the curling iron. During our last week of the trip, I believe in Moscow, I plugged it in and it finally melted into two pieces - the metal part just separated from the plastic part. So, I left that curling iron in Moscow. Another student caused the lights to flicker in the hotel in Estonia when he plugged in his camcorder battery charger. On this next trip to Europe, I certainly won't be bringing a curling iron or even a hair dryer, but I will have battery chargers for my camcorder and digital camera. I just ordered a new 0-2000 converter and am hoping that I don't melt anything, destroy the batteries/chargers, or bring the lights out/start any fires at our hotels. The chargers appear to be dual voltage, but I'm still a bit fearful.

I purchased a dual voltage flat iron (made in Italy) at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and it worked fine in Prague, Paris, London with just a plug adapter.

I was going to order on-line first but it was turning into a hassle and I didn't want to buy a flat iron that only worked in Europe since I have enough crap in my bathroom without a collection of styling tools for every continent.

Apres, Thanks for the information! :)

&quot;I just ordered a new 0-2000 converter and am hoping that I don't melt anything, destroy the batteries/chargers...&quot;

<font color="red"><b>WARNING!</b></font> A <i>converter</i> might well zap a charger/adapter. You should use a <i>transformer</i> for low-power devices such as this. Short course:

<b>Adapter</b> - allows US plugs to fit European or British sockets
<b>Transformer</b> - allows 110V electronics up to about 100W to use 220V current
<b>Converter</b> - allows 110V appliances that heat up to use 220V current

This is what I have ordered:

http://tinyurl.com/278a3q

I am taking a battery chargers for the following:

1. Digital camera. Back of charger says: Input: AC100-240V then beneath that says 50-60Hz 8-12VA

2. Camcorder. Back of charger says: USA &amp; CANADA 120V~ FOREIGN 110-240V~ 50/60Hz 19W

3. T-Mobile Blackberry. Back of charger says: INPUT: 100-240V~ 50/60Hz 0.2A

Based on what I think I understand, it seems to me that I just need to use the adapters, but I'm not sure.

Will the item I ordered cover the use of each of these things? Do I use only the adapters (both London and Paris)? Do I use the converter? Do I set the converter on high or low?

Thanks for looking out for people like me who have no clue about this stuff.

I purchased a curling iron in Eroupe a few years ago. It was much more costly then the $10 dual voltage at Traget and quit working after two weeks.

Next time I took the $10 dual voltage from Target. It's on it's third trip along with daily use here. It works fine and I have not blown any fuses. (And I stay at 2 star hotels so I do sometimes wonder about the wiring LOL!)

My advice buy the el cheapo dual voltage here. If it quits then you can waste your money in Italy buying one.

Last week, I purchased a GE Dual Wattage Foreign Voltage Adaptor, Model AV23611. The Dual Wattage Converter has a switch for 50W and 1600W.

Turn the switch to 50W for electrical appliances requiring 50 watt maximum power (small TVs, video cameras, electric razors, stereos, notebook/laptop computers, etc.) Note: No heat producing appliances.

Turn the switch to 1600 watts for use with heat producing appliances requiring 50 to 1600 watt power such as blow dryers, travel irons, coffee makers, etc.

The set also comes with an assortment of plug adaptors. It also cautions you not to plug in computer equipment and the like when the 1600 watt heat producing mode is selected.

I think I paid about $25 for the kit. ((b))