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.

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.