Hi there. I don't want to blow up any of my devices so I want to be sure I have this correct. It seems some things have changed since my last trip to Italy. (Re: devices not European current lol) My husband and I will need to charge phones, camera battery and possibly tablet and iPod in the evening when we are back in our room. I have heard that all of these need no "converter" just plug "adaptor". I heard advice to bring a power strip due to lack of outlets in some rooms. (Expected because we are staying in small places not hotels per se). So if I bring a surge protector type power strip and an adaptor that fits the wall I will be ok, correct? I would like to bring my hair straightener, but I read that my model and brand is NOT the kind that is dual where you can use it in Europe. That would call for a "converter" (which I don't have) correct? So my plan to go with curly hair and a power trip with adaptor for other devices should do me I think. Just let me know if I am missing something. Thanks.

Yes, you are correct. If you do want straight hair, just buy a new straightener wand, rather than a converter. The box will tell you if it works internationally.

First of all read the label. Your devices should list voltage and frequency. If all you see is something like 110V/60Hz then bad. I you see something like 110-220V 60/50Hz then good.

North America is 110V. Europe is 220V. Rarely you might see something like 100V to 250V but you need to cover 220V. If the label doesn't make sense post it in a message.

Second thing. Surge surpressors aren't a good idea. If you want a power bar get the cheapest dumbest thing you can find. A surge suppressor unless it's rated for 220V (Back to reading the label) will see the 220V and likely think SURGE!. A simple wire with a few out lets connected won't think at all. Doesn't have any smarts to be fooled.

Here is a final though. Do your devices charge with an USB charger? If so think about a multi USB charger with universal voltage. Should see a few on Amazon . With a multi out charger you just need enough ports and cables for your devices. Plus one plug adapter for the charger it self. Over all much neater if you can manage it.

Read the labels on your appliances. For cameras, tablet, and phone they are on the charger. It looks like this:

https://www.adaptelec.com/images/plu...oltge-info.gif

Electronic gear chargers now pretty look like the left one. 100-240v, 50-60hz. Those kinds only need an adapter costing a dollar or two.


>>> So if I bring a surge protector type power strip and an adaptor that fits the wall I will be ok, correct?

Read your label.

NO unless you buy a specialty item costing 2-3x the ones you are using at home.

If you are from the U.S., it would only operate only on U.S. power. These home appliance accessories are only meant to be used locally at home.

There are specialty travel strips, but you will not find them in your neighborhood hardware stores. There are discussion on why:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...for-travel.cfm

https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...urge-protector

>>>I read that my model and brand is NOT the kind that is dual where you can use it in Europe

Read your label.

If your hair appliance labels don't say dual voltage, it would be safer, lighter, and also probably cheaper to buy a new ones that do. Converters are expensive and heavy, and you will not even know if it works safely until you have left home.

You don't need a surge suppressor or a power strip. Good gosh.

TravlerNick is right. We had an adapter that had two USB inputs, attached a US plug 4-USB charger to it and presto! six charging points from one international outlet.

Go to Amazon and find something like this:https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Char...F9DRSHMYP5X65T

You don't need a bunch of plugs, you need your USB cables and an adapter.

No to a US surge protector/power strip FOR SURE.

Also - many hotels are set up that the key has to be in a slot for the power to be on (meaning you need to be in the room and can't charge things while you are out and about). But there almost always will be one outlet that is always powered. If your hotels do this, ask the front desk or housekeeping which one it is.

Agree, you were basically correct, only go with the multi-USB adaptor plug.

I bought a dual-voltage mini hair straightener from Sephora (online) a couple of years ago for about $30, so you might consider doing that. Check Amazon, too. Especially in the travel sizes, dual voltage isn't hard to find.

<(meaning you need to be in the room and can't charge things while you are out and about)>

Just make it a habit to charge your stuff overnight.

Key cards for electricity are common in Greece and to a lesser extent in southern Spain. I don't think I've ever seen them in Italy

>>I don't think I've ever seen them in Italy<<

My last hotel in Venice had that. Only one outlet sort of buried behind the bedside table was 'hot' without the keycard in place.

We have had experiences with many hotels in Italy that required the room key in a slot for electricity to be on. A business card often can do it so that can take your key card and leave electricity on to charge your devices, have ac on, etc, when you're out.

You can buy a converter or if you like to travel to Europe, buy one there.

>>You can buy a converter or if you like to travel to Europe, buy one there.<<

No need for a 'converter' -- bought at home OR there. One should not be taking appliances that need a converter.

Was that computer, phone, and camera made strictly for the US market? Are ANY of them? No? There's your voltage answer.

My hotels in both Venice and Trieste had the "keycards for electricity" thing. (Curiosity, often not for the AC, which takes the most power by far of anything else in the room.) It seems to be common all over Europe. The one in Trieste was an ancient hotel which used a key with a big wooden fob on the end of the key chain - and that wooden fob needed to be inserted into a slot to keep the electricity on, so a business card wouldn't work in that case.

Almost all modern devices that don't use much power will work on dual voltage without a converter - but a few still might not. I have a "white noise box" / alarm clock with a charger rated only at 110V according to the specs on the adapter; I burned one of those out a few years ago in Europe out of carelessness. Fortunately, it also runs on batteries, so when I go to Europe I leave the AC adapter at home.

Just to be safe, look at the voltage specs on the charger. Often the text is so tiny most people can't read it. Take a picture of the text with your phone and zoom in. As long as it is rated for dual voltage (110V - 240V or something like that), nothing to worry about.

Dukey--terrible advice!! US market devices such as smartphones and tablets are rated for dual voltage. As Andrew says, adapters are not needed for the vast, vast majority of such devices.

Honestly in dozen of Italian hotels I've never seen it. Stranger that the AC wasn't on the keycard that's the usual reason.

Well, thanks for all of this advice. What I was able to cull from this and another source is:

The surge protector is a bad idea because it might detect the higher voltage as a "surge". Makes sense. However I was not taking it for surge protection, just for the extra outlet access.

BigRuss, your "good gosh" comment was sort of condescending. But I do appreciate your idea of the USB power station. BUT I have two devices that need a regular old plug....my camera battery charger and my SurfacePro tablet. When you add in something for the USB devices....phone and Kindle....you need more plug access.

SO....this is my solution
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Problem solvded fr $21!

It comes with an adaptor and has spots for my regular plugs and my USB devices.

And when I noticed that "other travelers that looked at this device also looked at..." I saw a hair straightener for $20.

Life is good and so is Amazon.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Good for you! Problems solved

I had a couple of electric toothbrushes that needed a converter but that was a couple of years ago and we just decided it wasn't worth it. Even with a converter they tended to die when we got home.

Now we just brush the old fashion way. Although the Sonicare says that it can go a week or two without charging.