I wouldn't worry so much about insurance as I would about burning down the hotel. You can get smart on electricity in Europe at http://tinyurl.com/2y9zvv.

As for legality, it appears that it is only illegal to sell non-CE items in Europe but not illegal to use them. This site has techno-legal info, http://tinyurl.com/yvk8kq, if you are interested.

I support the idea of buying small appliances once you are in Europe. They are more expensive than you would pay for similar items in the USA but the cost is inconsequential in the whole context of your travel budget. Besides, you get the experience of shopping in a European department store.

Not sure I understand the advice to buy the device in Europe. The wife and I use a whole gaggle of dual voltage appliances in Europe that were purchased in the US without a problem. Computers, Playstation 3, Wireless Router, Hair Dryer, Flattening Iron, DLP Projector, Electric Toothbrush, and more. Using them in Europe is as simple as plugging in an adaptor or replacing a cord so that the plugs fit.

If you can find a dual voltage device in the US that otherwise meets your needs, then I don't see the problem. Indeed, I really don't understand why you would buy separate devices for Europe, when you can buy a single device that you can use for worldwide travel, or even every day. Just be careful when shopping. Most products don't tell you it is dual voltage on the box, but all will list the voltage somewhere on the device itself, usually near or on the power source. Take it out of the box or look at the display model and you should be able to tell pretty readily. Look for something like "Input AC 100-240V".

Spot on Travelgourmet and all due respect nytraveler but you'd have to be in a very archaic building that did not have a system capable of feeding a hair drier/straightener.

The reason your earlier hasir drier melted dorky was just that it was designed for 110/120v and with 240/250 there'd be twice as much current running through it being ammount of current that determines heat.

The multi voltage units are designed for either without overheating.
As for converter transformer, one and the same you either convert or transform power at one voltage to another and you have one in the boxy thing that has the labelling about voltage and CE.
An adaptor people refer to is just what you have that can plug into a Europe/UK power outlet and so you can connect your unit.

Is the CE label something that is fairly new? My 2 dual voltage appliances (steamer & hair dryer) which are at least 10 years old (the kind that have the switches to change to the appropriate voltage) don't have the CE label. But - the new flat iron with (evidently) built in dual voltage does have CE on the side. I'm comfortable with my appliances after this helpful thread, just learning as I go.

Well, rather new. but older than 10 years. But most likely they aren't certified at all. The thing about CE is that in case of trouble, the manufacturer certifies that it does work in the EU and that he is legally liable for it. It does protect the consumer (=you) (From the lawyers too. Just imagine you lend it out to someone and this person gets hurt because of a manufacturing fault).

I just wouldn't take them with me, should they lack this mark. Anyway, I've never seen a converter with a CE mark anyway, only transformers!