Barbara

I have started carrying an extension cord with us which takes care of the outlet problem it is fitted with the adapter on end

elaine

what a simple and clever suggestion! <BR>thanks

Judy

Dear Barbara, where did you get this wonderful extension cord? Sounds like a plan! Thanks, Judy

Richard

Bravo Barbara, We tour on bikes but even we can find room for a 6' or 8' extension cord. We stay in zero to 2 star hotels and the nearest plug is always behind the bed, nowhere near a mirror. My wife will think I'm a genius when I suggest we include this in our travel kit.

elaine

Judy <BR>I think she means just bring an extension cord from home, and fit the plug end with a plug adapter suitable for the country you are visiting <BR>Plug adapters available in travel-related stores

marty

This doesn't mean use your US voltage hairdryer and extension cord and just stick an adaptor on it, does it. Without converting the power to 220 or using a 220 hairdryer, will this work? I have a 220 hairdryer with a European plug. Does this extension cord have European plugs on both ends-male and female?

elaine

No, all Barbara is addressing <BR>(and it is wonderful) is the issue of plugging the dryer into an inconvenient outlet in the hotel bedroom and because of the extension cord being able to walk with the dryer closer to a mirror somewhere in the room. Most European hotel bathrooms don't have an outlet that can be used for anything except razors. Barbara's hint has nothing to do with how well an American dryer will or won't work which is often a problem even when the plugs and adapters and converters have all been set according to the rules and the moon is in the seventh house. <BR> <BR>The plug adaptor (which varies from country to country) will allow an American extension cord or electrical current converter/transformer to be plugged into a European wall outlet. <BR>If your dryer is dual voltage, change the voltage, plug its cord into the female end of the extension cord, put a plug adapter on the male end of the extension cord, and plug the adapted male end of the extension cord into the wall outlet. Then hope for the best. <BR>If your dryer is not dual voltage,you also need an electrical converter. Place the plug adapter on the prongs of your electricity converter. <BR>Plug the converter into the wall outlet. <BR>Plug the male end of the extension cord into the converter. Plug the hair dryer <BR>into the female end of the extension cord. Hope for the best. <BR>Someone check me to make sure I said it correctly. <BR> <BR>To avoid all this, stay in a hotel that provides hair dryers in the bathrooms, or buy a local hairdryer. <BR>

kam

To avoid all this you could look for the outlet first and bring a mirror with you--I have one with a suction cup on the back that I attach preferably to a window. If the hotel has a hairdryer, chances are they'll have a suitable plug. You can find out with a simple call or email.

don

the best European purchase I ever made was to buy a local hairdrier, as adaptors alter the speed and temperature of the machine. Unless you plan on going abroad only once in a lifetime, it is well worth the money ( and so is an extention cord).

Patty

I just returned from France and had a heck of a time using my hair dryer with a converter and an adaptor. I finally purchased one in Dijon. Although I did not have to use an adaptor or converter, I still could not use the outlet in the bathroom and the one in the bedroom did not reach a mirror. Never thought of an extension cord (da). Does any one know if I can use this hair dryer bought in France in Italy? (I thought I was the only one with this problem. Most people on our tour did not wash or style their hair each day. They waited a week and then went to a salon to hold them another week. This is not feasible for me. I have bad hair and I need to wash it daily to style it. Hair is a big hang up I have. I still have nightmares that I am walking down the isle on my wedding day and my hair is a mess. As far a male and female plugs, I am clueless. What do these look like?

Richard

Patty, You should be able to use your French dryer in Italy. As for male/female plug, let's just say they are anatomically correct.

marty

I have your hair problem, and I started one of the longer threads on this forum having to do with hair dryers. I finally bought a 220 hairdryer from houseof220.com. I took it to Italy this summer, and though I had to buy another adaptor, because I had the wrong size plug on my hairdryer for the hotel I was in, it was great! (My house is old and we sometimes have to put adaptors on things we use at home, so I was not surprised that there are different plugs in Italy.)At last, I could wash and dry my hair with 1875 watts just like I am used to at home!

elaine

Hi Patty <BR>Male/female plugs are terms that combine biology with hardware. I am an expert on neither, but here goes. No giggling please. <BR>An extension cord has two ends, obviously. One end has a plug with prongs on it, that goes into a wall outlet or other receptacle. That end is the "male" end. <BR>The other end of the extension cord doesn't have prongs, it has holes that will accept the prongs that are on the end of your hairdryer's plug or other appliance's plug. <BR>The end of the cord that has holes/receptacles is referred to as the female end.