We're going to Italy next week and need to know, obviously besides an adapter, how well do they work with a transformer (220-110). Do they work well or should we just just the ones in the hotels? (this is very important to my wife!) thanks

This has been discussed at length here in the past -- be prepared for the people telling you you're crazy to take a hair dryer with you.<BR>The bottom line is either buy a cheap one in Europe, or buy a dual voltage one here (K-Mart or Walmart for less than $20). It will work far better than using a transformer. Of course, you will need a simple plug adapter (not a transformer) to plug it in.<BR>Sounds like a perfect gift to me if it's important to your wife!

years ago, (over 10) my youngest son got me a travel iron and hairdryer in dual voltage, and I think it is the best gift I have ever gotten. And to think that it came from a young teenager (even if he was well aware of my wanderlust!). I live in fear of it dying! But check with the hotels you are staying at, most in Europe provide a hairdryer.

oh, I just noticed how it was important to your wife...buy her a good travel dual voltage hairdryer as a bon voyage then. I was quite happy with the hairdryers in Italy, but then I have very low maintenance hair. Sometime on the way to work I just leave the window open and stick out my head! No wonder I get strange looks sometimes...

Years ago I stopped carrying a hair dryer on trips because most hotels have them. If they don't have them in the room, you can call housekeeping or the front desk and get one from the hotel. They may not be the best hairdryers, but at least you won't have to carry one with you and worry about correct voltage, transformers, adapters, etc. Use the bag space for something nice to take home with you! Enjoy your trip.

If it's important to your wife, buy one! Some people prefer to have one, some prefer to &quot;chance&quot; it - but if she IS a person to whom it's important, she'll be glad to have one (and, worst case scenario, if you change your minds and decide it isn't worth lugging around, you're out $15). <BR><BR>If your wife has long or thick hair (or just that takes a long time to dry), I recommend an ion hairdryer. I was highly sceptical, but after many friends swore by them, I bought one. It has more than halved my hair-drying time from over 10 minutes to under 5 (mine is also dual voltage, and is a reasonably small size). <BR><BR>It keeps me happy, and it keeps my husband happy too, since I can get ready much faster!

I agree with Mari. I no longer carry one with me and just use whatever the hotel has (and most hotels do have them). To each his own, but the less I have to lug around the better.

Buy a dual-voltage travel hairdryer or buy one when you get to Italy.<BR><BR>DON'T bring a US hairdryer with an adaptor and convertor. Not mentioning any names, but SOMEBODY'S sister blew out the electricity in a French hotel with the above-mentioned arrangement, then fried that same somebody's hairdryer in England. My sister - er, I mean somebody's sister - bought a hairdryer in Paris and carries that on every trip (with a plug adaptor for the UK).<BR><BR>Almost every b&amp;b and hotel we've stayed in has a hairdryer BUT occasionally not. No sense taking a chance by not carrying one and finding none in your room (or that it doesn't work).<BR><BR>I now never use a hairdryer, but I can't be without a watch and an alarm clock. We all have our things that make us comfortable and at ease, so if that's a hairdryer, then make sure you've got one that works.

I agree -- buy a dual voltage. You will be better off, especially if this is important to your wife. We did the transformer thingy years ago and it didn't work well.<BR><BR>The plugs are different in Europe, and England has their own. Buy a package of adaptors for a few $$$. All luggage shops sell them. Buying a transformer will cost you about the same as buying a dual-voltage dryer or curling iron.<BR><BR>

Why bother taking one at all? It's like taking a travel alarm when you can request a wake-up call. Each to his own, I guess.

I can certainly understand Steph's concern. My wife was just like that. I finally got her to leave the hair dryer at home and pin up her hair, but I can't seem to get rid of the travel iron.

Learn from my mistake: buy a dual voltage hair dryer before you leave. And by the way, my curling iron did not heat up beyond very luke warm, so to tame my hair I bought a curling iron in Italy, it didnt heat up very much either. If your wife's hair style is important (like it is to me, and if you saw me without using a curling iron you would say comb your hair even if you didn't know me, lol) bring a dual voltage &quot;whatever&quot; she uses for her hair, too.

Nancy, there are plenty of cordless curling irons available, that actually work off a lighter. I have one that is very lightweight that I take away with me. The cylinder that holds the fuel is about the size of a cigarette lighter, and it lasts more than 3 weeks. The curling iron also has a brush attachment. Braun makes this type of curling iron, and I bought mine in Walgreens, but there are other brands. <BR><BR>Some hotels don't have hairdryers in each room. You have to go to the desk and borrow it. Not a problem if the hairdryer is available, but I did stay in a hotel, where the hairdryer wasn't at the desk when I was ready to take a shower. Had a few bad hair days, where all I used was the curling iron. Ended up with big hair - like in the infamous Farrah Fawcett poster.