Outlet plug adaptor
 

We're going to Spain, France and United Kingdom in 5 days and I need to know what type of adaptor plug I need for my phone, camera, etc... and where to buy it in USA

If you have a Radio Shack near you, they sell a pack that has adaptors for Europe and the UK. I think it's $19.99. There are places you can get them cheaper online. And only the ones you need (that pack also has Asian and Australian ones). But you don't really have time for that.

you'll need two different types - so the kit may be your best bet. Many places do sell the individual adaptors which would be a little cheaper. Just depends on where you live - if you have luggage/travel shops nearby.

You can also get the adapters in hardware stores.

I've gotten one set at Target and one at Best Buy. I think the Target set was $10.

Thanks alot! Last night I went to Home Depot and found a kit of several adaptors for various countries $19.99 but it does not specify which adaptor is for which country and it comes in a case but it was kind of heavy to carry it. The travel agency recommend it some " round adapters" and the ones in the kit were not round at all!

walmart has the kits with a good selection........Target also..
If using things like curling irons you'll need one in dual voltage
However;; the things you mentioned only need an adaptor for specific countries,,,and the the kits with multicple adaptors give you a good selection, and the best way to go

Wally World (Walmart) sold them too. Note that the one I bought there had 2 pins for UK, but in eality three prongs is what you need.

If you just need adapters, they're cheap and you can get the two you need for around 8-10 bucks at Fry's. A set with all international adapters may be useful too.

Check your voltage ratings on your devices. The likelihood is you need adapters, not converters (UK has different plugs from rest of Europe). If your devices are rated 110-220v, you're fine. If rated only 110v, you need a converter. Brookstone and Fry's and Best Buy and Radio Shack all have them.

You can see pictures of what you need here:
http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/e...FSMSagodyj8sKA

You can also buy them at the airport - they will have the right ones, in small packs too.

Thank you very much for all your help.

By coincidence earlier today I bought a set of plug adapters at a local luggage and travel gear store for my daughter's upcoming trip. The set is the Lewis N Clark "Universal Adapter Plug Kit." There are three adapters for USA to: Great Britain, Europe, and Australia and one for Europe to USA. All made in the USA. It includes a small cloth carry baggie and cost $13. I've used a lot of these things over the years and believe that this is the best little kit I've seen. A similar kit at Radio Shack was $20.

ok. Went to Radio Shack and the converter costs $23 plus the the adapters for another $20. Went to Best Buy and there is one kit with converter and adapters for $23. This one has a maximum AC power of 1600w, which can be used for iron, hair dryer, flat iron etc... But one of the employees said that it was too much for the charger of my phone that I had to buy another converter for less power (50w). Please help!

How badly do you need your hair dryer, curling iron, regular iron and flatiron? I've heard enough stories about those not working well even with converters that I would just buy cheap country-appropriate versions when I arrive. (That's what I've done in the UK with a hair dryer, when I've stayed in hostels - I think I paid £15 for one. Would have done the same with a flatiron if I hadn't borrowed one.) If you're staying at a hotel, there's a good chance they'll have a hair dryer and an iron, if you really need one.

If you really need the hair appliances, I *think* you could buy one set in the first country you go to and then find a UK-to-Europe adapter (or vice versa), since they're on the same voltage. Hopefully someone will confirm that.

Hello jent103, I am not planning on taking any of the items that I mentioned before. The list I gave of appliances were mainly to give an idea of how much the converter can take. I might take the flat iron for my daughter who is a teenager and takes it everywhere she goes. But mainly is for the charger of my phone. I really appreciate your comments.

Voltage converters for high-power appliances are extremely iffy. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they take out the hotel's electrical system. Many Fodorites recommend leaving dual-voltage hair curler/dryer/iron behind, and acquiring 220V versions when you've settled in abroad. Saves a lot of grief, and doesn't cost significantly more than a converter.

If I have a laptop with me, all the small accessories charge through its USB port, so the only other thing I carry is a plug adapter for it. Otherwise, I travel with ONE plug adapter for each country I will visit, and ONE outlet strip that plugs into them. Individual chargers for camera/phone/PDA are plugged into the one strip.

My unlocked phone also requires a converter; I got one separately at Best Buy for something around $15, I think. I would definitely triple-check to make sure your phone actually needs one, though. I've traveled with groups and I've always been the only one whose phone required a converter rather than just an adapter. I can't speak to whether the converter in the set would work with your phone; I find the Best Buy employees are generally more knowledgeable than I am!

As far as the flatiron - I empathize with your daughter for sure, but I would strongly suggest either doing without or picking up an inexpensive one at a drugstore when you arrive in your first country (and finding a UK/Europe adapter). It won't be a Chi or anything, but it will do for a couple of weeks. That would save you lots of headaches, especially if your phone doesn't actually require a converter.

<<< I might take the flat iron for my daughter who is a teenager and takes it everywhere she goes. >>>

Depends if you care for her or not, if you don't then let her take it. If you do then buy one when you arrive in Europe - and you'll need another adaptor to convert the plug from French to UK or vice versa

Take a close look at your charger brick. Chances are that it works on 110-240 volt and 50-60 Hz. In that case you only need the plug adapter. If you use a "converter" you will see smoke and sparks as you instantly fry your brick. The 50 watt 240-110 volt transformer should work OK, if you need it. See http://tinyurl.com/2y9zvv for an introduction to European electricity. Here's a link http://tinyurl.com/noy29m to the kit I mentioned above, though it doesn't include the baggie. You only need to bring the UK and European plugs with you.