Should I bring my hair dryer?
 

This is my first trip to Ireland. Went to London in Oct. and hair dryers were provided where we stayed, so I never bought an adapter/converter. I'm wondering if most bb's provide them in Ireland? I travel quite a bit and am doing more traveling in Europe than ever. Should I invest in an adapter kit? I think Walmart has them for $30 or so for maybe ten different ones. Any thoughts?

Even with the adapter/converter, you could well ruin your dryer and the B&B's electrical system. Wait to see if they have one, and if not then buy one locally, you can use it in future travels and it will cost less than the $30 you're willing to spend for the adapter/converter.

Have used my hair dryer with an adapter for 7 trips to Ireland, no problems. I have thought about buying one too, but I use the adapter to charge batteries etc. Wal-Mart sells the adapters!
Have fun!

Hi tia,

If your dryer is a dual voltage model (it should say 110 - 220 volts) you only need an adapter plug for Ireland.

This will cost about $5

Tia, most of the nice B&B's will have hair dryers. If they have a website, most will tell you on their site.

We do a lot of traveling in Europe. My recommendation would be to buy a 110/220 hair dryer. You could probably get one for around $25.00. Then all you would need would be the plug adaptor. They are not that much. The $30.00 kits probably are the ones that come with a small transformer -- which you won't need. You will only need the plug adaptors to plug it into the wall socket. And, don't forget to change it from 110 to 220 (there should be a little button on the handle) or you will fry the insides. ((b))

I had a dual voltage dryer I used about 5 times in Europe including Ireland but then even with the adapter it blew up in Iceland.
I have not traveled with a hairdryer for about 4 trips now and if they are not in the room the front desk always has them even in smaller hotels. I would think B & B 's would have them also.

Depending on how many electrical appliances you take with you, you can either buy the one set of plugs with a transformer (if you have many) or if you just are taking the hairdryer, buy the dual. I've never blown up anything in Ireland.

Bill

I'm with those who vote for a dual voltage dryer. I've used mine in the US and many countries in Europe and Asia with no problems. I typically try the hotel's dryer if there is one and it never seems to be more than a gentle warm caress - not exactly what I need to dry my hair!

Also . . . do try one of the newish ion dryers. They are supposed to be better for your hair, but the GREAT part is, they really, truly do dry hair faster. Honestly, my hair dries in half the time. I even did time trials to prove it to my disbelieving husband!

Buying one in Europe will get you one with the plug of the country you bought it in, so I use my dual voltage one with an adapter for all the different countries.

*Andrea, I want an ion one now, I haven't seen any in LA, has anyone?

This is another vote for a dual voltage dryer, with a simple couple-dollar adapter plug. I've had mine probably 20 years and have never blown up anything anywhere, but I don't stay in B&Bs with bad wiring or things like that, which could make a difference. You can buy one for $10 or so at a discount drug store, CVS has a real nice little travel size one, bright blue. I also like the dual voltage one as I can use it to travel anywhere in the world, including within the US, not just in the country I bought it.

I will have to check out those ion things, although I don't really need a new one, anyway.

MarthaT, what did you feed yours to make it blow up? If you forgot to turn the button to 220, it will melt down. I'm willing to bet you got a short in it. ((b))

Natalia - I bought mine in Boise, Idaho, and have seen them in Vancouver, Washington, too . . . I can't imagine LA doesn't have them?

They're not obviously visibly different from regular hair dryers (nor are they much - if at all - more expensive). They should be in any grocery/Payless/CVS/Wallmart-type store that has a selection of 5 - 10 hair dryers, and the ion specification may be no more prominently mentioned than the other features.

Christina - if you spend more than 5 minutes drying your hair in the mornings, you *NEED* an ion dryer! :)

Andrea, you get around, don't you? Shanghai, Boise......

Thanks for the rec. it takes so long to dry my hair and on vacation, it is wasting precious time! I will look for one at Walmart, a good excuse to go into one for the first time! A new one has just opened near me.

WOW!! Thanks for all the info and the laughs!!! I, too, NEED my hair dryer. The hotel ones never work on my hair (tons of natural curls and thick beyond belief!!) as it takes a long time to dry. I believe my travel dryer is dual, but I have to check. I think I'm better off just buying the adapter and if mine blows up or melts, so be it! That'll just be a good excuse to buy an ion dryer!!!! Thanks to all who responded!! I LOVE this site!!!!

Tia

Attn: Martha

I've been dying to go to Iceland. What was it like????

How about buying a hairdryer when you get there? I have often seen that recommended.

However, I'm not sure how it works when taking the hairdryer from one European country to the next, because I don't know anything about the wiring in respective countries.

But suppose it costs $25 in Ireland and you only use it while there - that's a small cost in the scheme of things.

I am sort of looking at budget hotels in Paris and I always notice whether or not they mention hairdryers. I know it's sort of silly because I could always buy it when I got there.

One year I took my 110 hairdryer to Ireland with a converter and adaptors. We were in an older B&B in Avoca. Guess who plugged in the adapter but forgot the converter??? Blew out the entire house, no serious damage.

In Cork later that week, I bought a 220 hairdryer and have been using it on Eropean trips, as well as loaning it out to friends, ever since. (It is extemely well-traveled.)

So my vote: buy one when you get there! (most B&Bs do have them, I find)

Enjoy!

Forgive my spelling or European!

Note too that some older hotels have outlets next to the sinks which should only be used for electric shavers and will not support the voltage for hair dryers.

I'm glad my wife is bald and just needs buffing now and again. Should we get a dual voltage buffer?