Should I let my kids take their USA portable DVD players to Scandinavia or will it be too complicated using or charging batteries because of different voltage and different plugs???

I take mine with me and it is no problem at all, buy a converter and plugs and recharge the batteries, or you can buy batteries there as you go.

Hi peggi,

No you should not. The point of visiting Scandinavia is to get them out of their narrow, cramped, provincial ways and to learn about other people.

It will not be at all complicated. Your battery charger should be 110-220 V. If it is not, get one that is.

You will then need and adapter plug for US to Scandinavia.

I was glad to have brought one along on a 2-week trip to Europe earlier this month. Initially I scoffed at it, b/c we were traveling light, and who needs another gadget? But DVD players have gotten quite light and small, so that and the converter/adapter added little to my carry-on luggage.

It was a real treat on the plane to be able to choose our own film to watch. And a couple times in hotels, it was nice to sack out with a movie after a long and delightful day spent forciibly broadening our narrow, cramped, provincial ways. Why not bring along a few foreign titles? "My Life as a Dog" comes to mind.

I have never really traveled in Scandinavia (a little over 24 hours in ribe/Odense, DK barely counts) - - and I do hope to make it to Sweden and Norway, at least - - some day.

But I don't have a very high opinion of "My Life as a Dog". Higly borig, IMO.

I hope...

a) this isn't really predictive of whether I will enjoy Sweden and Norway

and

b) others will not use this one film as a gauge to whether they should travel to Scandinavia! If they do, I submit that a goodly number would pass.

Best wishes,

Rex

Bear in mind that for copyright regions, DVDs are encoded in "regions," and a DVD player from the USA (Region 1) may not play DVDs bought in Europe (Region 2).

Thanks for all the helpful information! I did know we'd have to take our own DVDs since ours aren't compatible with theirs, but the info about the adaptors is quite helpful. It certainly IS my plan to get them out of their "provincial" ways, but If I can buy some peace in the hotel at the end of a long day, I'll take it. Plus, I understand Scandinavian TV might not always be appropriate for teens!

If you want to get them out of their provincial ways, maybe you SHOULD let them watch the TV!!

Except the fact that most Scandinavian TV-channels are about a season or two behind the american ones I'm quite sure any hotel TV will have enough american TV-series and movies with Norwegian/Swedish/Danish subtitles for them to feel right at home (and there will be less commercial breaks as well .
And if you think the whole Janet Jackson SB issue was an abomination you might find the ratings on Scandinavian TV too low. But if you like most Scandiavians just laughed at the whole thing you will not see anything you wouldn't see in the US on Scandinavian TV...
Not that I am advocating spending half your day in the room watching TV

About the DVD regions you might be lucky and have a DVD player that ignores regions and thus be able to buy most Scandinavian DVD's (which in 90% of the cases has an option for English Subtitles).

Sindre

Go to Brookstone.com or your nearest Brookstone store for an adapter. I swear by my multi-regional converter I bought at the mall from them (no, I do not work for, represent or draw income from Brookstone or any related company).

The regional coding system seems to be breaking down. At least, I'm told that here in Australia such restrictions are now routinely disabled at point of sale. Certainly my Chinese-made el cheapo plays anything.

Australia is supposed to be in Region 4, along with New Zealand and Central & South America. However, I believe there was some lawsuits that's stopped the implementation in Australia/NZ, probably with the support of those governments. Most players sold there, including those from the name brand via the official importers, are region free.

But it's correct that the region code barrier is breaking down, with many region-free Chinese players sold around the globe. It's a excellent case of consumers' power winning over stupid rules drawn out by movie executives in Los Angeles.

The only places where people still buy players with region codes are the N. America (Region 1) and Japan (Region 2), where there are strong consumption of domestic discs, and little need/interest in getting discs from other regions.

I am not convinced that Scandinavian TV is any LESS "appropriate" for teens than what your teens may be watching right here...I think that's the least of your worries; encouraging them to pay attention to something besides their own needs might be your greatest one.
Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks to all for advice/opinions! I just went to Radio Shack today and purchased voltage convertors and plug adaptors; I'll go to WalMart before the trip and get some cheapo US DVDs they haven't seen before...they can take their "favorites" (like James Bond and Freaky Friday). We will spend most of our days touring...sights, museums, castles, local color (like the pedestrian main street in Copenhagen). They're both avid readers and I have a stash of new paperbacks for them to take along, including several with Viking/Scandinavian themes. And, of course, we take along cards/games. But, at the end of a long day, it does buy me some peace to have them just chill out with a DVD...the "parents" may even get to go out to a nice dinner for a couple of hours while they relax with take-out and a movie in the room! Also, we have 2 VERY long travel days: one, the Norway in a Nutshell trip and two, Bergen to Alesund on a bus. While the scenery will be breathtaking, teens don't do ten hours of scenery very cheerfully.