Where to Buy Hair Dryer in Italy
Apr 17th, 2006, 01:11 PM
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For what it's worth, I've had poor results from a dual-voltage hair dryer.
I bought a 220 volt travel-sized one a number of years ago, and it works infinitely better on my thick, wavy hair. I use plug adapters for the UK, otherwise, the round pin plug it came with is fine for Italy, France, and Spain.
I think the plan to shop for this item in Italy is a good one. However, should anyone else wish to buy one before their travels, I suggest www.houseof220.com (Call 800 number for many items not pictured on the site.)
I bought a 220 volt travel-sized one a number of years ago, and it works infinitely better on my thick, wavy hair. I use plug adapters for the UK, otherwise, the round pin plug it came with is fine for Italy, France, and Spain.
I think the plan to shop for this item in Italy is a good one. However, should anyone else wish to buy one before their travels, I suggest www.houseof220.com (Call 800 number for many items not pictured on the site.)
Apr 17th, 2006, 09:41 PM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I posted last night but it never went through so will try again tonight. As someone who travels to Rome almost everyweek for work and has a daughter studying in Sicily-there is a reason that you should buy your electrical appliances overseas instead of at home. The above posters who mentioned the old wiring and also the problems with blown fuses and "burnouts" is the reason. The school is not trying to get the kids into the culture but rather have dealt with the problems in the past and realize that it will be alot easier than wasting the time and money to schelpp this stuff over. I ended up buying a hairdryer and roller set over there and it has been the best money spent. Converters and heated appliances do not work out after awhile from continuous use. The dual wattage appliances are hit or miss I have found.Where is your daughter studying? I found numerous appliance stores in Rome that sell hair dryers for around 15-20 euros.There are two reasonable ones at Piazza Barbarini off Via Tritone. I looked all over for a George Forman type grill for my daughter in Rome and found one for about 21 euros-great purchase as she uses it alot for cooking everything from fish to grilled cheese sandwiches. WAlmart in Europe is usually called something like ASTA but are only found outside of the town areas.My advice-buy electrical over there and bring the other stuff. Let me know if you need any other info for the study abroad experience as I had a son study in Torino and Prague and my daughter is in Sicily this semester. Good luck!
Apr 17th, 2006, 09:59 PM
#24
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dear Maire,
I bought a hair dryer at UPIM in Florence; you can buy small appliances at Standa and Ipercoop markets also. The dryer cost < €15 about 15 years ago. My family and I still use it when visiting Europe!
I bought a hair dryer at UPIM in Florence; you can buy small appliances at Standa and Ipercoop markets also. The dryer cost < €15 about 15 years ago. My family and I still use it when visiting Europe!
Apr 17th, 2006, 10:03 PM
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Dutyfree and Italiasubito. Thanks for the info.
It was my daughter’s school who said they’ve had problems with the wiring in the old apartments.
My daughter will be studying in Perugia, but we will be traveling in Italy for 3 weeks before she starts school, so we will need to buy a hair dryer and clothes steamer (or iron) right away. We’ll either fly into Rome or Venice, so that’s where we’ll need to buy them. I have noted down the information you both gave of where to buy appliances.
Dutyfree, have you, by any chance, had any experience with shipping anything to your kids either from the US, or within Italy? That is our biggest obstacle now--trying to figure a way to get the luggage she’ll need for school to Italy without having to lug it around for the 3 weeks of our vacation. Our current plan is to take the extra luggage on the plane with us and somehow find (before we go, of course) a place that will store it for 3 weeks.
I’ll have to check into that grill for my daughter—sounds like a good idea.
It was my daughter’s school who said they’ve had problems with the wiring in the old apartments.
My daughter will be studying in Perugia, but we will be traveling in Italy for 3 weeks before she starts school, so we will need to buy a hair dryer and clothes steamer (or iron) right away. We’ll either fly into Rome or Venice, so that’s where we’ll need to buy them. I have noted down the information you both gave of where to buy appliances.
Dutyfree, have you, by any chance, had any experience with shipping anything to your kids either from the US, or within Italy? That is our biggest obstacle now--trying to figure a way to get the luggage she’ll need for school to Italy without having to lug it around for the 3 weeks of our vacation. Our current plan is to take the extra luggage on the plane with us and somehow find (before we go, of course) a place that will store it for 3 weeks.
I’ll have to check into that grill for my daughter—sounds like a good idea.
Apr 17th, 2006, 10:09 PM
#26
I'm glad that they encouraged her to get it over there, and I would have bought a flatiron (for hair) in Italy on my last trip if I'd found one in the stores. She can also use it for return visits.
Apr 18th, 2006, 05:58 AM
#27
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My dual voltage hair dryer (bought in the US) has worked just great on 3 trips to Europe. It puts out plenty of air at the right temperature, even when running on European voltage.
I like it because it's smaller than the usual US blow dryer which makes it great for travel in either the US or Europe - and I use it for both.
I guess if I spent enough time in Europe like Dutyfree, I would just buy appliances for whichever country. Also, if I were a student who was going to be there for a year or more.
Yes, shopping in the local grocery stores and other shops for every day items is a great experience. We do it just for fun when we go.
Maire, I know you and your daughter will have a great time! As you know, most hotels now have hair dryers. I have done one trip where I didn't take one and only used the hotel appliances. On my last trip in Sept, I was pleasantly surprised to find that half of my hotels had dryers that actually worked!
You could either use the hotel dryers to start, or buy a dual voltage for yourself and take it home when you leave. Your daughter can pick up an Italian one later.
Buon viaggio!
I like it because it's smaller than the usual US blow dryer which makes it great for travel in either the US or Europe - and I use it for both.
I guess if I spent enough time in Europe like Dutyfree, I would just buy appliances for whichever country. Also, if I were a student who was going to be there for a year or more.
Yes, shopping in the local grocery stores and other shops for every day items is a great experience. We do it just for fun when we go.
Maire, I know you and your daughter will have a great time! As you know, most hotels now have hair dryers. I have done one trip where I didn't take one and only used the hotel appliances. On my last trip in Sept, I was pleasantly surprised to find that half of my hotels had dryers that actually worked!
You could either use the hotel dryers to start, or buy a dual voltage for yourself and take it home when you leave. Your daughter can pick up an Italian one later.
Buon viaggio!
Apr 18th, 2006, 01:38 PM
#29
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, if you use a dual voltage hair dryer or other high wattage appliance in Europe with one of those 2 round pin plug adapters, you are at least in violation of electrical codes, maybe in violation of the law, and possibly risking injury.
The two-pin plug (technically a CEE 7/16) is ungrounded, unpolarized, and intended for 2 1/2 amps or less, far below that drawn by hairdryers, etc. That plug is, however, suitable for camera and computer battery chargers.
Most countries have a standard grounded plug for higher amperage appliances, and that plug will come on a appliance purchased over there. Unfortunately, the grounded plugs in Italy are not compatible outside of Italy. Swiss plugs are not compatible outside of Switzerland. France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany have two different plug configurations, but have recently started using a plug that fits both.
UK - well, let's not get into that.
The two-pin plug (technically a CEE 7/16) is ungrounded, unpolarized, and intended for 2 1/2 amps or less, far below that drawn by hairdryers, etc. That plug is, however, suitable for camera and computer battery chargers.
Most countries have a standard grounded plug for higher amperage appliances, and that plug will come on a appliance purchased over there. Unfortunately, the grounded plugs in Italy are not compatible outside of Italy. Swiss plugs are not compatible outside of Switzerland. France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany have two different plug configurations, but have recently started using a plug that fits both.
UK - well, let's not get into that.
Apr 18th, 2006, 02:41 PM
#31
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>violation of the law
Thanks, Larry for posting. That's the fact in Germany, however in Italy things always have been a little different.
> recently started using a plug that fits both.
The German Schuko (SCHUtzKOntakt) system is widely used and has been used in Germany since the "dawn of electricity". This won't change, Italy adapts slowly, France is compatible. ;-) Britain, never!
Thanks, Larry for posting. That's the fact in Germany, however in Italy things always have been a little different.
> recently started using a plug that fits both.
The German Schuko (SCHUtzKOntakt) system is widely used and has been used in Germany since the "dawn of electricity". This won't change, Italy adapts slowly, France is compatible. ;-) Britain, never!
Apr 18th, 2006, 02:53 PM
#32
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>Germany have two different plug configurations
Germany only has and EVER had Schuko apart from the Europlug you described and the Kraftstrom plug for 380V, which I'm sure you won't need. Any Europlug will fit a Schuko socket.
Germany only has and EVER had Schuko apart from the Europlug you described and the Kraftstrom plug for 380V, which I'm sure you won't need. Any Europlug will fit a Schuko socket.
Apr 18th, 2006, 09:19 PM
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maire-either bring the stuff you need or buy it over there. The postal service of Italy is a pain with customs and duty. Its very expensive to ship-even little things. I sent at the (beginning of the semester) to my daughter in Sicily some things like cocoa;granola bars and a purse. It cost me over $30 to ship the stuff and that was with a discount. My daughter said that a friend at school had someone send her two magazines and it was almost$10. The Italian government usually has their hand out for duty fees so I find it usually isn't worth it. I should mention that when I took my daughter over to Sicily by way of Milan out of Chicago we flew Alitalia. When we got to Milan to go down to Catania,we were charged 100 euros for excess weight charges. It turns out that you are allowed 40 kilos for international a bag but ONLY 20 kilos for domestic. Upon asking what I was supposed to do with the extra weight(Items in the suitcase) in the middle of flight segments, I got "the shrug" and the bill. I ended up standing in line with over 30 other people all with the same problem.Definitely buy all her medicines here like aspirin,tampons,first aid items,etc. as they are expensive over there.My daughter lives in an apartment so she brought her own bedding(extra long twin),towels and a down comforter which was great as she had no central heat and it was really cold in Sicily in January through March!I love UPIM department store as it has a nice houseware section that is reasonable for things like rugs,glasses,etc.Tell your daughter to take advantage of everyday over there as it is amazing!
Apr 19th, 2006, 09:59 AM
#35
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Logo,
Please don't misquote me! I did not say "Germany have" two configurations. I said “France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany have two configurations”. Specifically, France and Belgium have one with a grounding pin projecting from the receptacle. Netherlands and Germany use the Shuko plug, which has grounding tabs on the sides. I lumped the four countries together because there is now a common plug that will fit into, and be grounded by, the receptacles in all four countries.
Please don't misquote me! I did not say "Germany have" two configurations. I said “France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany have two configurations”. Specifically, France and Belgium have one with a grounding pin projecting from the receptacle. Netherlands and Germany use the Shuko plug, which has grounding tabs on the sides. I lumped the four countries together because there is now a common plug that will fit into, and be grounded by, the receptacles in all four countries.
, just that these plugs are around since 1983. I just recall the strange "extra" hole the C64 Schuko plug has.
Apr 19th, 2006, 12:59 PM
#37
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maire, or everyone who needs/wants to buy elettrodomestici in Venice: though you can find them everywhere in the small stores around Venice, the best place in not directly in Venice (not very surprising, is it?) but in Marghera on the mainland: the SME store at Panorama (Panorama is a very well-known shopping center). Free direct busses (green-yellow) to Panorama are running from Piazzale Roma each full and half hours. SME is cheap and is offering a great choice (never mind that it was once possessed by Berlusconi, and that this was one of his business cases that desperate attorneys and judges have tried to prosecute - in vain...).
Jul 14th, 2011, 11:11 AM
#39
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have found that plug adapters or even dual voltage appliances don't work well in Europe and have given up carrying them. It is far better to buy a cheap travel one in Italy. That being said, I can't find mine!! Does anyone know where to purchase one in Florence?
Jul 14th, 2011, 11:57 AM
#40
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bought mine in either Standa or Upim in Venice some years ago for about $15 or so. They are chain stores sort of like Target. It still works very well. I had to find one quickly since my American dual-voltage blew fuses in our first hotel.
If you Google "standa venezia" you'll find several locations.
Something else to consider...
Dual-voltage hair dryers cannot run on the slow speed when in Europe. It's hot and fast only, so if you normally use the cooler, slower speed, dual voltage won't work for you.
If you Google "standa venezia" you'll find several locations.
Something else to consider...
Dual-voltage hair dryers cannot run on the slow speed when in Europe. It's hot and fast only, so if you normally use the cooler, slower speed, dual voltage won't work for you.
