Outlet adapter for Europe?

[Lanie]

I''m leaving for my honeymoon in 5 days! And I just now thought of the outlets over there. Where can I get an adapter, and do they work? Last time I was in Europe, it fried my hairdryer. Does Lowes or Home Depot carry these?

 

[mrscushion]

You can get them at the airport, in the book/magazine stores. Get a multi-country adapter.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

I''ve noticed that different parts of Europe have different adaptors (I had to use a different one in France than I did in Italy), but maybe I just had a strange hotel or something. I would probably call your hotel and varify which kind you need. I just borrow them from work, so I haven''t had to buy one, but last time I grabbed one that only had two prongs and my laptop adaptor has three...oops. I think an electronics store like Best Buy is likely to have them. I know I saw one at Radio Shack a little while ago.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/21/2009 10:49:16 AM
Author:Lanie
I''m leaving for my honeymoon in 5 days! And I just now thought of the outlets over there. Where can I get an adapter, and do they work? Last time I was in Europe, it fried my hairdryer. Does Lowes or Home Depot carry these?

OK, my first rule of thumb, NEVER bring a hairdryer to Europe. And if you HAVE to, bring a DUAL voltage one. On the power pack somewhere it should say "110-240v 50-60Hz". If it does not say that, do not bring it, it is worthless to you! Buy a hairdryer in Europe.

An adapter is NOT a converter. All an adapter does is help the power plug on your device to fit into the outlet. A converter converts the voltage. They are usually heavy and expensive and not worth taking. So again, make sure whatever you are deciding to use is dual voltage.

Most (if not all) cell phones these days are dual voltage, as are laptop computers. What may not be are hair dryers, curling/flat irons, etc.

In addition to what the others said, if you have an REI near you, they will have them. I agree, get a multicountry. Where in Europe are you going?

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/21/2009 10:57:21 AM
Author: NewEnglandLady
I''ve noticed that different parts of Europe have different adaptors (I had to use a different one in France than I did in Italy), but maybe I just had a strange hotel or something. I would probably call your hotel and varify which kind you need. I just borrow them from work, so I haven''t had to buy one, but last time I grabbed one that only had two prongs and my laptop adaptor has three...oops. I think an electronics store like Best Buy is likely to have them. I know I saw one at Radio Shack a little while ago.

I think the plug prongs are slightly narrower at some places.

 

[Lanie]

Thanks TGal and everyone else!!!

Going to Athens and Santorini. A Greek person told me to buy a cheap hairdryer in Greece as well. I hope I find one...I can''t live without one!

 

[mrscushion]

Date: 7/21/2009 12:38:36 PM
Author: Lanie
Thanks TGal and everyone else!!!
Going to Athens and Santorini. A Greek person told me to buy a cheap hairdryer in Greece as well. I hope I find one...I can''t live without one!

The majority of hotels will have hairdryers in the rooms, or will provide them upon request. Perhaps it might be worthwhile to call ahead and ask whether your particular hotel does?

 

[MrsG]

I got my set of adapters at Radio Shack. I also got a converter for things that cannot be plugged in the 220V outlet, like my tooth brush.
I believe 220V outlets are standard in Greece. I would check whatever you are bringing and see if you might need to get a converter.

 

[purrfectpear]

Luggage stores. They always have all the converters and are usually pretty good about knowing what you need.

 

[Mara]

I got mine on Amazon, it was a multi prong adapter and I think it was $20. It came in 3 days and it worked great in France and Germany.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 7/21/2009 3:58:51 PM
Author: Mara
I got mine on Amazon, it was a multi prong adapter and I think it was $20. It came in 3 days and it worked great in France and Germany.

Me too, that is where I got mine.