Pack an Adapter or a Converter?

Today I will teach you if you need to pack an adapter or converter. You will learn the difference between packing an adapter for international trip versus a converter. #internationaltravel #traveltips #traveladapter

Other helpful videos:

Converter / Adapter Links for International Travels:
My sweater: old Anthro

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[TravelTipsbyLaurie]

Converter / Adapter Links for International Travels:
My sweater: old Anthro

[laritalovesmakeup]

I have blew out blow dryers and a flat iron in Europe before. So because I know I’m going to travel every year or so. I just bought a European blow dryer and curler. No worries now. I also bought a phone cube to plug my phone cord to charge my phone. This makes my life so much more easy and simple. I always love your ideas. ❤

[julielat-]

This was the best explanation of adaptors and converters that I found!! Needed to know for a trip to Ireland. Thank you so much!

[sammyseed]

From one teacher to another, excellent! Thank you!

[mamanothing]

Flying to Ireland in a few weeks! Cannot wait. It has been 4 years since we were last there. I bring a converter w/ adapters. I don't bother bringing a hair dryer w/ me though. I use the hotel's. I fried my hair dryer the very first time I was overseas as I didn't use a converter only an adapter and the wattage was too much and poof! Thanks for your excellent videos Laurie! They have made travelling for me much easier (and calmer!) Blessings!

[lisaferriss]

Funny story, I got pulled aside at Heithrow because I had a adaptor that is corded and has 4 outlets and 3 USB. They had me open my bag and remove it and hold it up for them to see exactly what it was. (they would not touch it) Once the agent saw what it was he said it was "brilliant" and let me go on my way. lesson learned, its now always carried in a clear electronics bag with all my other cords.

[alisoneichler]

We traveled from Virginia to South Africa last June - with a lap top, apple devices and 2 Cpap machines! We took 2 converters and multiple adapters. I like to use the hotel-provided hair dryer, so no problem there. Apple stuff did OK. Our Cpap machines NEVER worked. No matter where/how we plugged them in nothing happened. Obviously we survived the trip but had to schlep our machines through 4 countries and never used them.
I recommend extension devices - surge protecting strips, cubes - for domestic travel. There are never enough outlets and they are rarely in a convenient place. Just plug one extension in and you are good to charge!

[SnowySpiritRuby]

The converter I used when I went to Europe was a 2-in-1 converter/adapter but it didn't really take up any more space or weigh much more than the 4-plugs-in-1 adapter we have (like the cylindrical-ish one by Insignia, except it had 2 USB ports in the middle of the outlet side), and that particular converter (wish I could remember the brand, but the last time I saw it was 6 1/2 years ago - it was a cube (maybe 2"-2 1/2" square) with 4 white sides and two royal blue sides; there was a release button for the EU plug and a slider for the UK/US/AUS one (slide it one way, the UK one comes out, slide it the other way, the US/AUS one comes out, put it in the middle and press, and the EU one unfolds), don't remember whether it had any USB ports - I think it might have had 1, but no more than 2) could go both 120 to 240 and 240 to 120, just had to flip a switch to change it, and it took just about any type of plug, so you could use it pretty much anywhere in the world regardless of what type of outlet you needed for your device, what type of plug you needed in order to plug it into the wall, what voltage your devices used, or whether you needed to convert the voltage up or down.

I think we got both of them at thrift stores, so if you're hesitant to pay full price, especially for a converter, check thrift stores - you just might find what you're looking for.

[eqimora]

Also keep in mind there are dual voltage hair appliances now as well. I have both a straight iron and a hair dryer that are dual voltage and will work in both EU and US. Always double check.

And if your appliance's plug is not double insulated(You'll see a square inside a square on the plug itself) you will need a grounded plug for the UK(IIRC).

[samjones]

Thank you for this great tip Laurie! I've always wondered about the difference and now I know. And I know which one to get!!! Be well, Be safe and Cheers!!!

[jenw]

This is exactly what I needed! I was hoping you’d have a video on the subject and you did! Thanks!

[croberts]

If you’re staying at hotels internationally you most probably will not need your own hair dryer or iron. It’s just a waste of space in your luggage. Just check their website. We’re in Ireland now and all have had them. Two have had free washer dryers in the hotels and when we’re in Scotland next week we’ll be staying in hotels with washer/dryers in the suite! It’s very different from when we started traveling internationally years ago.

[labtechsuperstar]

Thanks for the clarification. I thought the terms were interchangeable. I don’t use a converter (I prefer to let my hair air dry.) But I love the little adapter that I won at my workplace several years ago. It’s small and can do basically any country. Plus it has USB ports. And my next trip is back to Lisbon. I want to see more of the city.

[robinps]

Thanks for the clarification! I have a multi-country adapter w/USB A & C ports (as well as the regular outlet) that stays in my carryon between trips. I never traveled w/a hairdryer, just used whatever was provided by the hotel; now that I’ve gone to a low-maintenance pixie style I don’t need anything!
Thanks for all your tips Laurie! I’m using so many of them now as I pack for a cruise from Norway to Barcelona. ✈️🛳️🗺️

[jennifernelson]

I bought a dual voltage brush dryer (Plavogue) for my next trip (Norway) so I don’t have to pack a converter. It even came with an adapter.

[deniseyoung]

Several of my dual voltage appliances have a switch that needs to be turned when I change voltage.

And if you cruise, take some adapters with you, so you can use the US socket and the European socket!

[bigcitycommute]

Thank you - I have wondered the difference. Once a teacher, always a teacher! Me, too!

[rsaya]

Thank you so much for this video I have blown up so many of my blow dryer’s and Flat irons in Europe. It is very difficult to find one converter that really works. I’m going to give this one a try.🙏🏻

[SnowySpiritRuby]

You said it, and I'll say it again - *_Check the voltage your devices and chargers use!! Don't just assume!!_* My dad wrecked our only battery charger (there were only 4 of us, so we only needed 1 charger) 2 days before we flew home because he thought it could handle 240 just fine - haha, nope! We were stuck using our parents' phones to take pictures at the Hagia Sophia because our camera batteries (all AAs) couldn't be charged because our only charger was dead. 7 years later, I'm still mad at my dad for that, because it meant I couldn't get some of the pics I desperately wanted to include in my art history presentation on the Hagia Sophia that I did for school that fall.

[deidreperry]

Thanks for explaining things in detail. Very informative. Thanks 👍😊