Pack an Adapter or a Converter? 

Converter / Adapter Links for International Travels: TravelTipsbyLaurie.myspreadshop.com/ www.amazon.com/shop/traveltipsbylaurie Converter-adapter-in-one: bit.ly/3BF7l0X My sweater: old Anthro Adapters for Europe (2 pack): amzn.to/3KiyWIV

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. ❤

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!!!

Great video! It clarified some questions I had. Now heading to your TSA Line vid. THANKS FOR SHARING!

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!

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

Yay! I needed this. Right on time 😊

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.

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

From one teacher to another, excellent! Thank you!

Thank you so much for this video!

Another very important helpful tip. Thanks for sharing.

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.

Great information!! Thank you so much

Thank you I always was soooo confused about this

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!

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.🙏🏻

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

Very clear, thank you.

Thank you! I did not know the difference.

Great tips, we are heading to New Zealand next year for a cruise going to be there 4 days ahead of time.

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).

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. ✈️🛳️🗺️

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.

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.

Thank you! We are going to Argentina in January and mainly want to be able to charge the phone

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.

I try to get dual voltage curling irons and hair dryers. I bought a small travel iron that is dual voltage :)

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!

I have a multicountry adapter for a multivoltage hairdryer and a British curling iron, and an adapter for charging iphone and kindle. Thank goodness I don’t need that heavy converter anymore!

Thanks :) very interesting :)

Thank you for all your tips and hacks. We’re going on a small ship adventure to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales for 14 days - we’re so excited. We’re limited to 50 lbs of checked luggage on the ship so a lot of these are helpful. Well - i haven’t seen any tips that haven’t been helpful, so thank you for ALL your tips.

Nice video.. some ppl don't pay attention to volts. Which if it get to hot can explode

Great Video. Is it okay to plug an extension cord into an adapter if you have a low-voltage item plugged into extension cord?

Flying to the uk. Only bringing my iPad p, watch & phone.

Hi Laurie! I appreciate you and your tips! I am flying to Ireland on the 12th of this month. It'll be the trip of a lifetime, I've never been overseas before! I was wondering if you could provide some tips/info on batteries? I will be taking my Cannon camera as well as my mini camcorder (provided I can squish them both in my bag, we are doing carry on only...well, we are going to try to anyway! LOL). Can I even bring batteries on the plane? Is there a limit on how many I can bring? Do I need a special container for them... Sorry! I have soooooo many questions! Thank you!

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.

Very helpful. Just one question can I just plug my phone into an available usb plug. This would be both france and italy

Hey Laurie, speaking of hair devices/appliances during travel, which ones do you like to bring with you? will be going to the philippines next year

My partner and I will be flying to Ireland to pick up our child at the end of their study abroad this semester. I don't have an adapter/converter question, but I was wondering your thoughts on connection time, since the connection is in the US and we will pre-clear customs before we even get on the plane in Ireland. Can we treat this as a domestic flight connection?

What would I need for a CPAP sleep machine?

Laurie, can you do a video on a multiple stop vacation?

can I use just an adapter to charge my portable charger/powerbank (input is usb-c DC5V/3A) in Germany? (or will I need a converter?) Also - same with my garmin watch - just use the usb on the adapter or converter? I'm still confused lol

Do you have any idea what kind of an adapter? I would need for my cell phone when going to Prague, Croatia, Budapest and Vienna. I am coming from Lisbon portugal have type c here.

Hi does Japan need an adapter or converter for USA phones or charges

Hi, Laurie. I live in US and ordered electric kettle from Germany, because i really liked a lily of the Valley on it. Now I can't figure it out what kind of adapter or converter I have to use, because all of them made to use in another coutry. Can you, please, give me advise what to buy for for electric Teapot 1500 W, AC 220, 50Hz to use in USA. Thank you

I'm wondering if you know if I can carry a pillow to sit on (bony butt..lol) through security or does it have to fit inside your carry on?

Going to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea. From US. what do I need or don’t need? Thanks. Can’t seem to figure it out.

Hello!! I am buying a hot tool from Australia, do I need an adaptor or a converter?and what kind?

Hello! Thank you! Probably a dumb question haha but I have a very similar converter as yours and I accidentally plugged my iPhone on the 2 prong outlet, will it affect my iPhone? Or the fact that the my iPhone 15 pro is dual, it doesn’t matter where I plug it in as long as I have an adapter?

Hi, I am traveling to London & Ireland. I am confused. I have a bio ionic one pass flat iron. I beleive it's dural voltage. I decided to use the hair dryer the hotel offers. I have wavy hair. The iconverter/adaper in on you listed above with link, when I go to Amazon says it's it can only work with conair, revlong, babayliss hair flat iron. I thought of just buying a flat iron in London to be safe. My current bio ionic hair straightner flat iron was a $$$ so I don't want to damage it if I use the wrong adapter/conveter. Can you give me more detail/instructons on adapter and converter? I'm confused. The converter / adapter you listed looks good. I just don't want to be stuck. If it doesn't work are there plenty of stores in London/Ireland that sell the adapter/converter that I need. Thanks.

Taking an adaptor on my royal carribean cruise so we have an additional outlet to use!!!

I need to buy a converter

There are at least two adapters -- not one -- needed for Europe: One for the most of the continent and another for the UK. There could be an additional one for Eastern Europe, as well.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💜💜💜💜

Thank you! I love your blouse! What brand is it and what store is it from? I’m a kindergarten teacher and I’d love to show off those dragonflies on D Day!

I have a converter.i annoy sure wat I need so I try pack all my wires n adapter

everywhere i go to (40 countries) are all 220-240v (asia, europe, middle east). i dont know and never needed any of those converters..

An adaptor for Europe will be no use in the UK and Ireland. They have different sockets.

Watts has nothing to do with need an adapter or converter. Only reason you would need a converter is if the item you are using doesn't do dual voltage.

I believe Switzerland is different from the rest of Europe, so a multi adapter would be required.

Is your up side down carrot what most of us call a baseball field icon?

Your video is not clear enough about the "reduce the juice". What are you talking about? Not enough wattage from the converter? Too much wattage pull from the hair dryer? Not enough from the foreign country plug?

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