Charging Iphones and Apple Watches and Ipads

I have adapters that charge devices from US wall sockets, and others like this that adapt US plugs to European sockets. My Android devices use micro-USB or USB-C. You might be able to find a European adapter that takes lightning cords directly, but if not plug a US adapter into a European one. No need to convert voltage. If your cords are short, you might want to invest in a long one to give you flexibility with oddly placed outlets in hotel rooms.

Carol my family just buys European chargers on Amazon like this. They just plug into European sockets. One item instead of a plug adapter and also your charger block from home.

https://a.co/d/4XXgzQr

There are many others, maybe on the Rick Steves store even.

I bought two of these (the UK version) for the trip I'm on right now and absolutely LOVE them! Each plug has the EU connection, so you plug that directly into the outlet. The you can plug in an additional 3 regular US plugs, plus 1 USB-A and 2 USB-C plugs. They're sturdy and work very well. It is so handy to be able to plug in multiple objects in one large plug/adaptor.

I bought two because sometimes one is just not enough. :-) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNVBHX4V?th=1

ETA: Carol, your regular phone charging cord will fit right into this. I have a MAG charger for my iPhone, and the USB-C end of it just plugs in. With your lightning connector, you will have either a USB-C or USB-A connector on the other end, so it will take either connector.

Your phone charger and most tech items will charge on European voltage. You just need a plug adapter to fit your North American plugs ($2–5). No need to buy anything more than that, although I usually bring a molded 6-foot extension cable with multiple outlets. That way I only need one adapter for all my stuff, and if the only plug is somewhere inconvenient like behind a bed or dresser, I can extend it to a table top. If you are unsure if your tech stuff works on their voltage, just look at its label. it should say something like 110–220V, in which case you are fine. Not usually true for things like hair dryers, straighteners, etc.

Rick's Paris tour is wonderful! Do have several adapters if there are 2 of you so you can charge your devices overnight. IF your phones are not new (with good batteries) you might also consider getting a power bank to charge on the go. You will have free time every day so will be out and about on your own and may want to use your phones for navigating.

You didn't ask this but I suggest you download the CityMapper app which is very good in Paris. It will help you on the Metro and will tell you which end of the train to board for your change or destination.

The only downside to the Paris tour is that it will make you love and understand Paris and you will have to return. Since my Best of Paris tour in 2014, I've been at least once every year and sometimes twice (except covid, of course!).

I hope you are able to arrive a day or two ahead of time!

You’ll need a European plug adapter for Paris.

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/european-power-adapter

I also purchased this for charging multiple devices. Works great!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNTX1GGF/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVk&th=1

Wonderful tour, you’ll love it!

Thank you to everyone who has given me advice on charging my devices!! Including links to the Amazon purchases was extremely helpful. At 77yrs old, I'm not much of a techy so this has been very helpful.

Thank you!

I've found it useful to take a mini-hub on vacation to aid in charging multiple devices using a single outlet. Monoprice makes a nice, tiny, inexpensive one. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24260&srsltid=AfmBOooMlJlak27yg982h6yM5B32ZQBaiq1Hs2EuF0lfdUNEFh6iEQGGdiI

Your phone charger and most tech items will charge on European
voltage. You just need a plug adapter to fit your North American plugs
($2–5). No need to buy anything more than that,

Phil for me the problem is that on a departure morning it's very natural to just pull your own phone charger out of the wall and walk away. Particularly with how plugs in Europe are recessed. We have gone the route in the past of just using plug adapters for our chargers, but inevitably in the first week of the trip we have left our plug adapters in the wall. And then you're sunk.

I went so far as to magic marker the faces of our plug adapters with a red pattern like a dramatic Japanese rising sun flag. It helps some, but we also leave some of those. I'm sure the next guest or housekeeping are like what the heck?

I like to have a single charger with European plugs - but then again I'm a bit of the airhead. If you are in better command of all your small things then plug adapters are a good call.

but inevitably in the first week of the trip we have left our plug
adapters in the wall.

I'll admit I made that mistake once in the UK, and had to buy an overpriced adapter to continue my trip. You can be sure I didn't make that mistake a second time. But for simple 2-prong, mainland European plugs, you can buy a half dozen for under ten dollars. Keep the other five in reserve.

What I do on trips is carry just one charger, that charges everything. I use a so called "desktop" charger, with multiple USB-C and USB-A sockets.
This has several advantages:
- One device to charge them all. It even charges my laptop.
- Because it has an actual (even detachable) power cord I do not end up with a wall wart on an adaptor sticking out of the wall waiting for someone to knock it, and the wall socket, out. Also solves the issue that in some older hotel rooms power sockets may be rare, and not conveniently placed.
- Because the cable is detachable, and the end that goes in the charger is standard I just pop in an electronics store, and buy a cable with the appropriate plug if I am going to be in a country longer.

when we lost a charger for our mac we bought one there and it had a European. plug which made that convenient. but all you need for tech devices which are designed for charging in both European and US environments is a plug adapter. We always carry a handful of these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097GCZWMM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
but if you come up short, every Monoprix has European/US plug adapters. You need the lightning cord/us outlet adapter and then the plug adapter to connect a US outlet prong to a European outlet. Some of them have deep round faces and some of the multiple adapters won't fit. These simple cheap ones above work fine.

I also carry a small portable charger for my phone since it is my camera; my previous phone didn't have long battery life and so I needed to be sure I could keep taking pictures. I carry my phone in a bandolier cross body carrier with an attached envelope purse -- I can put the small charger in the purse and attach the charging connector to the phone as I walk around. I bought it in Paris at FINAC