Power adapters

Best thing to do is take a look at each piece of equipment. For anything that has a separate wire, like a digital camera or cell phone, there should be a black box built into the wire that is the actual converter. If so, read it to see what voltage it can use - if not, there may be information on the device itself. For example, my camera battery charger says right on it (100V - 240V). If it says something like that, then it is good to go for that whole range. If it is, then all you need is a plug adapter. It may be possible that your modern electronics might be fine with just a plug adapter, but the curling iron - especially if it is older - may require a converter.

To add to the previous post..if your curling iron is not dual voltage, many of the people here find it easier to buy a curling iron in Europe rather than buy and carry around a convertor.

Alan, to add to what has been said, check the data on your chargers, but I have never needed anything but the plug adaptor. Don't try to use the curling iron with a converter as a converter probably won't handle the load (it makes for a very interesting fireworks display). Either buy a dual voltage iron here or a 240v unit in Europe.

See here for some information on using power in Europe.

A curling iron is a heating device and draws a lot of watts. A transformer, which is one kind of convertor, for that many watts would be very heavy. You wouldn't want to carry it around. For high wattage they make electronic converters that mearly chop off the top of the sine wave, making it acceptable to heating devices. However, that sine wave shape could harm the power supplies for electronic devices. For them (less than ~50W) you need a transformer.

I use the hair dryer and hair flat iron from Magellan's Travel Store. (They have a curling iron too.) they do NOT require a converter, just the tiny, inexpensive adapter plug.

I highly recommend them, but my primary motivation for buying travel products is that I do a lot of business travel so I always need appliances that are small, light, and perform well. Keep that in mind when considering your options.

Alan,

As the others have mentioned, you need to check each of the devices you'll be travelling with, to determine their Input Voltage requirements. The electronic products may be designed for "world" operation, however the Curling Iron is most likely only designed for use on 115 VAC electrical systems.

If the input voltage spec's on the Chargers indicates 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, then you'll only require a Plug Adaptor (the Euro style used in Italy and France has two round pins).

If the Curling Iron indicates 115 VAC, 60 Hz, then you might want to either buy a dual-voltage model from Magellans or buy an inexpensive Curling Iron when you arrive in Europe.

The IPod might be the exception, as these typically use USB charging via a PC. Two options you could consider for the IPod are a www.sonnettech.com/product/usbwallcharger.html or www.callpod.com/products/chargepod travel Charger.

One other point you'll need to check is whether your Cell Phone will operate in Europe. Which cell network are you with?

Cheers!

The only thing about buying a curling iron in Europe is that the selection is very limited and I found them to be very expensive. I use a 1 1/2" curling iron (more for body than curls) and all I could find were 1/2" irons (for tiny curls). The ones that were larger were 59 Euros and up (that's around $80). Granted, they were at Kaufhof Galleria department store, but stores the likes of Target and Wal-mart are few and far between.

Just to briefly add to what everyone else has said... Maybe you can ask your hotel or wherever you're staying if they have transformers to loan out. I forgot to take a transformer for my camera charger one time and I thought that was the end of my picture taking, but it turns out they had some at the desk for guests to check out. I paid a small deposit which I got back when I returned the item.

It was even better than having to pack and carry one around myself!

"Stores like Target and Wal-mart" are few and far between, however, most cities have an inexpensive electronics store. Here in the Netherlands you can find inexpensive appliances (curling/straightening irons, hair dryers, kettles, ect.) at Blokker, Hema, and BCC just to name a few. It is best to ask the front desk at your hotel or hostel person where a general electronics store is and I am sure they will have an option or two for you.