So, we bought two adapters. But is this all we need to plug in our regular appliances we are taking ie: walkie talkies, camcorder to charge, etc. I'm embarrassed to say I want to take a hair dryer too.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Walkie Talkies on U-S frequencies are illegal in Europe, since U-S frequencies can interfere with other communications. If your appliances read something like 100-240 volts, then all you will need are plug adapters. If they are only 110 volt, then you will need a power converter as well. If you want to take a hair dryer, then you must look for a converter that will cope with the large wattage that hair dryers use.....1000 watts or more, for example. You can find converters for high wattage and low wattage devices (like camera battery chargers), or ones that will handle both.
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA, USA
508 posts
Doreen - Check with the places you are going to be staying to see if they have hairdryers. In my past few trips, hairdryers were in every room including the smallest B&Bs, cheaper hotels as well as the nicer hotels.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
180 posts
Although people rarely get fined for their use in Europe, those little walkie talkies (FRS and GMRS) radios are illegal in Europe.
The European versions are called PMR-446 radios and while they look identical on the outside, the transmit on very different frequencies. Countries where PMR radios are used include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
So in short, leave those radios at home or buy new PMR ones in Europe. If not, and you get caught using the FRS radios there, be prepared for a huge fine (saw a report of one over 1000 Euros in Germany).
Also you can't use PMR radios in North America since they fall in a licensed category (Amateur 70cm).
Pete
Posted by
OP
Fresno
189 posts
Glad I mentioned this. Thanks for the heads up!
Posted by
Ardmore, PA, US
225 posts
I happened to notice a hair dryer on sale in the Marks and Spencer in St. Pancras station for 13 GBP or about $26. Might be worth leaving the US hair dryer at home for that price.
Posted by
Anaheim, CA, USA
1455 posts
Doreen, I agree with Julie, Check with your hotel if they have a hair dryer. I stayed in an apartment at even they had a hair dryer.
Also remember if you forget anything, even a charger... you can find places to get a replacement. It may have the euro plug but at least you can use it on your trip.
If the walkie talkies are illegal, consider getting 2 cell phones. You can get the pay as you go ones for dirt cheap (on line or when you get to europe at the "cell stores"). My hubby and I got separated and it came in handy... as well as finding our chateau when we were on the road in Normandy.