Best travel hairdryer?

I've gone through so many dual voltage hair dryers that worked poorly that I've given up. I will just buy one next time I'm in Europe.

Great idea! I didn't think of that.

I have one by Brookstone that is dual voltage. It is not the small one that will fit in your hand but I need the air concentrator and the Ionic 1875 is perfect. Had it for years and use it daily and whenever I travel.

I bought one in Europe 13 years ago; I'm still using it. Works great ... however if you are travelling to multiple countries, you may find that you need to buy a plug adapter (e.g. UK to continent if you buy one in the UK)

Thanks---we're landing in Zürich and heading to Italy, so I could buy one with a continental plug and it should work in both countries.

There is a Brookstone just 2 blocks from my office so I may check out that one too. I'm still tempted to get a dual-voltage as I can use it in my US travels too. Brookstone usually provides a pretty good warranty, so if it does fizzle I should be covered.

I have a dual-voltage ConAir 1875 that I have been using for 5 years. I also have one I keep packed that I got from REI that is also still working after 5 years.

I've been using the same dual voltage travel dryer for years with no problems. I have discovered that every where we have been the last couple of years have hairdryers. We stay in budget places and B&B's. I am going to take a chance on our upcoming 4 week trip that every place will have one. That will save me from packing one. You might want to check with where you will be staying to see if they provide one.

I bought a generic Boots one in London for about 7 pounds ($10). It is compact and folding. It is a dual voltage travel dryer, so it came with an adaptor for US and the 2 round-pronged one for other parts of europe.

I have used it on 3 trips so far and last week my home dryer died so I use it at home with the US adaptor and it works just fine! So it can be a back up as well!

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: When you use an American dual voltage dryer in Europe, you can only use it on LOW. A European one can be used at full power.

So best bet is to just buy a travel one wherever you end up in europe!

I'd either buy one there or pick up one at Wal-Mart or Target. I have one I bought here that's lasted for about 15 years, and one I bought in Germany that's lasted me 10.

Lola, you will be surprised at how many hotels in Italy have hair dryers. In my last 3 trips I think I only encountered one or two that didn't have one and I stay in 2 and 3 star hotels. I've quit packing mine.

I have a Conair ProBaby that I bought at Bed, Bath, and Beyond many years ago, very small and compact. Opposite of Tami's experience, mine only works on HIGH in Europe. I agree though that many hotels have dryers, but many are those wall mounted ones that look/sound like vacuum cleaners and blow like a hurricane. I take my dryer because it doesn't take up that much space, but I don't use it every day.

Laurie---yes, the hotels will have one, but we are also staying at a couple of small B & B's, and one private apartment. I haven't been able to confirm whether these places provide them. And between myself and our 2 daughters, the consequences of lacking a hair dryer are too horrible to contemplate! ;)

Be careful in the small b&bs. Your hairdryer will most likely blow a fuse unless you run it on the lowest setting which is likely to get you a big frown from the proprietor.

I bought a $10 dual voltage at WalMart in 2008. I used it on a 5 week trip and have used it countless times since. It only works on high in Europe. I stay in B&B's and small pensions and apartments. Most do not provide a hair dryer. I have never blown a fuse or had any problem. My $10 dryer replaced one I had bought in 2001. It spent 13 weeks in Europe and countless others traveling in the US...still works great. The new one is quite a bit smaller and I couldn't resist it. I use the old one here at home to dry my hair. I really thought that if the $10 one lasted for 5 weeks, I would be happy. It has exceeded my expectations. My experience with some small appliances is that price does not always dictate quality or longevity. The $10 one is a Con Air. After I bought it, I saw an inexpensive one at Target that claimed it would work on both speeds in Europe. That sounded interesting, but since I had already used the other one, I went with it. I find that the speed I get with it in Europe works fine. When traveling in the US, I stay in places where, quite often, one is provided. I still prefer using my own. I'm used to it and it is fast. Some of the hotel ones leave something to be desired!

PS I think I have the same one JB has. A Con Air 1875.

I haven't not had a hairdryer provided since...I can't remember when. B and bs, apartments, hotels, hose cheap prefab European motels that make you feel like you're staying in an RV--every one has had a dryer. Just email the b and b and apartment owners if you are concerned.

I've still had a very few places that I've needed my hair dryer -- probably based on the size of the town (and therefore hotel/B&B) you're staying in. I've also had rooms where the "wall model" wasn't working right. I have 2 undecided hotels on an upcoming trip, and am deciding whether to be daring or not and skip the hair dryer (which I've also used to get the last dampness out of a pair of hand-washed socks, BTW).

As for best models, I've pretty much given up on that -- I've gotten expensive models that have gone out just as quickly as the cheapies. My most recent is the Conair model described above that I got at WalMart for around $10 and has endured at least 3 trips. Although I don't like to practice consumerism, at that price I don't have any angst as to what unexpected electrical wiring it will encounter on the trip.

Hi Lola,

My wife bought a small, collapsible, "travel style" hair dryer in Germany at a local department store, on our very first trip. It cost about 15 Euro and she has used it on every trip we've taken since.

Thanks again, everyone. I have confirmed with the owner of the apartment that she does not provide a hairdryer---after having several stolen.

Maybe I'll look for a small European one when we arrive as Paul suggests.