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USB ports

Hi, Do most hotels or hostels have usb ports for charging phone or iPad or can I buy adapter for outlet easily?

Posted by
1039 posts

Some do, some don’t. Amazon has them, just make sure the adapter is for the country you’re going to be in.

Posted by
2545 posts

I would not count on the hotels having usb adaptors. The airport will have them for sale, at airport prices, no doubt. There is usually a grocery store at the airport or in big train stations that will sell them. Even grocery stores in town should have them.

Posted by
32350 posts

I've never seen USB ports in hotels, but there could certainly be a few, given the number of gadgets that people travel with these days. However I wouldn't count on it. It would be prudent to pack along your own chargers and there are many on the market these days to choose from. I'd be looking for a device that provides both USB-A and USB-C, as well as plug adapters specific to the countries you'll be travelling in.

There are lots of choices on Amazon or other sites - https://www.anker.com/travel .

Posted by
16272 posts

It depends on the hotel. Best to bring your own chargers and the right adapter plug.

Posted by
74 posts

Some of you may have heard of the security warnings about charging devices with USB ports in airports, and I think on planes. There is malware that can be apparently imported while charging there is a very inexpensive device. I don’t know if it has spread beyond the airports, but I will definitely be cautious and using USB connections . You can buy on Amazon that you attach to the USB end and then insert it into the USB charger. It prevents data exchange but allows charging to pass through. I am definitely not a techno, but this is some thing I take seriously. I purchased a package of five on Amazon, selecting a US manufacturer, and I believe it cost me around $12. sorry I don’t have the details handy but you can find them easily enough on Amazon.

I also bring a couple of charging bricks as back up. I would not travel relying just on having USB ports readily accessible for. charging..

Posted by
3101 posts

For our last trip, we purchased a Euro-style multi-plug device. It had the 2 round plugs for Italy and most of the continent. It had 3 2-prong sockets and 2 USB sockets. We would charge all devices.

Posted by
28065 posts

I've stayed in a few hotels (usually chains) that had USB outlets. None so far have been USB-C. The ones at my current hotel seem really slow.

Posted by
441 posts

Am currently in Switzerland. If you decide to use adapters, please note that Switzerland has its own 3 prong adapters (I ordered some from Amazon before my trip). Sometimes you can use the standard 2 prong European adapter, but not always.

Posted by
32350 posts

The warnings posted above about using USB chargers in airports and other public locations is definitely something to be wary of, and very risky. However connecting your own AC / USB chargers to an AC outlet in the airports is safe.

However it is possible to buy USB cables which do not have the data pins connected, and those should be safe to use with public chargers - https://www.amazon.com/charge-usb-cable/s?k=charge+only+usb+cable .

Posted by
7884 posts

I tend to use my own wall-warts because some devices want so much power to charge these days. Since I have to carry the wall-wart in case the room doesn't have USBs, I never use the USBs.

Posted by
1039 posts

Carrie, that adapter, doesn’t work in the UK and Ireland or Switzerland. It’s always best to check which adapter is used in which country and a lot easier to just take them with you.

Posted by
3125 posts

Carrie, that adapter, doesn’t work in the UK and Ireland or
Switzerland.

The question was posted under “Switzerland” so I assumed the OP was asking about options for Switzerland.
The adapter I linked to 100% works in Switzerland as I have used it there on 4 recent trips.

And it says in the item description:

These Type C power adapter work in all of Europe including Switzerland
and Italy (NOT for UK).

Posted by
441 posts

Carrie, I am glad the 2 prong adapter has worked for you in Switzerland on past trips. On my current Best of Switzerland tour, one of the tour members was using your type of two pronged adapter. Worked fine at our first 3 hotels. Then would not work at hotel in Lausanne. Fortunately a tour member had an extra 3 prong Swiss adapter and gave it to her. My 3 prong Swiss adapter has worked in all 5 of our Swiss hotels.

Posted by
3125 posts

Worked fine at our first 3 hotels. Then would not work at hotel in
Lausanne.

Sounds like the tour member had a bad adapter as 2 prong adapters work just fine in Switzerland. From the Swiss tourism website:

The voltage in Switzerland, as in most of Europe, is 230V/50 Hz.
Switzerland uses type C (2-pin) and Type J (3-pin) plugs. (Type C
2-pin plugs also fit J sockets.)

Most power sockets are designed for three pin round plugs. The
standard continental type plug with two round pins, applied for many
electrical travel products, may be used without problem.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/planning/about-switzerland/general-facts/general-information/electricity/