voltage converter and adapter

For your hair dryer you will need a special converter unless it is dual voltage. For your camera you probably only need a plug adapter unless it is a very old camera. Check the voltage requirements on the charger.

thanks for the clarification. I guess I do need both.

For hair dryer you will need converter with well over 50 Watts. Converters for charging cameras, phones etc. are usually up to 50 Watts.

Just a hair dryer is too much weight for packing light. Instead of adding even more weight for a converter, leave it at home. People traveled just fine before hair dryers. As for the camera, look for the charging unit to have something like 110V-240V 50/60 Hz written on it. The 240V is important. Then (unless you are going to the UK) you will need a So. Europe plug adapter.

Lauri, The FIRST THING you need to do is check EACH of the devices you'll be travelling with, and determine the Input Voltage ratings. If these state "100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz", then the device will work fine in Europe with only an inexpensive Plug Adapter. However, if the ratings state "115 VAC, 60 Hz", then you'll also have to use a Voltage Converter and IT'S IMPORTANT to choose the proper conversion technology. Electronic devices should be used with a Transformer style Converter, and 50-watts capacity is more than adequate. High wattage devices such as Hair Dryers should be used with a Solid-State style Converter. Rather than pack a Voltage Converter along, you might consider either buying an inexpensive Hair Dryer in Europe OR purchase a dual-voltage model from Magellans or other travel suppliers. Which countries will you be visiting? The Plug Adapters are different for the U.K. and continental Europe, so it's important to have the correct model. I'd suggest packing along at least two of each type, as they're easy to misplace and it's always a good idea to have a "spare". Happy travels!

Travelling to hotels? Many have hair dryers waiting for you either hanging on the wall or in a drawer. Why tote something so heavy? Or, depending on what country, pop into a low end department store or supermarket and get a super cheap local one.

"I guess I do need both." Don't guess - or you'll end up with a shiny, new hair dryer and camera... Somewhere on that appliance & charger it'll say 120v OR 120/240v. If your hair dryer IS 120/240v, aka 'dual-voltage', you may OR may not need to turn a little dial or something to set it to 240v... You may need a very strong light and a magnifying glass to read the info you're looking for...:-( (certainly NOT to counter what Ken said about 50/60 Hz, but a new dual-voltage hair dryer will cost less than a converter: weigh less, and can be used for ALL of those trips in your future! If your camera is newish, it's 'probably' dual-voltage, but you really need to KNOW.) **To the Guys - UNLESS you have layered hair and the length is between your collarbone and the small of your back, you are FOREVER RELEASED from suggesting that women leave their hair dryers at home ;-)

@Eileen- you are my heroine. Though for many years I have had very short hair (for which I prefer a dryer, but won't carry the weight), I have always had very thick hair with a lot of cowlicks in it &, when it was longer, a hair dryer was a necessity if I was not to freeze to death from wet hair while looking (as my mother would say) like I was dragged through a bush backwards. Every time I read the suggestion that one can do without a hair dryer, I think one can do without clothes, but I wouldn't suggest you travel without them.

Thank you Eileen for relieving the men of their burden of having to weigh in on hair issues!! I'd highly suggest the purchase of a travel blowdryer in the US and some outlet adapters. Just make sure you follow the directions on how to set it to the right voltage (I've had one that required a screwdriver, my new one needs a paperclip or pin - so read before you pack it). Have a good trip!

Thanks everyone for the valuable suggestions. Eileen couldn't have said it better about the hairdryer. I never leave home without it. I checked the blowdryer which says 120/240 but not sure if there is any kind of a switch or requires any altering. I am going to buy a new travel dryer and read the directions so I will be sure it will work. Camera is new, purchased less than a year ago and also states 120/240. I will order adaptors today. Thanks everyone for your help. We leave for Paris in 2 weeks. First trip to Europe and can't wait.

I just bought a blow dryer and curling iron from Sally's Beauty Supply that are dual voltage with no special mechanism to change the voltage, they will adjust automatically.

hair dryer, h*ll!!! that's why God invented hats! You really don't need to be carrying the extra weight!

oh Andy, alas I am not a hat wearer nor do I want to look back at the pictures later and have a hat on in all of them. Such a silly look I think. I have purchased a travel light hairdryer with dual voltage and will bring several plug adapters.

If you don't get a plug adapter before you go - or if you lose yours - you can probably buy one fairly easily over there. In the U.K., for example, all of the big drug store chains sold them.

@ Paul, "you can probably buy one fairly easily over there" In my experience, it hasn't been very easy to find Plug Adapters in many European cities. On my trip last year, I spent the better part of an afternoon searching a city in Switzerland to find a Plug Adapter. After checking about a dozen stores, I finally found what I was looking for in a small appliance shop. I'd suggest visiting a travel or luggage shop and buying Plug Adapters here. Cheers!