What’s an adapter? And will my hairdryer plug into “their” outlets? Scratching your head as you are trying to figure out what to consider when bringing electronics on tour? Read on to find answers to these questions and more.

Adapters – what are they for?

Electrical outlets vary in their shape across countries, and you’ll need the right-sized plug to fit into the local outlet. Since your device plug may not have the right shape for the outlets in your destination, you need to bring an adapter to make it fit. Be careful about voltage – read more below.

To sort through the maze, plugs and outlets are categorized into types from A through N.

To find out what kind of adapter shape you need, take a look at this helpful list. Filter by country and scroll down to see the results at the bottom of the page.

Converters – mind the voltage

The voltage used across the world is either 110V-127V or 220-240V (the US uses 110V). A converter will make your device usable in countries with a different voltage than your home country’s.

Unless your device is rated for travel or is not a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet, you will need to bring a converter. Take a look at the voltage printed onto your device or its plug to find out what voltage it can handle.

What do you need for your trip?

Modern electronics that people usually take along for their travels – smartphones, tablets and laptops– usually already have a built-in voltage converter, in which case you will only need an adapter to make the plug fit the local outlet. In the increasingly rare event that you bring a device that doesn’t have a battery pack with a voltage converter or a built-in converter, you’ll need to buy a separate voltage converter.

Both adapters and converters can be found at just about any local hardware, travel or outdoor store.  We find this comprehensive guide by REI pretty thorough and helpful.

Hair driers

Usually, hotels used on our tours will have hair dryers in the room. If not, they will them available at the front desk. The same is true for barges and boats on our tours.