If you’re preparing for your first international trip, you might not think about how you will plug your electronic devices into the wall. Whether it’s your phone charger, electric toothbrush, or hot tools like hair dryers, you will need an adapter. The outlets in countries vary, which means you need to do your research before you leave to find out which size plug you need.
This is simple enough, you can find many of these at any store with a travel section. Adapters connect to the plug you already have, changing the shape so that it fits in the international outlet. What you might not realize is that sometimes you need more than an adapter.
Have you ever heard stories of people using their hairdryers internationally and then they caught on fire or started glowing red? Well, in these cases they probably only used an adapter, when they really needed a voltage converter.
For small electronics like phones and toothbrushes, you only need an adapter, but for items that use more electricity, you will need a converter. So, if you plan on bringing your hairdryer or other hot tools, you will definitely want to invest in a good voltage converter before your trip!