Are you planning to visit a foreign country soon? If so, you must be excited right now! Overseas trips are exhilarating but can also be overwhelming as you need to pack every item you’ll need in a foreign land. You must pack your favorite outfits, comfortable shoes, necessary medicines, and several other essential pieces. Of all these things, one of the most crucial items is a travel adapter.
Most travelers often forget or neglect the need for a travel adapter. But what if, upon arriving at the hotel, you find out there’s no way to plug in your chargers in the available outlet? Your amazing trip can take a nightmarish turn if you cannot charge your mobile phone, laptop, and camera. This happens because there are around twelve different types of power sockets that are commonly used around the world. As such, travel adapters and converters are a necessity for vacationers.
What is a Travel Adapter?
As mentioned above, worldwide number of electrical outlets varies from country to country. So, to make sure you’re able to charge your gadgets, you need an adapter that will allow you to plug your device into the configuration of that specific electrical outlet. However, figuring out the right type of plug adapter is something that can baffle even the most seasoned international travelers. To find the right one, first, you need to know the outlets used in the destination(s) that you’re visiting and the type of plugs your chargers have. Seems confusing? Read further to clear your doubts and buy the right travel adapter.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Travel Adapter
1. Choose the Right Size
You’ll find various shapes and sizes when buying a travel adapter. There are small and single-region adapters and larger “universal” ones. Many travelers go for the universal versions because these can be used in almost every country. This sounds great, but the size and weight of these adapters can cause some problems. The large universal adapters usually fall out of the socket because of their weight. Also, these sometimes block the socket beside them. To prevent these issues, a smaller adapter is the best option. A single-region adapter is small, convenient, and comparatively cheaper.
2. Adapters Are Not Voltage Converters
Remember, adapters convert the layout of the pins so that your charger or appliance fits in the socket. These cannot change the voltage coming out of the power socket. Suppose yoThe voltage can be an issue ifre traveling from North or Central America to the Caribbean or any other country. In that case, thes happens because, outside America, the mains voltage gets double- around 220-240 volts. To prevent your devices from voltage damage, check the range of voltages they can handle and carry a voltage converter.
3. Research Plugs Types
The designs of electrical outlets vary from country to country and even region to region. If you have a MacBook or use power strips and other devices with the round earth pin, two-pin plugs are not the right choiceissuesavoid any issue, you need to research which type(s) of designs are used in that country tomatching thatrmatches; youat matmusteru need mustider the devbearing’ll be brbringg on your trip. It’s better to go for a three-pin version to avoid potential hassles.
4. One Travel Adapter and a Power Strip
Whether you’re traveling with your family or carrying multiple gadgets, you don’t need to buy individual adapters. To keep your expenses low, carrying a travel adapter and a power strip is best for this; you can plug all of your chargers into the power strip, the power strip into the travel adapter, and the adapter into the wall socket. But make sure to keep the voltage needs in mind.
