I thought I would do an informational post on the differences between a travel adapter and a travel converter. I know many travelers, myself included, have been confused on what you really need when you travel. Do you need to buy that travel adapter and when? Or perhaps you need to bring a travel converter? Here I’m going to go through what both are and explain when you would need them while traveling.
What is a Travel Adapter?
To make it short and sweet, a travel adapter does not convert electricity. They only match up your devices so you’ll be able to plug them into the wall outlet. So say you have an American plug, which is two bars and you’re traveling to the UK. You’ll need a travel adapter because they have their own plug design which has two prongs. So you will need to bring a travel adapter.
Remember things like cameras, iPhones, Androids, and other smaller devices USUALLY will come with a range of 110 to 220 volts. That means they will work with any voltage system in that range. So all you would need for those devices is a travel adapter. Of course look at your device beforehand. There will be a voltage display on your device so you know the range of the device.
This website has the plug and socket types for each country.
Where to Find a Travel Adapter?
You can of course buy them online and they are relatively cheap. I have always gotten mine through Amazon and all have been lifesavers. There are many different designs but I like the updated ones that also come with USB plugs. Many devices today are connected through USB so this is a nice touch. Below I have some travel adapters that will work worldwide.
This is the one I actually have and I love it. Not only does it have the all-in-one adapters for worldwide travel, it also has the usb outlets and I used these nonstop on my last trip. In fact usb plugs are the majority of my devices these days.
Although I don’t recommend buying just one set of travel adapters many people do and only need them for one country. So the good thing about this brand is that it has all the travel adapters you’ll ever need or the all-in-one with usb outlets.
This is similar to the other two and honestly the only difference I see is that it comes with a travel case. All three of these would work, so it just comes down to preference.
What is a Travel Converter?
Okay, a travel converter converts electricity from a lower or higher power. In fact it’s like a transformer and many people call it that. Although transformers are supposed to be for bigger electronic items. So converters are essentially the same thing as a transformer but just for smaller items.
You only need a converter when you have a device that doesn’t have a range for voltage use. Like hairdryers, electric razors, curling irons, etc.. This seems to effect women travelers more often since they use high-voltage items that don’t translate to Europe. I have ruined an electric razor by sticking it into just an adapter without a converter. Look at your devices before traveling. If your device only has one voltage, it will most likely not work in many countries. For Americans, it’s mostly the rest of the world. For Europeans it’s the United States and a couple of Asian countries.
Where to Find a Travel Converter?
Like travel adapters you can find travel converters online as well. Usually they are more expensive and usually they are bulky. I try to avoid bringing a travel converter if at all possible. So in this case I would bring a portable electric razor that has a long lasting battery. If you’re a woman then perhaps think about buying a hair dyer in the country you’re traveling to. For me bringing a power converter is just not worth it in most cases.
Disclaimer:
Many websites will try to advertise that a travel adapter is a travel converter. They are not! You need a device to CONVERT electricity. If the device doesn’t do that, and you’ll need to read up on that, don’t buy it. I have made this mistake and you really need to read the description before buying it.
Also you need to look at the voltages. The USA has a voltage of 110 volts. In Europe it’s 220 volts. Every country is different. All travel converters will be for stepping down the device as 220 volts are the highest. All devices with lower volts than that will require a travel converter if you plan to bring them to countries with high voltage.
This one is a good option because it comes with a pre-installed travel adapter already installed. So that you could plug this device into nearly 150 countries worldwide and it will convert the volts down. Now this one is more geared towards Americans because on the other side, where you’d plug in your device, it’s an American plug.
This one is a little more intense and bigger than the last converter. It acts like the last one but also has more outlets and USBs on the side. It’s a little bigger, but if you have that many devices this is a good choice. Read your devices and labels to make sure these converters can handle them.
Thoughts, Comments, Concerns?
It’s all a little confusing, but I hope that clears things up a bit. Leave a comment below if you have any questions.
