Hotels aren’t known for having many unused outlets, so this might come in handy if you have several devices that need frequent charging. You get 2 USB ports and two sockets for your devices. Ceptics 2 USB Italy Travel Adapter 4 in 1 Power Plug (Type L) – Universal Socket.Not a lot of visible difference, is there? In any case, here are the plugs I recommend: The one on the left is useless in most hotels. Italian Power Plug Adapters for different plugs Below is a photo of the two plugs side by side on my kitchen table: Hotels do not offer these plugs, so shy away from anything marked Schuko or type E/F. They are for very high powered appliances, you see. In fact, they can fit in some Italian sockets, usually located in a kitchen. These are sold to tourists as Italian plugs. You see, plugs exists with fatter prongs. Why am I going into so much detail on this? Well, there are pitfalls. If you need a ground connection because your American plug has a ground connection, you probably need a type L plug. You can use either type C or type L plugs in a type L socket. An Italian type C socket has only two prongs. It has three prongs, the center one being for the ground connection. Attach your plug adapter and jam it into that wall socket, which, if you are in a modern building, might look like the white photo below: Here you can clearly read that the device has been designed to tolerate 100-240 volts at 1 amp and 50-60 Hz. Somewhere on it, usually in small type, the voltage range that the device can tolerate is revealed. Hey, this is an expensive device! How do I tell for sure!Įasy. Most modern digital cameras, laptops, tablets, phones and other devices are happy to plug into a 220 volt socket. For modern technology that sips current, this is usually no problem. This is twice the voltage that American plugs supply, at ten fewer cycles every second. The juice that flows from an Italian power socket is nominally 220 volts at 50 Hz (cycles per second). This problem is easily solved with an inexpensive plug adapter.īut first, let’s consider Italy’s choice of power. Hardware stores in Europe sell cheap three-way plug adapters that let you keep the lamp on while you charge your camera battery and smartphone.When you travel to Italy, you’ll be faced with the fact that none of your electronic devices will plug directly into an Italian wall socket. Some budget hotel rooms have only one electrical outlet, occupied by the lamp. (Swiss and Italian outlets accept plugs with three slim round prongs arranged in a triangular shape two-pronged adapters work as long as they don't have the thicker "Schuko" style prongs - and if the body of the adapter is small enough to fit in the recessed outlet.) If, for some reason, your adapter doesn't work in your hotel, just ask for assistance hotels with unusual sockets will invariably have the right adapter to loan you. (Although you can get universal adapters that work Europe-wide - or even worldwide, these tend to be large, heavy, and expensive.)Īlthough sockets in Switzerland and Italy differ from others on the continent, most continental adapters work just fine. Many sockets in Europe are recessed into the wall your adapter should be small enough so that the prongs seat properly in the socket. Secure your adapter to your device's plug with electrical or duct tape otherwise it can easily get left behind in the outlet (hotels and B&Bs sometimes have a box of abandoned adapters - ask). Even on a Continent-only trip, I keep a British adapter on hand for London layovers. Adapters are inexpensive - bring a handful. (Consider replacing your appliance instead, or traveling without it.)Ī small adapter allows American-style plugs (two flat prongs) to fit into British or Irish outlets (which take three rectangular prongs) or continental European outlets (which take two round prongs). Some older appliances have a voltage switch marked 110 (US) and 220 (Europe) - switch it to 220 as you pack.Įven older devices (and some handheld gaming systems) aren't equipped to deal with the voltage difference - you'll need a separate, bulky converter. If you see a range of voltages printed on the item or its plug (such as "110–220"), you're OK in Europe. But since m ost modern gadgets are "dual voltage" - meaning they work on both American and European current - these days most travelers don't need to do anything more than pack a few inexpensive plug adapters.Īmerican appliances run on 110 volts, while European appliances are 220 volts. Europe's electrical system is different from ours in two ways: the voltage of the current and the shape of the plug.