Before departing, check that you have the right adapters for charging batteries in European countries. An adapter does not convert electricity; it allows American plugs to fit into European sockets, which vary by European country. Having the right adapters means you can charge your personal electronic devices and rechargeable batteries overnight, avoiding the inconvenience of a shutdown. Airport shops are a good place to look for a last-minute purchase. Occasionally, adapters are available on loan from a hotel front desk.
England, Scotland and Wales as well as Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland use the same electric plugs. It's easy to spot the chunky three-prong rectangular pin design arranged in a triangular shape which is bulkier than most countries'. Find these adapters in department stores, electrical supply stores, hardware stores, luggage stores and phone stores in America. You may be able to find them in these types of stores overseas, but they will likely be for adapting from the United Kingdom to United States or Europe. Two U.K.-related tips are useful to know. Firstly, ignore the two-prong wall plug in the bathroom; it is meant only for a low voltage shaver or toothbrush. Due to U.K. building regulations, hotels and most residential premises will not have full voltage sockets in bathrooms. Secondly, note that a "rocker switch" located at "the mains" wall socket must be flicked to the on position for electricity to flow; however, it is often unclear which position is the right one. If your device is not charging, flick this switch.
France uses a two-prong round pin electrical plug design. The same design is used in Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Germany also has a two-prong round pin design, but on closer examination, notice that the pins are narrower than on the French plug. Spain and Portugal share the same two-pin design. All of these two-pin countries can be handled by a European adaptor designed with flexibility for the continent including Russia and much of Eastern Europe. However, about half of Italy is different than the rest of the European Union, with a three-prong pin set in a straight line. Switzerland has its own three-prong design unlike that found in any other country. Denmark has a unique system as well.
A universal travel charger adapter plug is a nifty and inexpensive solution. Stacked with options like a Swiss Army knife, it contains several adapters in one to offer flexibility worldwide. Also handy is a European adapter known as a Schuko which works in most of Europe with the exception of U.K., Ireland, Italy, Malta, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Denmark and Switzerland. Some adapters have double ports, allowing you to plug in two devices at once. Be aware that due to the shape and size of some chargers, notably those for Apple laptops and iPads, two devices will not fit into one adapter. A second adapter or charging different devices in turn are the alternate solutions; this is especially important to remember if you are traveling with others who may wish to charge batteries at the same time.
European electricity voltage is twice as high as in North America and the frequency is lower. While voltage and frequency are uniform throughout Europe at 220V to 240V, there are a few different shapes of outlets requiring different plug adapters. If you're packing a hairdryer, curling iron or other heating tool, do check that it is dual voltage; this is common in small appliances these days. Many hotels provide a hairdryer. For rechargeable batteries such as those found in a digital camera, check that the charger is marked 100V-240V, then plug it in with an adapter. All GSM mobile phones, tablets, laptops and digital cameras can handle the standard voltage range of 100V to 240V. On a side note, be aware that any internet-connected device will attract data usage and roaming fees unless it is turned off under general settings or is limited to use in a free Wi-Fi area.
