Find out which appliances will be available where you are staying and which ones you might have a hard time finding. Call the hotel where you're staying or talk to your future landlord to learn what are the most important things to bring with you. If you're renting a place that is fully equipped, you may be able to use the appliances there. Buying appliances overseas is another option, especially if transporting your appliances from America to another country will be expensive.
Research the voltage rates in your destination countries. The U.S. and Canada generally use 120 volts for electrical equipment, but most other countries use 220 to 240 volts (see References 1). The Lonely Planet and Fodor's both provide voltage information in their travel guides.
Check the voltage of your equipment. While many laptops come with a dual-voltage adapter already built into the electrical cord, do check your laptop's voltage information, typically printed somewhere on the laptop itself or on its charger. If it works on multiple voltages, the label will read, "Input 100 -- 240, 50/60 Hz." Hair dryers often have a switch that converts the voltage from 110 volts to 220 volts. For other appliances, such as toasters, you will probably need to use a voltage converter.
Choose an appropriate voltage converter. Voltage converters come in three basic varieties: step-up, step-down and dual conversions. If you're traveling from the U.S. to a country that uses higher voltages, such as France, you'll need to get a step-up voltage converter.
Most travel stores offer an array of adapters for different countries. Ask local travel agencies for tips about where to buy voltage converters in your area.
Get the right plug adapters. These devices allow you to adapt your appliance's electrical plug to a different configuration. Every country has a different plug configuration. American plugs have two straight prongs or two straight prongs with a rounded grounding prong, other countries, such as South Korea, only use two rounded prongs. Some Southeast Asian countries use two straight prongs slanted at 45-degree angles.
Make sure you buy enough plug converters for all the appliances you want to use. Consider buying extras in case a few of them short out. You can also buy sets that have a range of plug adapters if you plan to travel to multiple countries. Finding these adapters once you're in another country is much harder.
