Gosh, I don't know what to tell you. I have never needed to use a converter there. Just an adaptor. I've had no problems using my iPod and speakers and various battery chargers. I've charged all my cameras, Sony bookreaders, iPods etc. without an converter. I'm just wondering if using your converter when it really wasn't necessary was the problem.

Most electronic stuff they make these days are multi voltage. All you should need is the adaptor.

Hair dryers are a whole different ball game. But you really shouldn't even need to bring one as most hotels supply them.

What type of adaptor is needed? European?

Plugs are like the ones used in France. The 2 prong round ones.

sounds like it was something in the plug at the hotel. I've had that happen to me once in the Cook Islands, it fried my hairdryer. Never had it happen again :)

sunny regards,

shully

So will I need an adaptor even though the hotel I'm staying at has 110/220 AC outlets to accommodate European and American voltages? I'm confused.

You will need an adaptor. The 2 round prong type used in most of Europe. The plugs there do not take our flat prongs.

You will not need a converter. Unless the items you have do not run on multi voltages. Most things these days do. Just read the back of your item or the booklet to make sure it can take a variety of voltages.

You do not have to buy a whole kit of adaptor plugs. Just buy one of the 2 round prong ones. You can get them at Radio Shack. Or at most travel stores and sporting goods stores. They usually run around $3-4.

A lot of the large box stores like Wal-Mart and Target and such only carry the whole kit of all the various size adaptors for $15-20. You really don't need all that. It's a waste of money unless you will be going other places in the future.

Thank you. Maybe the problem was that I used both the converter and the adapter and it literally started smoking. I used it on my hair dryer for a few seconds first, then plugged the iPod in. Maybe it was the hair dryer that blew it out, not the iPod. So there is no way to use my hair dryer from home huh?

It looks like your advice is to get an adapter for my camera battery charger and iPod and use the hotel hair dryer. I hate to be vain but what about my straightening iron (similar to a curling iron)?

I just cannot leave that at home:-)

You can still use the hair dryer and straightener. But you will most likely need a convertor for them. Unless you can find one that is specifically set up for dual voltage. Check the ones you have. I have a travel dryer that has a little button switch on it to use for 220 voltage. I don't use it, but I know I can. Are you sure you had the convertor set for the correct voltage when you used it?

I leave my vanity at home when I go over there. No hair dryer, no curling iron, no make up. Wear my hair up in a pony tail just about 24/7 when I'm there.

Some of the resorts do have US outlets so that you don't need an adaptor. Both the Intercontinental Tahiti and Sheraton Moorea had American outlets. While the Bora Bora Nui did not have American outlets, they did have adaptors for loan so that you didn't need to bring your own.

Radio shack may have the plug?