You'll find two general types of travel adapters: either multi-piece adapters, with each piece with the means to address one type of plug at a time, or 'convertible' travel adapters that are just one piece with multiple moving parts you can press, pull or even twist to make them fit into a variety of electrical sockets. What Kind of Travel Adapter Should I Bring? Again, always double-check to be sure this type of feature will usually be displayed prominently on the item's packaging and also marked on the item itself. Some small appliances designed specifically for travel use, such as curling irons, hair dryers and clothes irons, may also be designed to run on either type of electrical current. If they're not clearly marked and the manufacturer can't assure you that they're fine for use in any typical world voltage, it's much cheaper to buy a travel converter than to buy a new smartphone or tablet. With that said, always double-check your electronics to be sure they're marked for dual voltage use.
Almost all modern portable electronics, from laptops to tablets and smartphones, are designed to run on either 110V or 220V current, and as long as you have a travel adapter handy, you can just plug your electronics into the local socket and let them charge. There's an exception to the travel converter rule: dual-voltage appliances and electronics. But Wait – You Might Not Need a Travel Converter
