All Charged Up - 4 Tips to Make Your Portable Devices International Travelers

I am far from tech savvy, but I have figured out a few things in my travels that may save you some headaches on your adventures when it comes to your portable electronics.

1) Organize your devices and chords

If you're like me, you have umpteen usb chords and various chargers with chords that have to accompany all your electronics, from your iPod, to your cell phone, to your camera batteries, to your laptop, etc...  I generally pack these things up in a men’s toiletries travel case or something similar to keep them all in one spot I can easily find when needed.  If I have the weight allowance and space, I will pack this in my carry-on, along with the electronics they belong to, so that I have these valuable items with me during transit and when I arrive at my destination.  If you don’t have an old toiletry case laying around, I have also found some great case options online that come in all shapes and sizes to keep you organized.

2) Have a portable quick charger for those times when you can’t plug in

How about those times when you are sitting in an airport terminal during a painfully long layover or delay and your iPod dies or your tablet is screaming low battery at you.  You desperately look around for an open outlet to plug into, but there is none to be found…NOOOOO.  What do you do?  How will you survive?  Easy, learn to pack a portable quick charger in your purse or carry-on for just such a time. Generally pretty small and lightweight, they can be a lifesaver when you have to be in touch with the world and your smart phone is saying, “I need power now.”

3) Check if you will need a plug adapter

Depending on where you travel in the world, there will be a time when your destination’s outlets won’t take US-shaped plugs.  Check with your travel agent or your resort’s website under FAQs to find out what plugs are standard there.  You can easily find adapters at a travel store, your local electronics store, neighborhood Target or Walmart, or even online to fill your need.  Generally you can find a moderately-priced multi-pack to cover all your bases, keeping future travels in mind.  Note that these adapters often won't work for appliances that need to be grounded.  This is when a multi-outlet surge protector/converter comes in handy.

4) Packing a converter/surge protector can be a lifesaver

I bring rechargeable AA batteries with me for my camera strobes so I can recharge them up as necessary to make sure they have enough power to survive a few of dives.  After managing to fry two of my chargers, I have learned my lesson.  I now plug my charger into a travel size converter/surge protector to protect it from too much electricity shooting through.

Most Made-in-the-USA electrical appliances work at 110 volts, while those from Japan, most of North America, parts of South America and the Caribbean use voltage between 100 and 125.  The remainder of the world chooses to use 220 to 240 volts.  Even if some of my newer gadgets are designed to work at both 110/120 and 220/240 volts, I have been places that experience surges and loss of power frequently, and I find it less stressful to know my electronics will survive when they are plugged into my surge protector.

Not sure what’s available at our next destination?  I have found this great resource to help me out when wondering what wattage or outlets will be at my destination.  For a complete list by country of voltage requirements or what kind of adaptor you’ll need, visit Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country.

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