Rome Travel Answers

Eh, depends on where you are from. Your Home Page tell nothing so, since I can't tell you without knowing that, here is a guide to help you. trusty-travel-tips.com/trave... This one is even easier...... roamingfox.co.uk/travel-adap... Good luck and have fun!

Here's another one: http://kropla.com/electric.htm We need to know where you are coming from or at least where your appliances are coming from. Most hotels have hair dryers and many have an iron if you ask for it so you may not need to take yours. Many hotels have loaner adapters too if you ask. If you are from the USA or UK, you will need a plug adapter. If you are from the USA, you will also probably need a current converter unless your appliances are dual voltage. Check the web sites given to see what you need. You might also consider putting your home country on your Home Page here on Virtual Tourist so we can give more accurate advice. Have a nice trip.

Electronics (radio, cell phones, computers) are likely to need only a plug adapter, because they are already made for 50 or 60 Hertz and 110 or 220 volts. However, hair dryers and flat irons usually are not made this way, so you would ordinarily need a transformer as well. Note that you must pick a transformer suited to your unit (i.e., appliances that heat have different requirements than things like fans), and even so, they have the annoying tendency to burn out. This is why people often suggest just buying these small appliances once you get to Rome. Of course, this may or may not suit your plans - it works better the longer you stay in Rome. How long do you plan on being in Italy? Bill

Bill, It's pretty easy to buy dual voltage hair dryers and irons from travel magazines and web sites these days. Also, if the poster is from the UK, (s)he won't need a current converter (transformer) because it's the same in the UK as in Italy. The plug adapter would be the only requirement. We finally broke down and bought a European electric toothbrush on our last trip. Our converter blew a fuse and fried our toothbrush. Nothing is failsafe. ;^)

Indeed...but if the poster is North American, it's unlikely that that she (I assume) has bought such objects from a magazine...but I guess we'll find out tomorrow... Bill

Hm. I never thought of that. A man probably wouldn't carry a hair dryer and iron. Good thinking. Now if we just knew where she lived . . . ;^)

Rome has a three-pronged plug of 220 volts. These three inlets or holes are arranged in a straight line, either top to bottom (vertically) or side to side (horizontally). These inlets or holes are all round in shape. Any good plug adaptor should allow your electric item to plug into these inlets or holes. The larger inlets or holes are for power (iron or fridge), while the smaller inlet or holes are for domestic appliances (water kettle, hair dryer). The B&B we stayed in at Rome gave us an adaptor as well as an electric kettle for our morning cup of tea.

Good to know... heading to Rome in October and will start searching for my travel adapter... it's gone missing in action since we moved house :-(

I know the poster is from the US, so yes...definitely (more than one) plug adaptor. It's best to buy these before you leave, to save time faffing around trying to find them once you arrive. Some hotels may have them to led you but many won't. Airports always have them (but they are more expensive than those you can buy elsewhere). The US has a lower voltage than mainland Europe (and the UK), so some things do need a converter, usually things which produce heat such as curling tongs. Much better (imo) to leave yours behind and either do without or buy some cheap ones once you're in Europe. Hair dryers? Well, depending on the hotel standard she may well find there are hairdryers included. Otherwise, again, better to leave them behind and do without (it's going to be hot when she visits so hair will dry *very* quickly) or buy a cheap one once she's arrived. Imo.

I'd leave the iron behind as well. Most hotels can lend you one if you ask.

for iron.. in case it would be "heavy", it could be bought locally and it'd be cheaper than paying extraluggage to airline :)

As for the iron.... I think the poster said "flat iron" which are hair straighteners... so the hotel wouldn't have these and I also never travel without them to fight the frizz :-)

If the poster is from the U.S., I have a tip - with photos - of the adaptor and converter we travel with under my "An American in Italy" tips. Maybe it will help: "Plugging in" - Italy Local Custom Tip by goodfish We've always just gotten away with the two-prong adaptor - haven't needed a three-prong yet. Will agree with leaving the hairdryer at home if at all possible and seeing if the hotel has one either in the room or that can be checked out from the desk. Adaptors and convertors can usually be purchased in the travel section of Big Box (Target, Kmart, etc) and luggage stores here in the U.S.

Do not depend on a electric converter to make your hair dryer work. We burnt out two of them. If you need a hair dryer, just buy one in Italy...We have all types here, and they will work for you. A lot of hotels here in Italy have hair dryers in the room, or you can get one from the desk. Contact your hotel and ask them about this. Phone converters are usually marked for two different currents... and so you just use an adapter, also for battery chargers.. the same advice goes. good luck, Dave in Venice

so sorry for the incomplete information. I am from Texas. I updated my home page so maybe it will help in the future. thanks for the good informtion

Well after reading all these helpful clues I think I shall go a-natural and not bother with hair dryer or iron. Sounds like the weather is going to be so hot it might be a waste of time anyway. Thanks again

Well, howdy, Pam! This here's Bill from Richardson (Dallas is a suburb of Richardson, ya know). Yep, I reckon that simple is good. Let yer hair out (well, literally, I guess)...yer on vacation; yer hair outta be on vacation too... Gee, do we really talk like this? heh heh...OK, back to English ;-) It's funny, because I lived in Rome, I actually stayed at very few hotels, so I have no idea who supplies hair dryers...but they wouldn't be hard to find at a store. As for "flat irons" - my first thought was that I hoped you weren't going to brand somebody ;-) - being a member of the oblivious male half of the species, I wouldn't have noticed them if I tripped over them in the local Italian shop. I actually do own (despite what I implied above) a travel hair dryer and a travel iron (for ironing clothes), I think both bought at JC Penney, which I guess that Abilene might have. But truthfully, I never use them; I bought them for my wife, who decided instead to cut her hair and wear synthetics that are easy to wash in the sink and don't wrinkle...could I interest you in some bargain, slightly used travel appliances? hahahaha You'll have a great time! Bill

YAY!! You have a member photo now! You are now officially one of us!!! :O) Good call on not bringing that stuff. We just stayed in 5 different accommodations in Italy in May/June and every single one had hairdryers. This doesn't mean that you might run into one that doesn't but.... The description of your hotel amenities doesn't mention whether they do or don't? I might be able to some digging for that info if you were willing to reveal where you're staying? We promise not to stalk you. HA!

Hey Pam, it is official, - you are now one of the inmates that run the asylum.....d:o) Welcome to VT. Good resolution. Like your motto says, relax, you are on vacation..... Have fun. Ciao bella.....d:o)

Hi Pam. Welcome to Virtual Tourist. Good for you . . . au naturel. When we first went to France, it was a camping trip and I had my hair cut very short so I wouldn't have to mess with it in campgrounds. It was so easy to deal with that I've never let it grow out again. I'm a happy short-haired Francophile. We stay in pretty inexpensive hotels and nearly all have had a hair dryer. I don't use them but I notice them. I'll never go back to them again. Life is too easy with short hair. ;^)

I've had a hairdryer in all (as far as I recall) the several hotels I've stayed in in Italy (usually 3*, occasionally 2*). I don't use them either, but I notice them. :-)

"but I notice them"...yeah, but you're not an oblivious male ;-) Bill

Very true. :-)

Well, I never bring a hair dryer (hotels usually have them) but I never leave home without my straighteners :-) or a hat, haha!

I ended up not taking any hair tools and just went natural but I did use an adapter for my camera battery charger. Just know, you are going to want so many pictures that your camera is going to need charging every day.

Hi Pam. Glad you enjoyed your trip au natural. ;^) I've completely given up on hair dryers. It's better for your hair too. Glad the adapter worked out for the camera charger. I go through two and three sets of batteries a day so know what you mean about recharging. There are so many pictures asking to be taken in Italy. Welcome back. We're all looking forward to seeing those pictures posted here on Virtual Tourist.

Glad you enjoyed your trip...and coped without the hair tools. Good on you!