Travelling comes with a lot of thrill as you get ready for new adventures, exploring new cultures, and even just the allure of the unknown. But amid all this excitement, it’s easy to overlook the finer details, some of which can even lead to major hiccups. One of these is travel adapters.
Travel adapters are the unsung heroes of international travel as they make it possible to charge your device in a different country. This is because electrical standards, especially plug types, change from one region to another. But even if most people are aware of that today, we still make many travel adapter mistakes. Below are the most common and how to avoid them.
Packing the Wrong Plug Type
Imagine arriving at your destination, eager to explore and capture memories, only to find that you can’t charge your devices as you carried incompatible plugs. This is easily the biggest mistake you can make when it comes to travel adapters. Remember that different countries and regions use different plug types. As such, you need to plan properly for where you are going.
This starts with knowing the plug type you are using. In the UK, it’s mostly the Type G plug, which has three rectangular prongs arranged in a triangular manner. But this will change when you travel to another country, even in Europe. Europe mostly uses Type C and E plugs, while the US uses Type A and B. To avoid carrying the wrong plug, ensure that you research the type of plugs used in the country where you are heading. From there, you can get suitable travel adapters to convert your regular plug to the type used in the destination country.
If your adventures or business trips may lead you to different countries or regions, you can opt for a universal adapter. These types of adapters can be used on different types of sockets as they are flexible.
Ignoring Voltage Compatibility
While most people are aware that plug types change from country to country, the voltage aspect is often ignored. And although it may sound technical, it’s actually not. Basically, there are two main different voltage standards used worldwide. One is 110-120 volts, which is used in the United States. The other one is 220-240 volts, used in Europe and pretty much elsewhere.
Using the wrong voltage is a huge issue, and it can easily lead to device damage. Fortunately, most gadgets today, especially smartphones and tablets, support all voltages from 110v to 240v, meaning they can be used anywhere. However, it’s easy to assume that’s the case for other devices when it’s not. As such, it’s important to check the voltage of your devices and ensure they are compatible. If not, you may need a travel adapter that is also a voltage converter.
Not Carrying Enough Adapters
In a world where smartphones, cameras, tablets, and laptops are our constant companions, having a single travel adapter can quickly turn into a travel faux pas. This is because your phone can often chime battery low when you are already using your travel adapter to charge your laptop or camera, and maybe you are supposed to head out in a short while. This can be quite an inconvenience, so you need to plan for multiple adapters. Ensure you analyze the number of devices you have, and you can then plan the number of adapters. A multi-port adapter can also work if you only have a few light devices.
Leaving your Adapter Behind
You are not used to having something extra at the end of your charger. And in the rush of a packed schedule, leaving your travel adapter behind is easy. This can easily lead to lost connections, missed memories, and the frustration of being powerless in a connected world. As such, ensure that you always confirm that you have your travel adapter. This starts from when you are leaving the country and includes moving from one place to another in a foreign country. If you make it your habit to confirm, you will ensure that you stay connected and never fail to capture those memories.