Things to Know Before You Go

All things electric:

Electricity in Italy & other European countries usually does not always agree with our American items like blowdryers, electric shavers and sometimes even straighteners. In Greece my sister and I managed to blow the fuse in 2 separate hotels by using our blowdryer from the states. Not only did we blow the fuse in our room but we blew the fuse for the entire floor we were on. Trust me when I say it is not fun to go tell a hotel that you killed the power to every room on an entire floor! Then upon our arrival in Italy my husband was attempting to shave his beard with his electric razor and not only did it blow the fuse to our apartment but it also began to smoke and destroyed the razor itself. Luckily this time we had access to the breaker box and could fix the problem ourselves. So that being said, I would recommend…

  1. Use what is provided in the room, it may not have some fancy attachment that you use at home but it will get the job done and save some embarrassment. Almost 100% of hotels and Airbnb accommodations provide blowdryers.
  2. While most places won’t provide you with a razor, if it is a short trip shave right before you leave or look into purchasing a cheap one when you arrive
    1. we found a replacement for my husbands smoking electric shaver for €8 at the local grocery store and it works just the same!
    2. Or pop into any barber shop and and have them give you a quick shave, this can also be done at a reasonable rate.
  3. If you use straightners or curling wands ask the hotel or Airbnb host before you blow a fuse. It may be something as simple as having a good adapter. But if you ask about it first then blow the fuse they are less likely to get upset.
  4. Don’t forget your adapter for plugging in computers, charging phones etc. –Keep in mind the following:
    1. Not all European countries use the same type — The UK, Italy, Ireland, France all have different sockets. Check out this website on all the different types of sockets so you know what you will need for your destination country (it is a very exciting read). Plug & Sockets
    2. Click the amazon photo below for several options and price ranges on adapters
      1. amazon
    3. You can also buy adapters when you arrive but it is always good to come with one so you are prepared.
    4. All adapters are not created equal. I have bought a wide range, some from amazon, some from street vendors, and some from the 99¢ store in Florence. Some of the cheap ones would not charge our MacBooks and also charge your phone at a VERY slow rate
    5. If you are visiting multiple countries you can purchase ones that have several adapters in one.

Cell Phones

When traveling abroad you have several options for staying connected while away.

  1. A lot of places offer free wifi like restaurants, bars, hotels, Airbnb. So if you are staying on a budget you can communicate when you connect to a wifi network
    1. iPhone to iPhone is free for iMessages, FaceTime & FaceTime Audio
    2. If you are not an iPhone person or are needing to talk to someone who isn’t there are apps for that
      1. whatsappWhatsApp is great and FREE, you can chat, send photos and even make phone calls
      2. allo_duo_logosGoogle has an audio app called DUO & a texting app called ALLO, calls come through very clear however after using this for my first week abroad the apps reset themselves and I have not been able to register and use them again so I am not a big fan. I have also read some reviews that sound like others have had issues with this as well
      3. SKYPESkype is great and pretty cheap. You can add money to this and if you don’t plan to talk for hours on end $12 can get you really far.
        1. you can use this on your computer or on your phone
  2. If you will be abroad for an extended period or just want to have access to a phone at all times you have a few choices. You can either pay your current cell phone provider to allow international calls and texts or you can get a SIM card from a European provider when you arrive
    1. Verizon charges $10/day if you want international use (that can add up quick on a long trip)
    2. Other carriers like Sprint and AT&T also offer plans but I am not sure of the price so ask before you start calling everyone in your phonebook
    3. If you have an UNLOCKED phone you can stop into a service provider store when you arrive and get a very cheap plan.
      1. ALL VERIZON SMARTPHONES ARE UNLOCKED
      2. You can request that your AT&T phone be unlocked FOR FREE if it is paid off
      3. Sprint can unlock your phone if it is paid off
    4. In many places you can also stop in at any quick-e mart and just buy a SIM card, pop it in your phone and you are good to go!
      1. We purchased a SIM for $15 in Portugal from the local convenient store and were set with data and local calls. We never ran out over our 12 day trip
      2. We also did this in Italy once
      3. timCurrently I am using TIM one of the many providers in Italy. for €11/month we have 10gb of data and local calling and have not run out
        1. you also have the option to add an international calling plan but with all the great apps mentioned above there isn’t really a need for it.
      4. There are several other service providers here. So far we have had great service everywhere we have been in Italy (except inside many buildings because the walls are so thick)!