Q. I should have thought about this sooner, but didn't. I'm traveling to Europe for the first time. We'll be traveling first to London, then Paris, Brussels, Cologne, Hamburg and, of course, back to London via rail. We will be staying in hotels in the cities. Do you think I need to buy/bring a device to convert to alternating electrical current to charge my iPad and iPhone?
A. You don’t need a converter (i-devices have them built in) but you'll definitely need an outlet adapter, although most hotels these days have “shaver” outlets in bathrooms that accept US-style plugs. I recently misplaced my adapter on a trip to London, and the front desk of the hotel was able to loan me one for a £10 deposit. Of course, you can find universal adapters available online or even for last minute purchase in the shops of any international terminal.
