hapuna

If this should go in the products section, feel free to move it.

I haven't done much international travel before but I am heading to Asia for a work trip this fall and I need a travel adapter. I am having issues finding all of the right adapters for the countries I'm visiting.

I'd LOVE an adapter that is adjustable/multi-function and could cover most if not all of these countries, if possible. The problem is that even if I search on Amazon for the right kind of adapter, I can't seem to find some of the prong styles (!?!) that apparently I need.

I'll need to charge things in Qatar, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Can anyone suggest travel adapters they recommend? It seems that some places (e.g. Thailand) are harder to find adapters for - or else I am not searching well.

Anyone had any luck with Flight 001's "150 Countries" adapter? (Apparently for some of them it's not grounded or something?) Or something called Twist?

gfunkdave

Welcome to FT. Moving to Travel Products.

OverThereTooMuch

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/searc...=power-adapter

That's a search for power adapter in the Travel Technology forum. Many hits there, hopefully you'll find good advice.

TPACjv

To be sure they can handle and input of 240-260 volts!

most modern stuff like laptops & smart phones should handle it. So check the power adapters to be sure!

Most plug adapters just convert the plug to the correct shape but do not have a transformer to convert the voltage.

Once you know your voltage needs, think whether you want to carry a bunch of loose plug adapters or an all-in-one brick - trading off volume/weight for completeness and features.

As for plug shapes:
In Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore a UK plug shape will be most useful. In Thailand US and mainland euro shapes will work interchangeably (they have a slot that accepts both shapes).

TL;DR: figure if a transformer is needed or not. Then pick loose plug adapters or brick based on travel patterns, weight, space available, and propensity to misplace small things.

Safe travels!

drewguy

There are only so many variants . . . I think it's just easier to have one of each than to try to find a multipurpose one.

FWIW, a lot of hotels in those places, at least higher end ones, have outlets that can handle a variety of plug styles. Granted, that may not be the type of place you're staying, so good to have adapters.

Buster

I have 2. I have this generic all in one adapter. It's just ok - it is heavy, so tends to pull out of outlets easily. It's also sort of bulky, so not my favorite.

I also have this one from Kikkerland. I haven't road tested this one a whole lot, because I haven't had a trip recently where I need multiple types of plugs. It does seem a lot more space efficient than the big brick type adapter.

Truthfully, I've gone back to just having separate adapters for different countries, rather than trying to have an all-in-one. I usually end up carrying 2 of them per country, because I need one for my charger port and one for a laptop, and the laptop requires a 3-prong adapter.

Boogie711

I have two of those Kikkerland chargers - works absolutely everywhere in the world, and they lay flat (less than 1/2 an inch, i think?) so they fit in my bag easily. Just one less thing to need to think about.

chx1975

I posted this already a few times but I won't stop . The Kikkerland is a knockoff and the Japanese original has a revision fixing two serious problems so buy https://www.amazon.com/RW101BK-Japan...keywords=gocon instead.

But, there are better ones now although not flat, I like http://www.mogics.com/?page_id=2920 this one a lot and the Wonpro NANO because it has two sockets. Of course, Mogics has the Bagel with this adapter which I posted a photo review of http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...l#post26945874 and that wipes the floor in this sector.

Kyoto

For me, after having tried different adapters over many years, the Kikkerland has become my constant travel companion. I always carry two. Gave them away as presents. Small, light, cheap. It may be a knock-off, but even if so, it is a very good and solid knock-off.
I travel to Asia and Europe frequently, never had an issue. Complement it with a lightweight 2-3 ft 3-prong extension cord and you are all set.
Happy travels!

bagobsessive

This one

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/All-In-On...item281bb55563

is in my view the best and it has an inbuilt 2.1A USB adapter. It is not as flat as the Kikkerland type one but also does not require assembling and re-assembling. I have and use the Kikkerland types occasionally but think the one above is better.

chx1975

Except the UK. I am talking of personal experience: the adjustable-by-spring distance of the round plugs which you use for UK sockets make it (very) difficult to use the plug in the UK (and Ireland and wherever that idiot of a socket can be found). It is a knock-off of an older product, the RW 75, the RW 101 Road Warrior/Devicenet sells now has a switch to fix this.

Bagobsessive discovered the Wonpro WAT USB sure that's a solid choice too. If that eBay item goes away, here: http://www.europlugs.com/shop/ast-ad...sb-all-in-one/

bagobsessive

Excellent extra sources of what I consider to be the best.

The only thing it lacks - in my view - is an on/off switch. They have adapters with an on/off switch but not in this 'all-input-to-all-plug' version, only eg., USA or AUS or UK or EU plug to universal input with on/off switch.

lathiat

Best I have seen is the Skross World models.. also sold as Orei M8. They are not cheap, though.

I personally prefer grounded adapters, as I have a mac (with metal case) and without ground you often get a little buzz out of the case. Same deal with Metal phones (e.g. iPhone).. considering many dodgy power setups in who knows what country.. always seems nicer to have a ground. Sadly most of the universal type ones don't manage to be 3-pin. If you have a plastic laptop, probably doesn't matter so much.

They used to have 2 models, one with USB built-in but 2-pole and one with USB as basically an extra plug-in socket. However while writing this post I discovered they have announced a 3-pole version with USB integrated - my dreams are answered! Hopefully they are on sale soon, I'm going to snap one up.

In any case check them out here:
http://www.skross.com/en/category/9/...l-adapter.html

Enthilza

Thanks for the link to the Mogics Bagel review, it definitely looks interesting. ^

SoroSuub1

If you're going to Singapore, there is a place called Mustafa Center (24-hour shopping mall), which is walking distance from Farrer Park station. Head to the basement floor and on one side, you'll find a whole pile of universal adapters for $2 SGD. I doubt it's going anywhere, since the huge pile was present both in 2014 and 2015 when I went.

I bought 7 and I lend them out to friends as needed. It looks exactly like this:

http://image.dhgate.com/albu_202887821_00/1.0x0.jpg