Laptops to Europe
 

I've never taken my laptop on an overseas trip before, but will be doing so next week to Spain.

Does anyone know of any Customs hassles either upon arrival in Spain or returning to the US? Would it be necessary to take my reciept?

One question- do you need to? If it's for business, never mind this observation and don't forget your electrical converter.

If you just want to keep up with your e-mail, there are Internet cafes EVERYWHERE, especially in places frequented by tourists. I'm in one in St. Petersburg, Russia right now and it's costing about 3 cents (one ruble) a minute for a very good connection.

Going to Spain you should have no problems at all.

If you are worried that American customs will think you brought the Laptop overseas and owe tax on it then take a photocopy of the receipt. But I have travelled with a laptop all over Europe, America and further a field and have never had any questions about it.

You won't have a problem at all, on either side of the Atlantic. In fact, the only hassle to carrying the laptop is having to remove it for screening at security in the US.

As far as power, most current laptops have a 'universal' power suppy, simply meaning that all you need is the appropriate plug. Enjoy your trip.

*Do* check this, though. Most now go 100-250 VAC, but not all. I've seen US consultants come into our office, only to get a nice little explosion as their power supply goes...

I have taken my laptop to Germany many times and have had no problem with the electric current. Just be sure that you read the power specs on your power supply. Just get an adaptor plug in Radio Shack. There should be no need to spend any more money.

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O Henry

My Sony laptop goes all over the world without a converter nor a problem. The only place where you might have an issue is Saudi Arabia where they may wish to scan your laptop for porn if they don't like the way you look. It hasn't happened to me, but I've heard stories. I know they will ask to see any floppy's or CD's you might have. I just tell them I don't have any and move on.

Generally the voltage is fine - most laptops are set up to take 110 or 220 on the fly (no need to tell the computer what it's being fed). For the plugs, you may want to look at this page

http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

for the right plug(s). Some top end hotels catering to US travelers have US plugs at the desk in addition to the local plug (i.e., Conrad Hong Kong), but I wouldn't count on it.

And I'm sure that those freaks have a very, very loose definition of what constitutes porn.

Whatta country though! Friday night beheadings on TV, but no exposed female ankles!

What a fine display of tolerance my friend!

I guess you also think that all othe countries that follow muslim law are freaks?

I've taken my laptop to Germany, France, Spain, UK. Never a problem using it, but for emailing only, I'm all in favor of using internet cafes as posted above. Carrying the batteries, cords, peripherals and the laptop itself cuts down on the amount of shopping I can do http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Ginger K (edited 10-06-2003).]

Why, yes I do.

Tolerance stops at the borders of state sanctioned stonings, beheadings, hand-chopping, sentencing raped women to 192 lashes for adultery, honor killings, and funding madras schools whose curriculum consists of 12 hours of bobbing your head over the Koran and learning to hate the infidel.

Some things are simply, fundamentally better than others. A Mercedes is better than a Yugo and Western liberal democracy is better than Islamic theocracy. Seriously, what part of, "you're 500 years late for your reformation" are these people having trouble with.

And, for what it's worth, I'm just as disgusted by the fundamentalist evangelical Christians in my own country.

Bravo csb. I have had enough of people killing beating or torturing people for the sake of religion. And to me it doesnt matter if it is someone turning an AK47 on his mom because she committed adultery (true one) or taunting kids trying to go to school because they werent catholic or protestent (I cant even remember who it was in Ireland that time).

You boys need to learn to differentiate between what some psychopaths does, what a government does and what the average Arab or Saudi does. The average person in Saudi Arabia is no different than the average person in the U.S. What do you feel when someone insults America? It's the same when you insult another country.

The reason the Saudis prohibit pornography is that they believe that it is immoral. They don't want their society to decay morally to the point it has in other countries. It's that simple and I respect this restriction.

Your political arguments belong elsewhere.

Disagree

Agree