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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 16:36:33 GMT -5
I sure need a lot of help today, lol! DD is insisting on needing either a curling iron or a straightener for our trip. I checked her straightener, and it is only 120v. So...am not sure really what to do. Do we take that and use an adaptor/convertor, do we buy a new dual voltage one, or do we just wait and buy one in Paris? And if we buy one there, any rough idea how much they cost there? The joys of traveling with a girly girl teen  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 14, 2007 16:38:56 GMT -5
In my experience, small appliances are comparatively much more expensive in Europe. If you can find a dual voltage here (I have a hairdryer and a clothes steamer -- which I could not travel without -- that are dual), you at least can use it in the US as well, and will only need the plug adaptor for travel abroad.
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 16:44:32 GMT -5
Thank you!
I just use a hair dryer, so use the one in the hotel and have not had to think about these things. Guess we will run to Target this weekend.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 14, 2007 16:49:07 GMT -5
If Target does not have what you need, try a travel store.
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 17:05:39 GMT -5
I was just about to say that we live in a small town and don't have a travel store, but then it dawned on me...I will be in downtown Portland tomorrow so can hit one there. Thanks...I would not have thought about that til it was too late!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 14, 2007 17:14:24 GMT -5
Don't forget to buy plug adaptors! You need the kind with two round prongs (not the three prong type used in the UK). Also, be sure that the part that you plug the US stuff into will accept the type of plug with one blade wider than the other (most will, but not all).
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 17:32:32 GMT -5
I already have those, thanks!
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Post by thehatlady on Jun 14, 2007 17:39:22 GMT -5
Ah, one I can finally answer on account of having taken my 13 yo niece to Paris in April! Talk about girly girl - she made me so thankful that I had boys! I have never seen so many lotions and gels and make-up kits and hair product in my whole life!
Anyway, she brought both her curling iron and her hair straightener (that seems awfully oxymoronic to me, but she insists they both have a purpose), and just brought the plug adaptor.
FYI - because I didn't want her to spend precious Paris minutes flat-ironing her hair when she was in a huge city where nobody would notice it anyway - I told her I couldn't figure out how to fit the plug into the adapter (and she didn't think to try it for herself.)
Does that make me a bad aunt? I thought it was good enough of me to bring her along, so a little fib like that wasn't too awful, was it??
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 17:45:26 GMT -5
LOl! No, that isn't bad at all! If I could get away with that, I would too.
This is the same child that on one backpacking trip in the mountains (thus my user name), DD packed makeup and a hairbrush. We just tell her as long as she is carrying all her own gear, and has the essentials, she can take whatever she wants. So up on Mt. Hood, she had her makeup and her hair looked nice, lol!
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grunblack
Full Member
Can't wait to get back...
Posts: 132
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Post by grunblack on Jun 14, 2007 17:49:58 GMT -5
hatlady - i think it's enough that you took her; I never had such a generous aunt!!! She'll look back and appreciate it in a few years  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 14, 2007 17:53:43 GMT -5
mtngrl -- I bet she looked good in the candid pictures, and probably was quite gratified about that! LOL!
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Post by Penny on Jun 14, 2007 18:25:51 GMT -5
mtngrl- where do you live? I've seen you mention Portland and Mount Hood in your posts. My son's godparents live at the base of Mount Hood.
Re: hair applicances, because she was going to be traveling to Paris often and for several weeks at a time my boss bought hot curlers in Paris and left at office there until her nexxt trip.
Idea for a business in foreign cities. Hair applicance (and similair) rentals.
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 18:32:04 GMT -5
Becky--Well, she did look a lot better than I did! After several days on the trail though with no baths, none of us ever look great.
Penny--We are in a SW suburb of Portland...takes me about 25 minutes to get into the heart of downtown. Where do the godparents live? The Sandy area, I am guessing? Hair appliance rental would be fantastic!!! Hmmm...wonder if I could move to Paris and make a living doing that? LOL!
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Post by Penny on Jun 14, 2007 18:43:24 GMT -5
It's been too many years but I vaguely remember turning right at an apple orchard sign but it is literally right at the base, the mountain looms over the property. When my ex was in the Navy we had an apt within walking distance of Lloyd Center (?)
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Post by yoginla on Jun 14, 2007 18:49:14 GMT -5
At everyone's encouragement on the 'The More the Merrier' post to "jump in", I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents on the subject that drove me nuts just before my trip. I researched the converter/adapter issue before my trip and purchased what I thought were the correct items only to discover when I arrived that the hotel had a very odd outlet that required an extension of all things so I ended up having to go to the Monoprix when I arrived to purchase one. To my delight, I discovered an entire section of converters and such that might have been a tad more expensive than in the States but maybe by only a dollar or two. So, my suggestion is if you do wait until you arrive in Paris, just find a Monoprix (similar to Kmart) and you'll find what you're looking for there. One other bit of advice, I brought everything with me (including the kitchen sink!) as though I was going camping in some remote jungle. The truth is Paris is like any other city, so if you forget an item or two, don't sweat it, you'll find plenty of everything there. . . the key is not to buy at one of the tourist traps where you'll pay top dollar.
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 18:53:37 GMT -5
Penny--That sounds like the backside...around Hood River/Parkdale. Beautiful area! BTW, my husband is retired Navy.
Yoginla--Thankfully we are light packers, but I figure anything we buy and don't have room for in our bags for coming home, we can ship home. I already have post offices mapped out, lol! And luckily, they just happen to be pretty much across the street from both of our hotels. Did I mention that we will be there during the sales and we are shoppers? So the post offices will probably see a lot of us, lol!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 14, 2007 19:05:39 GMT -5
Mtngrl -- don't try to ship home, take a very light weight sturdy (empty) nylon duffle (or two, or three, or buy there -- I've done that in a desperate moment) and just check an additional bag coming home (perfect for dirty laundry and athletic shoes!).
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Post by mtngrl on Jun 14, 2007 19:12:34 GMT -5
We are taking extra bags too. But might need to buy more there, like you say:)
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 14, 2007 19:14:28 GMT -5
The only thing with shipping stuff is that you can get held up while packages clear customs in the US. If you can manage to get everything into two checked bags per person (plus one carryon) you're much better off in terms of convenience. If you must ship, send your laundry back because if customs bugs you, you just say "it's my laundry" and open it up for them!
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Post by Roniece on Jun 15, 2007 7:06:07 GMT -5
also, when I travel I take with me a small power board, enough for 4 appliances.. that way I can plug in my phone, my tongs, my hairdryer, my ipod at the one time, well maybe not all of them at once but at least a couple Roniece |
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Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha