To say things have changed in terms of travel power since I went on my first flight in the mid 1960s is an understatement. Things have changed period, since I remember having to dress up in my Sunday best to get on the airplane. Even when I traveled for NASA and such not too many years ago, I tended to wear a sport coat and nice (but rugged) slacks.
Dress has changed and so has the need for power. Back then, people took electric razors, hair dryers, blow dryers (later), and much more that required some serious power. You had to have bulky and heavy transformers along with appropriate adapter plugs for your trip. I remember well having to pack those items back in the early 1970s, and while the size dropped a bit over the years, you still needed the big, bulky and slightly heavy transformers. May still have one in storage I suspect as I carried two or more per trip for decades.
Today, it is less about the big items. Hotels have blow dryers and the like provided (my apartment has one provided), and electric razors are not quite the thing they were. I’ve only owned one in my life, and I think it was a gift. I prefer a razor for several reasons, no electricity being required being one of them. The thing now is your personal electronics.
Today, most computers, cell phones, and the like have transformers that can handle most power sources in the world, particularly Europe. If you didn’t know, that’s what that square you plug into the wall outlet and your USB cord into is: a transformer. It used to be that some were made just for use in the U.S. and they couldn’t handle power elsewhere. Today, it’s a lot cheaper (because of scale) to build them to handle multiple power-types and just change the plug you put on them since personal electronics is a global market.
Which is wonderful for myself and most other travelers. The adapter plugs are still a little bulky, but as you can see above, the transformers have shrunk. In fact, if this one didn’t have all the different USB ports it would be quite small. It should handle all my needs, but one area where I will have redundancy is power. The transformer above, with the adapters that fit it, cost $14. So, I will have two for redundancy and in case I decide to charge one item in one room and one in another. I will also have two wall plugs for the phone and two for the laptop so I have redundant redundancy. I’ve been paranoid ever since the power supply for my laptop died on the first day of my first embed to Iraq…
Funny thing is, even with two of them together, and all the adapters, it still takes up less space than the small transformer I used to carry two (or three) of on trips overseas. The only thing I might buy when I get to Sofia is an extension cord, just if I need it for convenience. Everything else I might need is provided and already rated for the local power. I could probably even pick up local chargers for my phone and laptop at need.
Oh, I will be splitting things evenly between checked luggage and carry on. Something happens to one, I still have the other. Both come through okay, I’m golden. Why, yes, I have had luggage delayed before and there is little more fun than trying to get clothing in gajin sizes in Tokyo. It used to be a lot harder in terms of electronic power sources, but now not-so-much. Still and all, better to be prepared on this front than not, as I do hope to share photos and more daily (or as close thereto) as possible.
Just remember to check what type plug you need for any given country. It’s why the little transformer above came with three plug adapters that should get you by in most of the world. Everywhere I am likely to go and need power have either Type F or Type G plugs, which honestly are pretty much interchangeable in terms of the plugs. I have both, so should be good to go.
So, look at what you are taking that may need power, check the plug type for all the places you are headed, and plan accordingly. A little redundancy never hurts, and with the small sizes available today, it takes up less room that the not-really-that-old brick transformers. Just a few thoughts, and I will share how these products work as the pilgrimage progresses.
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