I was planning on bring a travel hair dryer and straightener (no sarcastic comments please) and have read it is just easier to buy them when i get there rather that buying converters/adapters here-- weel where could i find these items once i get to spain? I am staying on principle in huertas- please any info

Hi again sgerene, good question actually (no giggles nor sarcasm from me ).

I would say that less than 5% of the hostels in Madrid have hair dryers for their guests like the Hostal La Macarena does (seen in THIS PHOTO OF THE BATHROOM) so you will have to make other plans as you mention above.

You can buy a pretty inexpensive travel hair dryer in the states that is compact and lightweight. You can also get the only adapter you will need for it (click HERE for the photo) to get it into the wall. These adaspters cost about 1� (under $1) here and a bit more at an electrical supply store in the States. If the travel hairdryer you buy is a package deal it will also include many of the adapters that you need for travel in most parts of the world.

Do not bring a full sized normal "for domestic use in the States" hair dryer as it will prove cumbersome and you will need to bring both THE SOCKET ADAPTER and a voltage converter to get the 220 volts of Spain down to the 110 volts that the appliance is built for. Travel hair dryers are made to handle world voltage (110V-240V) and are the best for this sort of thing.

Please see the "American Electronics in Spain" thread by CLICKING HERE for more related info on this topic

Saludos,
jer...

I have a curling iron that says it is 20w - 40w, which I want to take to Spain with me next week. I bought a Samsonite International Converter Adapter set which says on the converter, "should only be used with heat producing appliances whose rating is 50 watts to 1600 watts." My question is, will the converter work with my curling iron which is LESS THAN 50 watts? Please help!
Catalina

Hey Catalina, good to hear from you again.

I could be wrong but I think those warnings and specifications are pretty strict.

To be sure, ask at the place you bought the curling iron and they should be able to tell you for sure.

Either that or ask at the place you bought the Samsonite International Converter Adapter set, they should be able to confirm this and tell you if it is ok to use or not.

Please let us know on this thread what they tell you so others who read this in the future will know.

Saludos,
jer...

I really detest travel hair dryers, as I have yet to find one that has the settings comparable to my home use one(hot, warm, cold, high and low speed fan) So, since I do plan to travel not only to Spain but to the rest of Europe, wouldn't it be wise to own one that would work there as well as my home one does at home? That said, suppose I want to use a Spanish-bought dryer in Ireland? Adapters?

If I were you I'd just buy one in Spain. I bought a travel one before I left and an adapter and for some reason it didn't work properly over there. If you buy one in Spain it should work everywhere in Europe...as far as I know, but I could be wrong.

Thanks, Brooke! I think the power is the same, but the shape of the plug prongs differs(I think the European Union needs to unify on this, but who wants to rewire? Plus, you know darn well England wouldn't go for it---they are sticking with sterling, after all, and can you imagine the flip-out factor of those crossing from England to Ireland, where heretofore every electrical gizmo was interchangeable) Gosh, you'd almost think I'm a lawyer, using words like "heretofore"...

Anyhow, I'm leaving all my gadgets home and buying a hairdryer over there. From what I can tell, FAGOR is a major local brand, so I've been looking at theirs---it looks like the GE of Spain. They have a model which is supersilent and has all of the features of my one at home. No clue as to price. Tried to access the Corte Ingles home department, but failed.

I'm pretty sure I can iron with the pension lady's iron, so I won't be bringing my travel iron, either.

Huh? Ironing? What's that?

Saludos,
jer...

When I did my study abroad program some 15 or so years ago, I just bought a hair dryer here (in Spain)..it returned back to the states with me at the end of my year abroad and had subsequent trips to Europe for at least 6 years afterwards between my and my sister�s travels. I am sure that you will find yourself returning to Spain after studying here..if not once, several times. Buying the small appliances here is a good investment.

Where to buy? Corte Ingl�s is the easiest (but perhaps the most expensive) one stop shopping. Many hypermarkets (Alcampo, Hipercor, Carrefour, etc) have a small appliances department. Then, there are numerous stores on Calle Bravo Murillo (between Cuatro Caminos and Plaza Castilla) that specialize in small appliances (one name of store comes to mind... Cash Converter).

Brands? Fagor (more associated with cookware), Ufesa, Braun (excellent brand name)and Taurus are all fairly common names. My hairdryer (no not the same one as 15 years ago) is a Taurus. It�s a powerful one for my long thick hair.

Have a great trip!