Do I need a special current adapter for my laptop? (I know, leave it at home) and cell phone charger? Staying on the French side and wondering what I should bring with me so I don't fry either of them, thanks

Just bring what you want. You do need adapter for french side. It's France. You need an adapter in most countries.
They come in a small kit you can see what you need when you get there.And I have a plug with regular electric and USB on it. Then you only need one adapter.
Amazon. Belkin.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0943W2CT...bc5-059f-4b00-aed1-1b8f8665a16c&th=1
Cheers
irina

Look at the power brick for your laptop. If it says something like 100-250V then it should operate correctly anywhere in that voltage range, but you’ll need an adapter from your US power cord to a French wall outlet. Here’s a link to one of the least-expensive ungrounded adapters on Amazon. I use a similar adapter for charging my iPad and my iPhones.

https://www.amazon.com/VizGiz-European-Adapter-America-Converter/dp/B09WMTMP21

Blow-dryers don't work well with the adapters. I'm fortunate enough where I use to do shows for an Italian blow dryer company where I was able to buy a dyer set up for European voltage and plug pattern. Can you use an American dryer? Yes, but they seemed to run at half power.

Thanks, the cottage where we are staying supplies a blow dryer, it's the hair straightener that haas my wife a little freaked out

Do NOT attempt to plug in a high wattage appliance such as a blow dryer or hair straightener into a French side electric outlet even with a plug adapter. US and Dutch side electricity is 110 volt. French side is 220 volt single phase which is different than the 220 volt power we have in the US for things like stoves and clothes dryers. If you plug your 110 volt hair straightener into a 220 volt outlet you risk destroying the appliance or even worse cause an electrical fire.

Best to go on Amazon or to a local beauty supply store like Sally’s and purchase a hair straightener that is made for 220 volts or is dual voltage. Then you will only need a plug adapter to change from a US plug to a European plug.

Or you can do like my wife does and forgo the hair stuff while on the island. Her motto is “Beach hair, who cares!”

Typically phone chargers and computer power bricks are designed as dual voltage. You just need a plug adapter. As mentioned above, check the small print on the charger.

Some flat irons have a voltage switch from 110 to 220. simply turn it to 220. and you'll be fine.

Good advise!!!! For the best dryers and irons, European application I recommend Parlux a division of Turbo Power/PIBBS industries. The number one dyer and flat irons across Europe! https://parluxus.com/

Simply read the tiny text on the computer or USB power supply to see the voltage rating. Sometimes I have to take a picture and blow it up to see the text. Most laptop and USB power supplies that we have are rated for 100 to 240 volts, 50 to 60 Hz. So they take either 110 or 220 volts automatically. So in this case you don't need a voltage converter. Most electronic equipment converts the AC voltsge to something low voltage DC, so is pretty much unaffected by the hertz. A simple plug converter will work.

As mentioned earlier we also had a hair dryer with what looked like a plastic screw on the side that you would manually select the voltage. I would say be very careful about appliance voltage. It would be very easy to burn them up with either high or low voltage.

It was also mentioned that a motor seemed to run slow. An AC motor designed to operate on 60 hertz will run almost 20% slower on 50 hertz. The motor speed will be affected by the hertz. Operating a motor designed for 50 hertz will run about 20% faster on 60 hertz and the increased flow translates into more work and may overload the motor. Heating elements in a hair dryer, hot plate, or toaster aren't affected by the hertz that I am aware of. But fans and pumps do more or less work based on the speed so can be overloaded. So look for the electrical ratings on the equipment. Either UL or CE will require the label with the voltage and hertz.

I’m with CharlieAndElaine on this. Devices without power bricks need to be treated differently than laptops, tablets, and phones which do. Anything without a power brick, or a switch to change it from 110 to 220 is a problem. Anything with a motor, as MISkeeter noted, is a problem because of the 50hz/60hz difference. Clocks are a problem too. (I used to own on the French side, decades ago. Some lessons were learned painfully and expensively. It’s been awhile, and memory fades, but I might have “owned” a compressor too.)


Do Not try to use a US Hair Straightener on French Power. Either buy one locally, or go with “Beach Hair, Who Cares”.

Wife bought a flat iron for european voltage at the “Buzz” store just west of the Super U for $40 USD. Store is about 1/4 of a mile down from Super U in Hope Estates on the main road just past the car dealership, across from the French airport runway. Nice electronics store.

That's the best way to go!! I'm fortunate. I use to work for the number one dyer/iron company in the industry. They make tools for this application. So, when we stay at Bruno's Paradise villa's on the french side (orient) we're all set!! Then when we are at BSV, just bring the US tools! The converters don't work well at all with dryers and irons!!!