Never enough A/C outlets when traveling?

[DaveNV]

Finding enough electrical outlets for charging my various devices has become increasingly annoying. As timeshares and hotel rooms get fancier interiors, the available outlets are getting harder and harder to find. It often becomes a choice of "which lamp or clock do I unplug?" to give me access to a socket I can use. My just-completed trip to Hawaii made this especially troublesome, as there were several of us searching for an available outlet. What I needed was a power strip. Then, in a case of serious, forehead-slapping clarity, it occurred to me to look online to see if there was such a thing as a travel-sized power strip.

And sure enough, the folks at Monster cable have already thought of it. It looked so good, I ordered two, and they were waiting for me when I got home yesterday. They have four outlets on each one, spaced out far enough that even wide adapters have enough room to connect, the cord wraps up nice and neatly to keep it under control, it's lightweight, and the whole thing is only 6.5 by 2 inches when ready to pack. Absolutely BRILLIANT idea, and I'm astounded to think it never occurred to be before this to look for such a thing. $10 each on Amazon, but may be available elsewhere. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F9YN2M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do you have other super-handy travel gadgets like this I should know about?

Dave

 

[Passepartout]

Standard equipment in my bag is just a 6' garden variety extension cord with 4 outlets. A couple bucks at Home Depot. But here's the gadget I love the most- not so much while at the TS, but enroute, in airports/airplanes, in the car, wherever there just isn't handy 120vAC. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Jackery+giant 12,000mAh. Enough battery power for an extra full charge on a tablet or up to 4 full phone charges. Plus a flashlight. Watch Amazon Gold Box or Woot. They go on sale for $25ish fairly frequently. Sure beats huddling around an outlet or sitting on an airport floor.

Jim

 

[Sandy VDH]

I found this really useful, as most things these days are USB chargable.

http://www.amazon.com/Anker®-Deskto...eywords=Anker®+25W+5-Port+Desktop+USB+Charger

It takes only 1 wall plug, lets you charge 5 devices, including iPads (two of the 5 outlets)

It takes up the smallest amount of space, as the box is about the size of deck of cards.

I like it. I also have a portable battery like Jim referred to above. The combination is perfect.

I do also have 2 converts, as I do international travel a lot. I needed to find a combination of things to minimize the space. 2 converters does the trick if international. 1 for my USB charger and 1 for the computer.

 

[Free2Roam]

Do you have other super-handy travel gadgets like this I should know about?

Dave

I use one similar to the one in your picture. I also travel with a 3-outlet wall plug-in (AC tap).

Everyday I carry one of the chargers Jim mentioned. (6000 mAh)

 

[PigsDad]

I found this really useful, as most things these days are USB chargable.

http://www.amazon.com/Anker®-Deskto...eywords=Anker®+25W+5-Port+Desktop+USB+Charger

It takes only 1 wall plug, lets you charge 5 devices, including iPads (two of the 5 outlets)

It takes up the smallest amount of space, as the box is about the size of deck of cards.

I might have to add that to my travel tools, as every portable electronic device we have these days uses a USB power cable.

I also have a portable battery (Anker brand), and rely on it for days at my daughter's softball tournaments. I am the team scorekeeper, and use an app on my iPad Mini. When they play 3, 4 or more games in a day, I need the extra battery. Works great, and can charge two devices at the same time (in case my phone goes low, for example).

Kurt

ETA: I just ordered the 5-port USB charger (I'm such an impulse buyer ). Thanks, Sandy!

 

[pittle]

We generally pack a surge suppressor for charging our stuff, but last year on the way back from Puerto Vallarta, the TSA gal took it out and said I could not carry it on. I bought a new device that has 2 electrical plug-ins and 2 USB plug-ins that I have put in my computer bag. It is small so hopefully it will pass. We also take a couple of the generic cheap old-fashioned kind of extension cords that stay in my computer bags. They work great, but I do keep one 3-prong adapter in my bag because some Mexico resorts still have 2-prong plugs and my computer needs a 3-prong.

 

[Fern Modena]

I guess TSA Lady needed one, cause it isn't on this list. Course you really want to get where you are going, so you don't dare argue, and they know it.

Fern

We generally pack a surge suppressor for charging our stuff, but last year on the way back from Puerto Vallarta, the TSA gal took it out and said I could not carry it on. I bought a new device that has 2 electrical plug-ins and 2 USB plug-ins that I have put in my computer bag. It is small so hopefully it will pass. We also take a couple of the generic cheap old-fashioned kind of extension cords that stay in my computer bags. They work great, but I do keep one 3-prong adapter in my bag because some Mexico resorts still have 2-prong plugs and my computer needs a 3-prong.

 

[hvsteve1]

Ordered the Mudder International Power Plug from Amazon for my trip to London and follow-up trip to Russia. It has plug adaptors for most international types along with two USB plugs. I'm bringing this on my next cruise. As ships tend to have both European and U.S. plugs. I can use the U.S. plugs for things otherwise needing a converter and the adaptor with the European plug for things that run on 110 or 220. The USB ports also let me plug in the phone, tablet, camera, etc. I also like the multi USB converters some other posters showed as almost anything you need to charge nowadays uses USB. By the way, I LOVE the way Amazon works. When I logged on, they already showed me all the items I saw on the earlier posts should I wish to make a purpose. Those guys know everything!

 

[csxjohn]

We carry a standard strip when we travel. If we take the XM radio we carry two, one for the radio/speakers and one for the computer. When we fly we only take the one in the computer bag.

 

[Ron98GT]

I kept have problems making it thru the TSA security scan with the standard surge protector, because of the long heavy duty cord. They always pulled me out of line and had me open my carry on suit case. So I bought one of these, with no cord:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...kwCjCs81CjCE&gclid=CPiz_sLwhsECFROTfgodl0oAJg


Even on our latest cruise I didn't get hassled with this plugged into the wall, where-as in the past I got warned about power strips.

 

[Bill4728]

I just have a regular triple outlet adapter. Plug it into one spot and have three spots for my phone/laptops. the one I use is about the size of my fist. Cost of less than $5.


http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/827214/827214003968lg.jpg

PS the one Ron has above is a surge protector with 2 extra USB charging spots plus the three outlets. at $12 a great deal.

 

[Passepartout]

I bought one of these, with no cord:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...kwCjCs81CjCE&gclid=CPiz_sLwhsECFROTfgodl0oAJg.

This looks handy. I ordered one too.

 

[riverdees05]

Thanks for all the great information, we are going out of the country soon and these will help greatly.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I just have a regular triple outlet adapter. Plug it into one spot and have three spots for my phone/laptops. the one I use is about the size of my fist. Cost of less than $5.


http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/827214/827214003968lg.jpg

This is pretty much what i use as well. I like the idea of a surge protector, but i I do lots of international travel. I am never sure which ones work on both 110 and 220.. so i just stick with simple straight power

 

[pittle]

I kept have problems making it thru the TSA security scan with the standard surge protector, because of the long heavy duty cord. They always pulled me out of line and had me open my carry on suit case. So I bought one of these, with no cord:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...kwCjCs81CjCE&gclid=CPiz_sLwhsECFROTfgodl0oAJg


Even on our latest cruise I didn't get hassled with this plugged into the wall, where-as in the past I got warned about power strips.

My cord was extra long too. Maybe that is why they took mine.

 

[Ron98GT]

This is pretty much what i use as well. I like the idea of a surge protector, but i I do lots of international travel. I am never sure which ones work on both 110 and 220.. so i just stick with simple straight power

The Belkin is 110v only. I was having trouble finding a travel-able 220v surge protector before we went to Europe in May.

 

[Ron98GT]

I just have a regular triple outlet adapter. Plug it into one spot and have three spots for my phone/laptops. the one I use is about the size of my fist. Cost of less than $5.


http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/827214/827214003968lg.jpg

PS the one Ron has above is a surge protector with 2 extra USB charging spots plus the three outlets. at $12 a great deal.

Thanks for mentioning that.

Actually I purchased mine off Amazon and used my Prime account, so I did pay a few dollars more, I think I paid $18. It's a long term investment that I can us any time we travel: TS's, hotels, cruise ships, and even when we are/were sitting at the airport plugged into ac. The 2.1 amp USB connector is good for charging the iPad, which requires more current, but is still safe for charging the iPhone. I was also looking ahead for a surge protector for the new 1 TB MacBook Pro that I'll be purchasing after the 1st of the year.