Electricity

If you plan to bring electric devices abroad, check if your device is compatible with the voltage in the destination country.

For example, my laptop charger module has a sticker that says it can handle 220 V.  Thus it does not need a voltage converter in Europe.

Most other devices, however, will need a voltage converter.  Otherwise you risk blowing up your device and/or blowing out the sockets and starting an electrical fire in your hotel.

Voltage converters are not the same as plug converters.  You will need plug converters if the plug does not match your device.

Voltage Converter
I bought a Swiss Gear brand voltage converter for about $35-40.  It came with several plug converters, but they were all 2 prong and were not comprehensive of all possible countries.

Plugs
My only three prong device is my laptop, which does not need a voltage converter for 220 V.  Thus I needed to buy a "grounded" (three prong) plug adaptor for my laptop to fit into the sockets at the various destination countries.

I also needed to buy plugs for the countries not covered in my Swiss Gear kit so that the voltage converter would be able to fit into the respective socket.  The E/F plug fit into these other plug converters to look like:
 Device --> voltage converter --> E/F plug --> other plug (i.e. J or L type)--> wall socket.

Thus besides from the plugs that came with my voltage converter kit, my ancillary plug collection consists of grounded plugs (which can also be used for 2 prong items) for:

• Austria, France and Germany- E/F type
• Switzerland- J type
• Italy- L type

Of note, Canada uses the same type of plugs and voltage as the US.

USB Plug
When I am not traveling with my laptop, I bring a USB plug so that I can plug USB devices into my voltage converter.