Do I need a converter or an adapter?

In europe, will my straightener work with an european converter or do i need an adapter too?

• as a foreign traveler, i bought an european converter at walmart, but im afraid that it will not work in europe. many other people have told me that i need a converter as well as an adapter..whats the difference and where do they sell both of them? are they one product or two seperate things? PLEASE! i leave in a week and dont want my expensive straightener to get ruined!

• Answer:

  You can get both at places like Radio Shack. A plug adapter is needed to plug American devices into wall power here. This converts an American plug with parallel flat prong to a European plug with two round prongs. Most electronics these days only need the plug adapter - things like laptops, camera chargers, ipod chargers, etc. only need a plug adapter - the power supply will say something like Input: 100-240 Vac, 50/60 Hz. The plug adapter is something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Europe-Adapter-Adaptor-Convert/dp/B001EB26MO If your straightener doesn't work at 220v, 50hz, then you need a vpoltage converter instead of a plug adapter. The voltage converter will have the right plug for here. http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=power%20converter&origkw=power%20converter&sr=1 You can always just get an inexpensive straightener when you get here.