Tip: My New Go-To International Power Converter
With as much as I travel internationally, I recently sought out a true power converter to replace the handful of power adapters I'd been taking with me. I needed a device that would be small, light and â as I can't afford to have any of my equipment damaged while on the road â have surge protection. All of these together in one device seemed to be a tall order, but I found one that fits the bill. After four months of testing it in Taiwan, Japan, Portugal, England, Germany, Qatar and Oman, I'm ready to give the BESTEK Travel Converter/Adapter my stamp of approval.
Inputs: The converter naturally plugs into the "Type C" Europe-style power outlets, but comes with three adapters so it can work in "more than 150 countries." The converter takes pretty much any power source you're going to find when traveling â from 90 to 220 volts.

Outputs: There are seven power outputs â three three-prong US-style power plugs and four USB power plugs. Two of the USB power plugs have a 2.4 amp output and the other two provide 1 amp output.
There aren't many downsides with the device. While I'd like more than three US plugs in some situations, I can usually get by using the USB chargers for some of my electronics. But there's one important downside to know about: noise. The device has dual fans that can be quite noticeable in a quiet hotel room or lounge. While I've actually grown to enjoy the white noise, it might be obnoxious to some.
If you're looking for a power converter/adapter for your travels, I'd recommend the BESTEK Travel Converter. I bought it from Amazon, and you can find it here.
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