BS: South America - technical question

Subject: BS: South America - technical question
From: *Laura*
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 10:21 AM

hellooo everyone.
Right - well I'm off to Chile and Costa Rica at the end of Feb... and I was wondering if anyone could tell me:
what kind of plugs do they use!?
I need to get an adaptor you see... are they the same as the normal american ones or are they different again?

I though.. if anyone knows this then it'll be the good folks at the 'cat...

xLx

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: artbrooks
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 10:33 AM

This place http://www.traveloasis.com/wa10wa12and14.html describes the adapters for Chile. The same site says no adapters are needed for Coasa Rica.

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: skipy
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 10:38 AM

Ear plugs?
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 10:49 AM

The same site says no adapters are needed for Costa Rica.

Surely that would depend where you came from.

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: *Laura*
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 11:03 AM

Thanks - I don't really understand the website but I think I'm being thick - I'll get someone to explain it to me later!!
Cheers.

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 11:45 AM

Check with a travel agent, especially if you can find one that has sent seniors' trip to the areas you plan to visit. The seniors will have been full of useful feedback. Or the countries may have travel/tourism ministries you could contact.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 12:06 PM

World plug types

More

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 12:14 PM

Laura, if you're going from the UK, you will need an adaptor for both countries. The cheap and cheerful double-end one you can pick up at the airport or Trailfinders will be fine.
BUT - Costa Rica's mains works on 120 Volts. That means that unless you've got dual voltage stuff (as many laptop transformers are) you may have problems. Chile is fine, as it runs on 220Volts.

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: *Laura*
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 03:34 PM

good-o thankyou!! Will the airports have loads of adaptors then? I wouldn't have thought there was as much demand for chilean and costa rican adaptors as some....

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 03:43 PM

If you're also taking a laptop, you should check out adapters needed for your modem or other "communications interface." The 'phone jack in the hotel may also be different in some regions, and a few that "look the same" can carry destructive voltages. (At least that's what the road warriors claim.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: *Laura*
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 04:10 PM

I'm not taking a laptop so that's ok....
and I'm staying with a 'host family' so the plugs I'm using are whatever the standard Chileans/Ticos have in their homes!!

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 04:27 PM

There's one adaptor you can buy which will work almost anywhere - it's a double-ended job with round and flat pins - pull it apart and one end you can use in Chile and the other in Costa Rica. It shouldn't cost you more than a fiver.

Subject: RE: BS: South America - technical question
From: *Laura*
Date: 10 Jan 07 - 04:53 PM

brilliant - thanks!