You're lucky your toothbrush was still going, Jerry. I once packed mine for a trip to London and when I got to my Hotel, I found it had been on and the battery was completely flat. I had to use it as a hand brush for the next two days <grrr>

After that I started packing a charger as well and more recently have bought one which takes standard AA batteries. It takes the same brushes as the rechargeable ones and I take the batteries out when I am travelling.