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The list of appliances that we usually carry in our bags can be very long: the photo camera and the video camera –with their respective memory cards and the cables to unload the files-, an MP3 or an MP4 to listen to our music, binoculars if the landscape is worth it... Most of them do not occupy a lot of space and they are not too heavy. Still, the amount of kilos in our hand luggage is progressively more limited when travelling by plane and these are fragile, expensive objects. If we are to carry them about, we should make sure that they are going to be used and that they are going to remain in excellent condition. 

We should find out whether the hair drier is included in the accommodation we have booked, as usually happens in three-star and high standard hotels, so as not to take it with us in vain. An iron is also absolutely necessary when travelling, since, no matter how well we have packed our clothes, it is always necessary to iron them. Men who are used to shaving with an electric razor will have to take it with them if they want to look good.  

Useful accessories

And there are still more appliances. We should not forget the cell phone charger, which we should always carry with us. If we are going on a business trip we should probably take with us several chargers, for the blackberry, for instance, and cables and batteries for the laptop. Small computers or intelligent phones make it possible for us to work during the journey. 

Travelling by plane is very boring. A portable DVD or a video console with earphones will provide us with a few hours’ entertainment. A blackberry –a hybrid device, halfway between a mobile phone and a PDA- may store maps, books and a lot of useful information. Yet, when using this type on devices on board, we should make sure to turn the communicative functions off while flying in aircraft, since these devices are both a phone and a computer and they might interfere with the air navigation systems. 

One of the appliances that have progressively become more useful, apart from the USB memories, is the folding keyboard; it uses a wireless connection to communicate with these digital personal assistants. This device can be folded and carried in a pocket, but when we unfold it its size is quite acceptable, which makes it possible to work on a handheld computer just as if it was a laptop.

Voltage differences and adaptors

When we move to a different continent, cables are useless if we do not have adaptor plugs or if our room is not provided with universal plugs. We should also take into account the voltage differences in other parts of the world. Thus, for instance, the most frequently used pressure in the USA or Canada is 120 volts, in Mexico 125, in Singapore 230 and in Australia 240. In order to make up for this, many laptop manufacturers include a universal adaptor or converters that adapt to different pressures or voltages and electric frequencies.

Anyway, voltage adaptors are cheap and can be purchased in different shops. Although, as we have already said, we may not need them in the case of laptops or handheld computers, for instance, since the electricity adaptor included in those devices can work at either 110 or 220 volts, indistinctly. To make sure, it is advisable to have a look at the instruction manual. Yet, this won’t be of any use if the plug is not the same. In order to avoid this type of problems, we should carry different plug kits with us.

Another great problem is the fact that batteries do not last too long. One of the golden rules in order to improve their performance and to make them last is letting them run all the way down before recharging them again. You can even use the plugs in the airports in order to recharge them. For, when going on a journey or on vacation one should always observe the electrical efficiency objectives. Those who make long, non-stop flights are used to carrying one or two batteries for their work appliances. And keep in mind that rechargeable batteries are much more ecologic than one-use batteries; besides, there are chargers that can be used with different appliances. 

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