I have a power strip from the US I’m considering on taking for my trip rather than taking individual charging bricks, but there’s a catch: the supported voltage caps at 125v @ 60Hz while plugged in an outlet having non-replacable Type B sockets (including the plug itself) while all European homes use Types C, E & F with 230v @ 50Hz. Do hotels have a step down transformer in their inventory even if I’ve asked them?
Just bring regular “charging bricks”, virtually all modern ones support 110-240 V 50-60Hz. Just check their label first to make sure. (my electric toothbrush with inductive charging is my only charger that’s 240V only, everything else is 110-240V).
Stepdown transformers are specialist equipment, not something you can expect to find in any random hotel.
The closest is the “shaving port” some hotel bathrooms have, but that is very limited in power and obviously only in the bathroom which is inconvenient.
Hotels will generally not have step down transformers in my experience. I would leave the us power strip at home. Instead get a charger like this https://us.ugreen.com/products/100w-6port-desktop-charger that can charge all your devices. It is dual voltage 50/60Hz and the power cable is removable so you can change for one with an euro plug that works almost everywhere in europe. You can bring a small adapter for the places where the euro plug doesn’t work if you are going to any.
The original charging bricks use Type A plugs (but fit on a Type B socket), despite them being extra space as its each one for multiple devices (iPhone, iPad, Macbook, Cameras, Rechargeable batteries) hence why I want to bring a power strip just to save space on luggage.
I think it will greatly depend on the hotel. And if you rent an apartment, from my experience I have not seen neither American nor UK converters in the ones I’ve been renting
Looking at sidebar, I think this community might be wanting to focus on news
You want to get your own transformer + plug adapter (make sure it has a fuse) and take it with you along with your power strip. Most places will not have the transformer but only an adapter. Without that transformer, US power strips can easily internally arc even if the item taking a charge can handle the voltage. Depending on your budget, it might be simpler to just get an EU charger once you’re over here. If you’re taking a laptop, sometimes the power bricks support 240v so you just need an adapter. If that is the case, you could potentially just treat that as your transformer and usb charge stuff via the laptop.
