Touring - Using a computer in Europe

I'm going on a trip this summer to Europe and i wanted to know if anyone has found it hard to find places to recharge laptops and phones in small towns and villages. I'm curious about this.

Thank you.

They have electricity in Europe you know. :)

Most laptop/netbook uses multi-voltage power adapters so all you need is the right plug adapter.

Yes, we do have electricity. FInding free wifi though is a little more difficult.

You can recharge it on a camping place,when you go for a coffe etc etc

Even the most basic campsites I have used have sockets. Most campsites have wifi (unless they are very rural).
The problems is leaving your battery or equipment unattended for a few hours.

One thing to remember if you're coming from the U.S. is that electricity in Europe is 220 volt, 50 Hz rather than the 110 volt, 60 Hz that we use here in the States. You'll need a transformer (not expnsive, but not light, either) and plug adapters at least.

At any rate, check out the plugs and power adaptability on your laptop before you head over there with it.

We've taken our netbooks and Garmins with us to Europe and found no issues with regards to recharging our batteries. We used a commonly available Euro spec to U.S,. spec adaptor. Free WiFi wasn't always available but local sources for internet usually were. The 'small town and villages' you speak of are generally much more wired than the same types of places in the U.S.

As mentioned, not only do we have electricity, but our electrons pack twice the volts than the weaklings you have in the US. :) Check your laptop, odds are it will take 220V, 50Hz meaning you don't need the transformer. Just an adapter to accommodate the different shaped plug.

I know of very few places that would NOT have mains electricity available, mostly remote islands and such, and there it's usually by design. But small towns and villages, no problem.

--J

One thing to remember if you're coming from the U.S. is that electricity in Europe is 220 volt, 50 Hz rather than the 110 volt, 60 Hz that we use here in the States. You'll need a transformer (not expnsive, but not light, either) and plug adapters at least.

At any rate, check out the plugs and power adaptability on your laptop before you head over there with it.

Check before you go, but many devices including many laptops have oem chargers that are rated for 120-240 vac and 50-60 hz so no transformer is required just the little plug adapter. That adapter is light weight and cheap.

And if the computer doesn't have dual voltage capability, make sure the voltage converter is a serious one.
Those little plastic universal travel converters are a joke and could fry your devices. Even if they claim a capacity of 1500W.
A proper step-down converter may weigh more than your tent.
http://www.220-electronics.com/Transformers/trans/stepdown.jpg

Forget about the voltage converters people! You won't need one to power a laptop. All you need is a pin adaptor (or different cable with Euro plug already on it). Be warned that the outlets in the UK and the rest of Europe differ and will need different converters. Those in Switzerland differ slightly again, but many European plugs work OK.

I'm still in shock that the OP thinks that there may be no electricity in small villages in Europe. Sorry, but North America does not have the most advanced society, the best technology, and the best everything else in the world. WAKE UP! I think he/she is going to learn a lot from this trip.