Some helpful hints for travel or relocating!

I’d like to share some helpful hints on travelling, whether it’s a relocate or a vacation (holiday).  Of course, your travel will depend (if on holiday/vacation) on the time of year.  But there are always some must haves that you can’t do without!  And, if relocating, some suggestions of things to leave behind with a family or friend so you have certain items on both sides of the pond!

When I first started to make visits to England, I always packed my hair dryer, hair straightener, phone, tablet, laptop, and many, many Yank to Brit electrical adaptors.   What I found was, for the short term, the adaptors generally worked fine.  That is except for trying to power a Yank hairdryer or hair straightener.  They never seemed to work right and sometimes even overheated.  So…if you use adaptors, be safe and check your devices, if they feel warm or are not working as you’d expect, unplug them!  

We all have those devices—Phone, Tablet, maybe a laptop, even a smart-watch!  Remember, they all just don’t need cubes and leads, they need to be plugged in!!  The Brits use a standard voltage of 230V, with a frequency of 50 Hz.  The yanks use 120V, with a frequency of 60 Hz.  Now…if that doesn’t mean anything to you (like it didn’t to me), then let me tell you simply—your electrical items will not plug into a Brit socket!!  You will need adaptors for all your electrical items.  These adaptors can be easily found online before you travel.  If you get to the airport and think, “Dang,I forgot!”…there are shops at the airports that have the adaptors, although a bit more expensive. 

If travelling, check with your hotel.  They generally have hair dryers and some even will provide irons if you ask.  It will be safer and…. you get more room in your luggage!!!  

Something to note, bathrooms in England do not have outlets!  It is considered a danger to have anything plugged into a bathroom socket.  The only item with an outlet in a bathroom is for electrical shavers.  Some hotel bathrooms will have a hairdryer securely mounted to the wall, with the electrical connection behind the wall and not accessible.  Most hotel rooms have hair dryers and/or irons available but you will only be able to plug them in and use them in the common area/bedroom.  This can be quite a feat sometimes if there is not a mirror close by!  

In houses (detached house/terraced house, mid-terraced house), apartments (flats), condos (townhouses), there is never a socket in the bathroom.  Generally, there is a vanity table (dressing table), with outlets close by and a mirror in the bedroom that is used for styling your hair, etc..

Now that I reside in England, I have my own Brit hairdryer, straightener, and upgraded devices (as all my Yank ones were quite antiquated).  What I’ve done for ease of travel, is left a lot of things in the states with a family member.  Just tucked away in the closet of her guest room.  That way, when I make my visits, I don’t have to pack adaptors for UK to Yank, and I leave them all there, and my Yank hair dryer and straightener are right there too!!  I also leave a few clothing items, just in case. 

It is best, for those of us who have relocated, to choose an airline, a car rental service, even a taxi service or airport shuttle service that you found and liked and stick with them.  Register with them as a returning customer.  Accept their emails and offers.  Earn their points.  I have received many a discounted offer and free upgrades just by signing up!

These are some helpful hints, whether travelling or relocating.  In this post, I am not ignoring the fact that to relocate you don’t just pack a bag and book a flight.  In a future blog I’ll talk more about the logistics: the Visa’s required, the sponsorship required, the monetary requirements, etc.  

To reiterate though, I am not an expert, not a solicitor/lawyer, not a travel agent.  I am simply a woman who has been there, done that, made mistakes, learned from them, and have the desire to share so others may find the journey even just a little easier.  

I thank you, my reader, for continuing to read, laugh, learn, explore!

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