Buy the simplest travel adapter that safely covers the countries and devices you actually use.
Overseas travel, multi-country trips and travellers carrying several electronic devices
Travellers who only visit one region and already have a simple compatible adapter
MyTravelPal Pro Universal Travel Adaptor with USB-C
Best suited to frequent or multi-country travellers who want one grounded adaptor with USB charging rather than carrying several regional plugs.
Travel adapters look simple, but this is one category where buying the cheapest option available isn’t necessarily the best idea.
The first question isn’t really which adapter is best? It’s where are you going, what are you plugging in, and how many devices do you need to charge?
For a straightforward European holiday, a small UK-to-EU adapter may be all you need. For multi-country trips, a universal adapter can be more convenient. And if you’re charging several phones, watches, tablets or other USB devices, an adapter with built-in USB ports may replace several separate chargers.
Which? currently recommends paying more attention to safety in this category because it has previously found cheaper unbranded travel adapters that were unsafe. Its current travel-accessory guide highlights the MyTravelPal universal adapter as a more reassuring option for travellers who want one device for many destinations.
Our view is:
Buy the simplest adapter that safely covers the countries and devices you actually use.
Worth considering if: you travel abroad with UK-plug devices, charge several gadgets, visit multiple countries, or want one adapter that can stay in your travel bag.
Probably unnecessary to go universal if: most of your holidays are in the same region and a simple destination-specific adapter does the job.
What matters most: destination compatibility, electrical safety, enough USB ports for your devices, and avoiding unnecessary bulk.
These are not the same thing.
A travel adapter changes the shape of the plug so a UK device can physically connect to a socket overseas.
It does not normally change the voltage.
Many modern phone chargers, laptop chargers and USB power supplies are designed for a wide voltage range, often shown on the charger as something like 100–240V. But you should check the actual device or charger rather than assume.
If a device is not compatible with the local voltage, a basic travel adapter does not solve that problem.
For most modern phone and laptop charging, this is rarely an issue. Higher-powered appliances such as some hair dryers, straighteners or other electrical equipment deserve more care.
Not necessarily.
Universal adapters are appealing because one block can cover several common plug standards. That makes them particularly useful for multi-country trips or anyone who travels frequently.
But they are usually larger than a simple regional adapter.
If virtually every overseas holiday you take is to mainland Europe, carrying a bulky worldwide adapter may be unnecessary.
A basic UK-to-Europe adapter is smaller, cheaper and perfectly adequate for many travellers.
For a conventional European holiday, products such as the Masterplug UK-to-EU Travel Adapter illustrate how simple this category can be.
The basic Masterplug model sold by Screwfix is compact and converts a UK plug for use with Type F European sockets. Importantly, Screwfix also notes that this particular adapter is not suitable for every European socket type, including some sockets used in Italy and Switzerland.
That’s a useful reminder that “Europe” is not one completely universal plug standard.
So even with a simple adapter, check the destination rather than buying based solely on a generic “Europe” label.
These can be very convenient.
A travel adapter with built-in USB-A or USB-C outputs means you can charge devices without using a separate UK USB charger.
For example, Masterplug currently sells a European travel adapter with both USB-A and USB-C outputs and support for charging up to three devices at once. It also lists protection against overcurrent, overcharging, overheating and short circuits. Screwfix
That kind of design makes sense when you’re travelling with several small electronics.
The trade-off is that built-in USB charging can make the adapter larger, and not every USB port supports particularly fast charging.
So if you already own a powerful USB-C charger that handles all your devices, a simple plug adapter may still be the better option.
If you’re buying new, we’d strongly favour USB-C support.
More phones, tablets, headphones and other devices now use USB-C, and it gives you a better chance of keeping the adapter useful for several years.
That said, the number and type of ports matter less than whether the adapter can actually deliver enough power.
A USB-C socket on the side of an adapter doesn’t automatically mean it supports fast laptop charging or high-power phone charging.
Check the output specification rather than just the connector shape.
This comes first.
Check which plug types are used in the country or countries you’re visiting.
A worldwide adapter may cover many common destinations, but even products marketed as universal can have restrictions. Which? specifically notes that its recommended MyTravelPal adapter works across a very wide range of countries but is not literally compatible everywhere.
This is not an area where we’d deliberately hunt for the absolute cheapest anonymous marketplace option.
Which? has warned about unsafe low-cost travel adapters sold online, so we’d favour an established brand or a product with credible safety information over an unknown listing with an attractive price.
Think about how you actually travel.
One UK socket might be enough if you connect a multi-port USB charger to it.
Alternatively, an adapter with multiple built-in charging ports can reduce the number of plugs and chargers you need to pack.
This matters especially if you plan to charge tablets, larger phones or laptops.
A basic USB output may be perfectly adequate overnight but much slower than the charger you normally use at home.
Universal adapters can become surprisingly chunky.
If you’re packing light and visiting one destination, a tiny regional adapter may be the more sensible travel accessory.
MyTravelPal Universal Travel Adapter
This is the universal option we’d investigate first.
Which? currently highlights it as a versatile choice, saying it can power several devices and is designed for use across more than 150 countries, while also noting that travellers should still check destination restrictions.
For someone who regularly travels beyond Europe, the convenience of keeping one adapter in the travel bag could justify the extra size.
Masterplug Travel Power UK-to-Europe Adapter with USB-A and USB-C
For travellers who primarily visit Europe, this is the kind of simpler alternative we like.
It combines a UK-to-European adapter with USB charging and can charge up to three devices simultaneously. Screwfix
It’s less flexible globally, but if Europe is where you actually travel, that may not matter.
Masterplug basic UK-to-Europe adapter
If you only need to connect one UK plug to a compatible European socket, we wouldn’t automatically pay for USB ports and worldwide compatibility.
A basic adapter is smaller, lighter and does the core job with less bulk. Screwfix
Usually not.
A couple or family might have several phones, watches, headphones and tablets, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone needs their own travel adapter.
A single safe adapter paired with a good multi-port USB charger can sometimes power most of the small devices in a room.
On the other hand, hotel sockets are often inconveniently positioned, so having two compact adapters can be more practical than one large all-in-one unit.
We’d think in terms of how many charging points you need at the same time, rather than automatically buying one adapter per traveller.
This is where you need to pay more attention to voltage and power requirements.
An adapter only changes the plug connection. It doesn’t automatically make a UK appliance suitable for a different electrical supply.
Many hotels provide hair dryers, and if you’re travelling with a high-powered appliance it’s worth checking both the appliance specification and the destination’s electrical supply before packing it.
We wouldn’t rely on a basic travel adapter alone to make an incompatible appliance safe to use.
We think it makes the most sense for:
Multi-country holidays: especially if different plug types are involved.
Frequent travellers: one adapter can simply live in the travel bag.
Families carrying lots of devices: particularly if the adapter includes several useful charging ports.
Long-haul travel: where you’re more likely to encounter different socket standards over time.
For one European beach holiday a year, it may be unnecessary.
If your trips are predictable.
If you mainly visit mainland Europe and already own a good USB charger, a small UK-to-EU adapter can be the cleaner solution.
It takes less room, costs less, and there’s less hardware to carry around.
That fits the broader philosophy of this site: don’t pack extra features just because they exist.
For most people, the choice comes down to two routes.
If you mostly travel to one region, buy a good-quality regional adapter that matches those destinations.
If you regularly travel to different countries, a reputable universal adapter with useful USB-C charging becomes much easier to justify.
What we wouldn’t do is buy the cheapest unknown adapter simply because it claims to work everywhere.
This is one travel accessory where safety, compatibility and build quality matter more than saving a few pounds.
MyTravelPal Pro Universal Travel Adaptor with USB-C
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