The Best Travel Adapters and Chargers for International Trips
2025-09-05 · 5 min read
Nothing kills the buzz of arriving in a new country like realizing you can't charge your phone. International outlet standards are a mess—Type C in Europe, Type G in the UK, Type I in Australia—and hotel front desks never have loaners when you need them. Solve this problem once and forget it forever.
The Epicka Universal Travel Adapter covers over 150 countries with a single device. It handles US, EU, UK, and AU plug types, includes four USB-A ports and one USB-C port for simultaneous charging, and costs under $25. It's not the sleekest option, but it's the most practical.
For a premium solution, Twelve South's PlugBug Travel pairs with your MacBook charger to add international prongs and an extra USB port without carrying a separate adapter. The slide-on design is elegant engineering—one charger handles your laptop and phone simultaneously across any outlet type.
Anker's 65W GaN charger is the best compact multi-device charger for travel. Gallium nitride technology keeps it small despite high wattage, and the two USB-C plus one USB-A configuration charges a laptop, phone, and earbuds simultaneously. It replaces three separate chargers in your bag.
The Zendure Passport III combines a universal adapter with a 65W GaN charger in one device. Auto-resetting fuse protection handles voltage spikes that occur in older buildings abroad, and the USB-C port supports PD 3.0 for fast laptop charging. At $60, it's everything in one brick.
A retractable USB-C cable from Anker saves space and eliminates tangles. The 3-foot length is enough for nightstand-to-outlet distance, and the retract mechanism means it takes up almost zero bag space. Pack two—one for each side of the bed.
Pro tip: always carry a small power strip with two outlets and USB ports. Many hotel rooms have exactly one accessible outlet, usually behind furniture. A strip with a short cord gives you a charging station anywhere. The Ntonpower mini strip weighs almost nothing and solves this universally.
