Travel gadget: Plugs

One of the most important bits of planning a trip is sorting out the right power plug adaptors to take with you.

So many travel essentials rely on electricity - cameras, mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players, razors, toothbrushes - that if you can't plug in and recharge, you're in big trouble.

But finding the right plug adaptor is not always easy because they vary so widely from country to country and, worst of all, within countries.

In Korea, for instance, I recall needing three different adaptors depending upon the age or location of the hotel I was staying at.

I have previously tested out a couple of universal adaptor kits - a very useful option - and this one from Metron NZ is another good alternative.

It consists of a base plug plus nine slide-in faces with different pin configurations, including - just to indicate how complex the situation is - five for China ... which is where I'm going shortly. The kit includes a little black bag into which you can fit all nine configurations or just the ones you reckon you'll need.

The Metron adaptor is $24.99 at metron.co.nz (see under "other") and they say they'll provide free delivery within New Zealand if you mention Herald Travel when you place your order.