About WhichPlug
About this site
WhichPlug was developed to provide an easy-to-follow guide for travellers or those moving to another country to identify which electrical plug adaptors they will need in order to use their existing appliances at their destination. It is also helpful for those purchasing appliances online from other countries in order to identify the adaptor required, and any other technical considerations.
In 2025 we expanded to complement this service with a travel deal aggregator, connecting you to the best value travel deals for your destination.
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About Electrical Plugs and Sockets
Why are there so many different plug and socket types?
Household electricity was introduced at the end of the 1800s. At this time, it was mostly used for lighting, whilst other devices had to be patched directly into the house's wiring as there were no wall sockets as we have today. However, in the early part of the 1900s when more and more domestic appliances were becoming available, manufacturers needed other ways of connecting them to an electricity supply. The problem was that manufacturers in different countries developed their own plugs and sockets, and with appliances not being very portable, and not many people travelling across borders, the need for compatibility across countries was not apparent.
Attempts were made to standardise plugs in the early 1930s, but plans were shelved until the 1950s due to World War II. After the war, most countries had their electricity infrastructure in place and most companies were focused on serving their local markets, hence the varying plugs and sockets have remained in place until today. That said, the IEC issued a standard for a universal plug (IEC 60906-1; Plug Type N) in the 1970s, which has been adopted by South Africa and Brazil (albeit a non-compliant version), though it's unlikely other countries would be willing to invest in changing their infrastructure when there are hundreds of millions of plugs and sockets installed worldwide.
About our Travel Deals
WhichPlug connects you with deals from a range of online travel deal providers. Our Travel Deal aggregator had its origins in a site called Deals United, which came about as a result of the early 2010s popularity of group buy/daily deal/coupon websites and the need for an easy and convenient way of finding all the best deals. The novelty of group buying and daily deals has since worn off, but deals are still thriving within the travel space, so it made sense to combine our deal aggregator technology with our travel-focused site to help you find all the best travel deals in one place. You can also sign up for our daily e-mail to have these deals delivered to your inbox at once, rather than having to look through several messages from each deal provider. We also provide updates via our Facebook pages, so follow us today!
What is Group Buying?
Group buying, also known as collective buying, is based on the premise of bulk buying in that products and services can be offered at reduced prices, provided that a minimum number of buyers commit to making purchases. Once this minimum number of purchases is met, the deal becomes available to all purchasers. Buyers are encouraged to share the deal through social media websites in order to attract more buyers so that the minimum number of purchases is met and everyone can then benefit from the deal. Coupons or vouchers are delivered via email or download for taking directly to the merchant for redemption via a printed copy of the coupon (some sites also offer the option to redeem via proof of purchase on a mobile device) or via proof of purchase on a mobile device). If the minimum number of purchases is not met, the buyer's credit card is never charged and no one gets the deal. This concept has been around for many years, with origins in China (團購 (tuángòu) or "team buying"), but the Internet and social media have allowed it to expand across the globe.
Benefits of Group Buying
Consumers benefit from this collective buying power is by receiving up to 90% discounts on advertised items. The drawback for consumers is that often the deals have a limited time availability, hence the decision to purchase must be made quickly.
Businesses also benefit from this buying model too, as it allows them to attract consumers that they may not have reached via other marketing techniques, and with deals only becoming available after a guaranteed number of purchases, they can secure a large number of customers and boost cash flow very quickly. A one-time discount can attract hundreds to thousands of new customers to their business to try their products and services and potentially go on to become long term repeat customers. Businesses need to be aware of associated costs involved, not just as a result of discounting their services, but also the cost for listing on group buying sites. The potential return on investment should be weighed up in order to avoid underselling products to a point that no profit is ultimately made.
Group Buying on the Internet
While online group buying has been around to some degree for some years, it was not until the 2010s that the concept took off on a large scale, becoming a billion dollar industry worldwide. Dozens of group buying sites have since launched to varying degrees, some of which specialise in niche markets. As a result, consumers are often overwhelmed with choices and several daily emails from each of the different sites. Our former sister site, Deals United, was established in 2011 as a way of aggregating all of these sites into one, and we've now adopted this technology for our Travel Deals page. .
Travel Deal Sites
Below is just a small selection of the travel deal sites featured on WhichPlug:
Where are the deals I've bought?
WhichPlug only helps you find deals on other sites; we don't sell the deals ourselves. For any information about the deals you've bought, you must go back to the site from which you purchased the deals.
How can I get my deal site listed?
Please contact us if you have a travel deal site that isn't already listed on WhichPlug