A travel iron may be a terrific thing to pack to deal with wrinkled clothing. Although some hotels and motels may have irons available in their rooms, they aren’t always in the best shape. It isn't a guarantee that there will always be a courtesy iron available should it be needed.
There are several things that make a travel iron different from a standard iron used at home. First, these irons are typically smaller, usually about one-third to one-half the size of home irons. Second, the handle on these irons usually folds down, making it easier to pack them in a small space. Size usually means a travel iron is significantly lighter, weighing no more than a few pounds. Most also have convenient travel bags so you can cleanly store the travel iron when it is not in use.
Many travel irons can convert from 120 to 240 watts without problem. However if taking the travel iron outside of the country, it may not fit in the outlets available in other countries. Check your travel itinerary to determine if a plug adapter is necessary.
Quite a few travel irons have steam capacity, which can help get out stubborn wrinkles. They may not have as many settings as home irons, and some people find the smaller base of the iron difficult to use on large pieces of clothing like suits or coats. However, even at home, you can use a travel iron. It may be an excellent tool for ironing around buttons or other things on clothing that shouldn’t be exposed to heat.
There are numerous travel iron styles on the market and they can vary in price depending upon extra features. Very simple ones may cost around $20-30 US Dollars (USD),(this one in the picture is a free gift from a magazine subscription.) Prices can well exceed this when the iron has either a better brand name or more “bells and whistles.”
One thing to remember if the iron uses steam is to make sure to empty water compartments before packing the iron away. This will prevent water from accidentally leaking onto clothing packed with the travel iron. It’s also a good idea to empty any water out of the iron before putting the iron away after traveling. Another important tip is to pay attention to the fabric bag used to cover the iron. Some of these are made of nylon and will melt if you don’t allow the iron to cool before packing it away.
source...http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-travel-iron.htm
