After your arrival you might notice that you need a power adapter e.g. to charge your notebook or phone, these are the places where you can get what you need:

• Fry's Electronics
• Radioshack
• Best Buy 

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Silicon Valley is known for its tech companies, not for its shopping centers - however you will find a nice selection of malls and outlets in the Bay Area and surroundings to suit any taste.

• Gilroy Premium Outlets - Great selection of fashion stores, no foodcourt, you need a car to get from one part to another, great bargains
• Great Mall Milpitas - 'Good old outlet mall', great bargains in not so great surroundings
• Stanford Shopping Center - High-end outdoor shopping center, also nice for coffee/dining
• Hillsdale Shopping Center San Mateo - Nice traditional shopping mall, good selection of shops, foodcourt

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A few of the most popular stores in a descending by our personal preference:

• Trader Joe's - super friendly staff, rather small stores, fair prices
• Safeway - large supermarket
• Whole Foods - large, organic supermarket, pretty expensive
• Walmart - huge stores, the world's biggest private employer
• Target
• Costco - membership required, huge packs, good for things you need in bulk (toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, water, juice, cleaning supplies...). Two-tier membership: Executive (2% cash back)- $110 or Gold - $55
• Fresh and Easy

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The major pharmacies, where you will also find a selection of basic groceries, stationary, etc., are almost omnipresent with sometimes even 24/7 drive-through offerings:

• CVS
• Wallgreens

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