All modern computer power-supplies include a level of surge-protection as an intrinsic behavioural characteristic. It is unlikely that the fault on your laptop was caused by "bad wiring". That would require two simultaneous short-circuits in a three-phase installation creating a 40% over-voltage spike.
Voltage spikes can be caused by faulty transformers, however, I have only ever heard of one computer being damaged by such a spike and that was switched off and plugged into a surge-protector at the time.
The best protection you can take with you is remembering to unplug the laptop when it is off and taking a usb backup drive with you.
Kaled.
