10 Best Portable Wireless Travel Router 2024

Some of the best travel routers are GL. iNet Travel AC VPN Router, TP-Link N150 Wireless. They both have very good reviews compared with other routers. In this guide, we will be looking at the best portable wireless travel router for hotels, cruise ship, chromecast and discuss pros and cons of each router.

A safe traveller is a connected traveller. With the help of the internet you can find the best restaurants, decipher any form of transportation, and work on the go. However, as you get further off the beaten path finding wifi for all your devices can get difficult.

A functional travel router will keep you safely connected anywhere, but they are not all created equal. It’s important to pick the best travel router for your needs.

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10 Best Wireless Travel Router for Hotels, Cruise Ship & Chromecast

1. GL. iNet Travel AC VPN Router

If you are an adventurer or you happen to be someone that travels across the globe often, there is no doubt that you’ll often resolve to public Wi-Fi for internet connection.  The problem with public networks is that they have slow network speed and are vulnerable to a security breach.

The GL. INet Travel AC VPN Router is a beautiful solution that can help you maintain a fast, stable and secure internet access whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi networks. Essentially, this router works by transforming the public Wi-Fi network to a private one, therefore, giving you direct access to the Wi-Fi and safeguarding your devices. 

The lovely router also features a wireless speed of 300Mbps(2.4G) + 433Mbps (5G), which is reliable, stable and fast enough to get anything done in no time.  

Another incredible feature about this router is that it comes with about 30 VPN service providers, enabling you to access your usual website even when you are in a foreign country. An additional benefit of this is that,  when you use the router in your home county,  it gives you the authorization to visit websites that are out of your zone without going through the stress of manually changing your IP address.

The GL. INet Travel AC VPN Router also comes with storage space of 28MB RAM, 16MB NOR Flash, 128MB NAND Flash, and up to 128GB Micro SD slot. This means you don’t have to worry about the malfunctioning of your device and network, which are the usual problems associated with short storage space. 

This ultramodern router also has a USB 2.0 port and three Gigabit Ethernet ports (1 WAN and 2 LAN), which enhances network connection. It gives you a choice to access any public Wi-Fi via multiple means.

Pros 

  • It ensures a fast connection.
  • It is efficient
  • It ensures a secure connection while using a public network.

Cons 

  • It is big and can take up space while traveling.

2. TP-Link N150 Wireless Nano Travel Router: Best Travel Router for the Space Conscious

Travelling light is essential on long journeys. It’s hard to keep yourself light as you accumulate items on the road and tangle with the wires from all your accessories.

So why not cut down where you can? The TP-Link N150 Wireless Nano lives up to its name. At just under 7 ounces and packing an impressive 4GB of RAM, the N150 delivers performance from a small package.

It charges using a standard micro usb, which means one less wire. This router has only one function, getting you online. There’s no variety in external ports, meaning you can’t directly connect your devices.

The Nano can be perfect for the seriously compact road warrior. Someone who wants all the specs with none of the unnecessary bells and whistles. It doesn’t function as a mobile charger, it doesn’t transfer your files, but it gets you online fast. Once you’re online, it has the power to keep you moving quickly.

At $20, the Nano is smaller than the credit card you’ll use to pay for it. Get on line, stay safe, and keep moving.

Pros:

  • Price
  • Small size
  • Ease of use

Cons:

  • Lack of connectivity
  • Lack of features and ports

3. Satechi Smart Travel Router: A Useful Combo

The Satechi Smart Travel Router also ascends to its namesake. This item has the unique feature of combining a multifunctional travel adaptor, with your standard router.

Satechi has created a plug toggle that allows you to tap into power outlets in over 150 countries. This can be extremely useful for travellers regularly going between the USA, UK and Europe, all of which use different connections.

By combining these two necessary items, the Satechi Smart will save you space and keep you connected wherever you go. USB ports also allow you to charge your devices while you’re connected.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t function as mobile charger, so you’ll likely be stuck near the wall. However, if you regularly stay in hotels and hostels, it’s extremely easy to charge all your devices while online in your down time.

Standard 3-way travel adaptors will cost you around $15, so springing $32 for the Satechi Smart seems like a relatively reasonable option. Satechi’s intuitive combination allows you to carry one less item, but sacrifices some ease of use and performance.

Pros:

  • Intuitive combination design provides good value
  • USB charging for other devices
  • Direct wall charging worldwide

Cons:

  • In wall use only
  • Weaker network performance standards

4. NETGEAR Trek N300 Travel Router: Serious Technology

For those looking for serious performance, the NETGEAR Trek N300 could be the right choice. The Trek offers a variety of power options. You can get online using a standard US/AUS/CAN two prong wall plug, a USB from a laptop or desktop, or charge up the mobile battery.

The N300 gives you all the tech in a discreet package, with 300 MBPS connection speed, and a flip out antenna that provides impressive range extension. It also features a simple switch that moves you between connecting to a wired network or tethering into an existing wireless connection.

These options make it simple to connect in a myriad of ways and give you the speed you need once online. If you want to hit the road without losing a step, this could be the right choice for you.

Pros:

  • Connection mode toggle
  • USB or wall charging
  • Local battery
  • ​Serious tech specs
  • Network range

Cons:

  • North America/AUS wall plug only
  • Premium price
  • Ease of use

5. NETGEAR Nighthawk 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Travel Router

The Netgear Nighthawk 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Travel Router is another reliable solution to weak network speed that comes with using a public Wi-Fi. It has lots of features that make it a must-have item whenever you want to embark on a trip.

This sleek router has a download speed of 1Gbps, making it easy for you to download videos, stream any music, or listen to an audiobook without the littlest interruption. Apart from its fast speed, this router is also one of the lightest routers on the list. It measures about 8.4 ounces in weight, which makes it portable and very convenient to carry around. 

NETGEAR Nighthawk 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Travel offers one USB 2.0, one Micro SD, and Wi-Fi sharing options such that you can share data with up to 20 people. And it also helps manage your data while streaming media and download movies. 

With this travel router, a strong and wide range of internet connection has never been made much easier. It is portable, fast, and has a sleek design, making it easier for you to narrow your choice if you ever need a router for your travel.  

Pros 

  • It is lightweight.
  • It offers a fast connection. 
  • You can share it with family and friends while on a trip.
  • It provides quick download speed. 
  • No lagging while streaming.
  • Its battery is durable. 

Cons

  • It is a little expensive.

6. GL. iNet GL-AR150 Mini Best Budget Travel Router

If you want a portable, yet relatively inexpensive router that guarantees high network speed, this GL. iNet GL-AR150 Mini Best budget Travel router is the one to get.

GL. iNet GL-AR150 Mini Best Budget Travel Router is a portable size router that weighs around 1.41 oz. This means that you can even keep it in your pocket in case you don’t want to carry any neck pouch. It is well-packaged, has a sleek design and also boasts of an excellent Wi-Fi converter that helps you filter an unsecured hotel Wi-Fi by converting it to a private and secured network. 

One of the features that make this travel router admirable is its ability to share Wi-Fi connection without reducing network quality. This low budget travel router has superior qualities that make it a nice buy. It features a strong battery which you can always recharge using a power bank, Laptop, or DC adapter.

 It was designed with 64MB RAM & 16MB Flash ROM and high extensibility featuring dual Ethernet ports, UART, and 2.54mm standard GPIOs.

Pros 

  • It is lightweight and transportable.
  • It offers a secure connection.
  • It features dual Ethernet ports. 
  • It is rechargeable and affordable.

Cons 

  • It isn’t easy to set up. 

7. TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router

Accessing public Wi-Fi is much easier when you have this wireless travel router at your reach. It features a dedicated Pre Encryption function and strong protective measures, which ensures constant security of your connection from all forms of malware hacks.

The TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router allows you to share Wi-Fi with your siblings, children, and friends and may come in handy during family trips and get together.

If you are looking for a strong and reliable Wi-Fi router that offers a smooth and secure internet connection, this is a good option for you. It was developed to provide you with about 300 Mbps Wi-Fi speed on the 2.4G hertz band. This accounts for its strong network, which never lags.

Overall, this router is an excellent product that gives you everything you need to enjoy a smooth network.

Pros 

  • It is affordable.
  • It is safe to use.
  • It offers a fast internet connection.

Cons 

  • They failed to provide detailed instructions on how to use the router. 

8. GL. iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless Mini Portable VPN Travel Router

The GL. iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless travel router may help to proffer a lasting solution to poor internet connection problems if you have the foreknowledge that you are traveling to a destination with a poor network.

 It offers a fast, secure and uninterrupted network connection with the Wi-Fi converter. Another excellent feature of this wireless router is its lightweight and pocket-size, which makes it portable and flexible to carry about.

One thing I love about this router is its strong and reliable battery, which is easily rechargeable using a 5V DC adapters or by connecting it with a laptop using USD. It also comes with a considerably large storage space of about 128MB RAM and 16MB Flash ROM, which makes it easy for you to share data via USB stick and hard drive. 

What gives this travel router a cutting edge in the market is its relatively low price; therefore, it places no additional financial expenses on your travel budget.  It also features a dynamic VPN that enables you to access any world website without any restrictions. 

Conclusively, the GL. iNet GL-MT300N-V2 Wireless travel router is a low budget travel router that gives you secure and fast access to the internet; this helps you easily share your adventures with friends from anywhere around the globe.  

Pros

  • It is flexible.
  • It is easy to carry around. 
  • It supports up to 30+ VPN.
  • It is affordable. 

Cons

  • It isn’t easy to navigate.

9. RAVPower FileHub Plus, Wireless Travel Router: Best Travel Router for the Photo Freak

One of the best parts of travelling is taking those gorgeous photos that make your friends and family extremely jealous. If you’re the type to regularly sift through all your daily shots, the RAVPOWER FileHub Plus could be the perfect choice.

This device features a variety of upload options that will regularly free up space on your camera’s memory card or laptop’s hard drive. The FileHub Plus has the standard USB port, but also slots for SD and HDD cards that will make sure you never miss a great photo due to lack of memory.

The dedicated FileHub transfer app effortlessly moves photos directly from your devices to cloud based services like Google Drive, or iPhoto. By uploading and transferring photos more often you make sure losing a camera or memory card doesn’t mean losing irreplaceable moments.

As a traveller who has lost a few of both, I wish I had forked over the $40 dollars to make uploading a bit easier. You can also stream your slideshows to a variety of internet connected devices and show people on the road and at home, what you’ve been up to.

It also has a dedicated port and limited local battery to recharge your camera or smartphone. The extra ports come at the cost of battery size, so don’t expect more than one charge.

Overall, if you’re a serious social media master, or a professional travel blogger/photographer the FileHub plus could cut down the frustration of your daily routine.

Pros:

  • Tons of connection options
  • Dedicated app
  • Mobile charger
  • Internal data storage

Cons:

  • Low battery life due to space dedicated to ports
  • Larger size
  • Complexity of use

10. HooToo Wireless Travel Router: A Streamer’s Dream

Tired of watching video or looking at your photos on your tiny screens? The HooToo Titan Wireless Travel Router has the power and technology to bring your life to the big screen.

The associated TripMate app allows you to connect to a bunch of streaming devices and transfer files instantly. This device adds some serious juice by incorporating a huge mobile battery that can charge your smartphone up to 3 times.

Essentially, it’s a mobile charger and router 2 for 1. Secret fold out flaps reveal input and output connections that allow you to send items to a mobile hard drive or memory stick freeing up space for more photos on your devices.

Plus there’s an optional USB hub that can turn one port into 4. HooToo has created a seriously powerful multipurpose machine with an integrated app that commands a variety of connected devices. All these features come at a cost, as the Titan is a bit bulky.

Pros:

  • Dual Purpose mobile battery
  • Substantial power
  • ​Ease of stream
  • Connection options
  • Dedicated app
  • Nice price

Cons:

  • No in wall charging
  • Heavy (.55 LBS)
  • Big (1.7in x 3.7 in)

What is a Best Travel Router?

Essentially, a travel router is a small internet connection device that turns a wired connection from an ethernet port into a wireless signal. This enables you to connect your devices to a secure, personal wifi network.

What makes them different from your standard, at-home version? They are usually compact in size, and offer battery power for when outlets are scarce. Furthermore, some offer the ability to boost the strength of existing WIFI networks, or broadcast the signal from a mobile hotspot.

How to Choose the Best Travel Router

As in any technology segment, there are many options to consider. It’s easy to get confused. Focusing on your needs will bring you to the right choice, for you. Consider what kind of traveller you are. Here are the 10 best travel routers, for all different types of travellers.

Why do I need a Best Travel Router?

Accessibility

Keeping a travel router in your toolkit ensures your ability to connect anywhere. Take your own short ethernet cable and you will be able to bring any archaic connection into the wireless age. For those looking to travel less developed parts of the world, but still wish to keep up to date, it’s a necessary safety net. Public wifi can only take you so far.

Cost and Convenience

Travel routers can be great for all types of digital nomads. They allow you increase the strength and range of spotty signals. Also, as the race to get slimmer continues, laptop manufacturers are removing ethernet ports. That means if you want to work on the road, you have to get wireless.

Nowadays, we all have more than one internet connected device. With your own network you can bring your laptop, smartphone, tablet, and gaming console online. Using mobile data on all your devices can be expensive.

With a travel router you can latch on to the ethernet based connection in the hotel or airport lounge without paying for the expensive wifi. If you’re forced to pay for wifi or wired internet, you can use your router to spread the one connection to all your devices, instead having to choose just one or pay for more.

Stop paying for a coffee every time you need to connect your laptop by mooching a free wired signal.

Entertainment

By connecting all your devices to your personal network you can transfer files, share photos, and stream music or movies. Better yet, have your friends and family join you and make sure you’re all seeing the same thing.

Watch a slideshow of your latest journey or see who has the best photo to share to social media. Keep everyone in your travel party entertained by turning one connection into many. No more fighting and no more boredom.

why do i need a best travel router
Travel Router

Safety

Most importantly, we’ve all been desperate for internet on the road. Budget travellers and backpackers who can’t afford exorbitant international data are more likely to connect to unprotected wireless signals.

This can be extremely dangerous. Password protection is essential to a secure network. Spyware and malware can sneak into your devices and steal your most precious information.

This could be personal locations/contacts, or financial details. Likewise, using shared computers in internet cafes can leave you vulnerable to the most basic blunder, forgetting to log out and leaving your information open for all to see.

Having a dedicated, password-protected wireless network means your information is much safer. If your work is super secretive, you can piggyback another wifi signal to your personal router, requiring a second password and creating further layers of protection.

What is the Best Portable Travel Router?

Here are our top best portable travel routers:

RAVPower FileHub, Travel Router AC750

While visiting a new country with your family, you may want to take nice pictures in beautiful places. This powerful travel router is an excellent option for you. It is embedded with features that enable you to do wireless data transfer using Connect SD cards, portable hard drive, and SSD/HDD. The lovely pictures you took can be easily stored with an incredible backup mechanism. With a single click, you can upload your photos on an SD card, hard drive, or flash drive. You can also share data with your friends and family using the manual or automatic copying method.

GL. iNet Travel AC VPN Router

GL. INet Travel AC VPN Router offers one of the fastest and reliable Wi-Fi connections.

Essentially, the router features a wireless speed of 300Mbps(2.4G) + 433Mbps (5G). It is a sophisticated device, comprising many exceptional features that contribute to its uniqueness and functionality. 

One of the incredible features about this travel router is that it comes with 128MB NAND Flash, up to 128GB Micro SD slot, and a USB 2.0 port, which provides more than enough space for data transfer.

How Do Travel Routers Work? 

Buying a travel router is a worthy investment because the router saves you the stress of connecting all your devices to different Wi-Fi networks. However, getting a good travel router is one thing, and learning how to use the travel router is another important thing. 

Usually, a travel router works by sharing data connections among many devices from a primary source. The router connects to these devices through Wi-Fi.

To use the router, first, switch it on. Next, turn on the “Wi-Fi” on the other device to initiate a connection. After this, pair the router with the Wi-Fi on the other device. At this time, the router is already enabled, and you can connect as many devices as possible.  However, there is usually a limit to the number of users or devices that can connect to a router simultaneously. You can easily find this on the product manual that comes with the router. 

Are Travel Routers Worth It?

Nowadays, most travelers want to always have access to the Internet wherever they are. Most of us do not travel without a phone, tablet, laptop, reader, and more. Each of us wants always to have access to social media, emails, or to keep in touch with the home. 

We all know that not all destinations offer the greatest Wifi or Hotspot range. Besides, most travelers are aware of the pain of connecting to the hotel Wifi. 

Wireless internet is also available in most parts of the world, but there can always be situations where it can be difficult or expensive to connect. If you travel alone or with a company, the travel router can easily facilitate your journey.

What Is The Longest Range Wifi Router?

WiFi travel routers have a scope according to their location, transmission power, frequency, and antenna type.

A standard wireless router in an indoor (IPS) device using 802.11n and having the main antenna can have a range of 50 to 60 meters (160 feet).

Outdoor devices that connect from point to point are used by directional antennas and can extend many kilometers between stations.

The best travel routers ensure that you don’t just receive a signal, but that it’s powerful enough no matter how close you are to the device.

Are Travel Routers Secure?

Travel routers are one of the most secure portable devices. You can use the travel router to connect to a Wifi hotspot or broadband connection on the device. This will create a private, secure, wireless network with a strong firewall.

 You will be able to use this service with your laptop, smartphone, or tablet, and share this connection with friends, family, and travelers with you. Most travel routers have USB ports that support portable hard drives. So you can share files over the network completely securely.

How Do I Make My Router More Secure?

The security of your router is one of the most important things about using it. To make your router more secure, there are several settings you need to set.

 With the purchase of your router, you receive it with a username and password, which you have to change with others of your choice. The next step is to change the network name to one of your choices. The same goes for the network password. 

Make sure your router firewall is enabled and update your router’s firmware. These are the basic things you can do to make your router more secure.

Do Travel Routers Work On Cruise Ships?

The use of a travel router is possible on cruise ships and a preferred option for many travelers. Of course, there are some exceptions that affect the successful use of a router during a cruise. 

One of them is the time and location of the ship itself, during the voyage. There are some ships that are known to interfere with specific travel routers. These are the cruises – Radiance and Liberty. 

Travel routers that can clone a MAC address of another device continue to work fine on them. Most cruise ships have a limit on the number of devices that can connect to their WIFI connection. 

So, the travel router will be of great benefit to you if you are on this type of trip. Most experts advise when using a cruise ship’s travel router to be through a VPN.

do travel router work on cruise ship
travel router for cruise ships

How To Use A Travel Router On A Cruise Ship?

When traveling on a cruise ship with a travel router, there are some settings to adjust so you can use it successfully. When you set it up for the first time you will make one of several different types of connections, which then determines how the three interfaces work. 

There is AP mode, hotspot mode, and router mode. Since you connect the router to the ship wifi and then your devices to the router, the ship should see you as a single device. Some travel routers have options where you can add a USB storage device or use the streaming option.

How To Connect Travel Router To Hotel Wifi?

Many hotels still limit you to one or two WIFI devices per room – an unpleasant limitation. This is a problem if you are not alone or have more than two devices that need WIFI. Connection restrictions can be applied anywhere you need to log in to the Wi-Fi network via a portal instead of a simple password. 

Connect your computer through its browser to access the hotel’s website. After contacting the MAC hotel, the address of the travel router is considered as authenticated to the users.

If you’ve already logged in normally the router in the middle, your computer’s MAC address will already be associated with the room. So you’d need to wait until the login expires before you set up the router.

Travel router for Hotel Wifi
Travel router for Hotel Wifi

Travel Router Vs Hotspot

With the travel router, the connection is more stable in most places than with the hotspot. With a router, you can connect many devices without much affecting the quality of the network. 

While in the hotspot, it is possible to even overload and lose the connection to the network. In some parts of the world, the hotspot can lead to high costs fees that you did not expect. 

The travel router is a practical solution as it provides a quality and secure network, while the hotspot does not apply the same. For travelers, the travel router is preferred, because, in many destinations, a problem with the hotspot is not excluded.

Travel Router Vs Regular Router

The travel router configures a private internet connection. You will be able to connect at least 10 devices – phones, laptops, tablets, and the iPad. One of the main advantages of the device is the network coverage you will be able to access the Internet. 

Travel routers are pocket-sized and can be convenient to travel. Wireless routers are used without any cables.

 With the ports in the router, you will be able to determine how many systems can be connected to the router to access broadband. Unlike a travel router, a wireless router is suitable for home use.

travel routet vs regular router
Travel Router Vs Regular Router

What Is The Best Travel Router For Chromecast?

The TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router (TL-WR802N) is the most preferred router by many travelers. Compact and pocket-sized enough to fit in even the smallest bags. 

This router provides a secure connection thanks to the included firewall features. Even when you surf through a public access point, your personal information is protected. 

A high-speed Internet connection that works for many devices is crucial, especially if you are not alone while traveling. The router has a Micro USB port for Powering via an external adapter or USB port. Free video streaming and online gaming and 300 Mbps Wi-Fi speed on 2.4G hertz band for lag.

The Final Word for Best Travel Routers

All these devices have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to remember that while travelling space is important but so is performance and versatility. Having a dual purpose item keeps your wires and weight to a minimum, but if it comes at the expense of performance what’s the point?

The best travel router is easy to use, performs many functions, and allows you to use it in many different ways. For these reasons, the clear winner is the GL. iNet Travel AC VPN Router.

By combining the mobile charger and travel router, HooToo has combined two life saving gadgets into one. Unlike the Satechi Smart (also a space saving 2 in 1) the HooToo eliminates the need for a wall mount by depending on a USB connection charge it’s massive battery. USB chargers are ubiquitous wherever there’s a wired connection and completely universal, eliminating the need for a power converter.

Furthermore, the streaming performance and virtually infinite configurations allow you to charge all your devices at once. Charge your devices, share photos, back up your hard drive, stream video, the Titan can help you do it all. Best of all it comes in at under $40. That’s a big bargain for this many features.

The aptly named Titan is heavy, but it’s the internet hub that should help you stay connected, and safe on the road.

If it can save you from running out of battery, and stop you from risking your security on spotty public networks, that’s a true win-win but it’s the internet hub that should help you stay connected, and safe on the road.

If it can save you from running out of battery, and stop you from risking your security on spotty public networks, that’s a true win-win.

About Author: Linda Smith

I'm Linda Smith, the Hotel Expert, an experienced travel blogger who passionate about traveling. I'm here to share with you all my travel experiences and tips. I cover a wide range of travel topics, specializing in sharing information about the best areas, neighborhoods, and hotels in each city. I hope all these things will make your travel easier.

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