A travel router is a small, usually USB-C-powered box that connects to the hotel’s Wi-Fi (or to an Ethernet jack, if the room has one) and then creates your own private Wi-Fi network. Your phone, laptop, tablet and streaming stick connect to your network, and only the router talks to the hotel.
That has three practical upsides. You log in to the hotel’s Wi-Fi once instead of on every device. Hotels that cap you at two or three devices see just one. And because traffic passes through the router, it can run a VPN for everything behind it, including devices that can’t run a VPN app themselves, like a Fire TV stick.
The tricky part: hotel login pages
Most hotel Wi-Fi uses a “captive portal,” the page that asks for your room number and last name before letting you online. Travel routers can get through these, but the order of steps matters. Based on GL.iNet’s own captive portal guide, the general process looks like this:
- Turn the VPN off first. GL.iNet’s guide says to “make sure all VPN connections are disabled” before you log in. An active VPN can stop the login page from loading.
- Relax DNS and ad-blocking settings. GL.iNet recommends turning off DNS rebinding protection, setting DNS to automatic, and pausing AdGuard Home, since each one can block the portal.
- Connect the router to the hotel network in repeater mode from the router’s admin page (192.168.8.1 on GL.iNet models).
- Open or refresh the login page on a phone or laptop connected to the router, and finish the hotel sign-in.
- Turn your VPN and DNS protections back on once you’re online.
If the portal still won’t cooperate, some hotels tie access to the first device that logged in. Newer GL.iNet firmware (v4.6 and later) can clone your phone’s MAC address, so the hotel sees the router as your phone. GL.iNet’s last-resort tip is to ask the front desk to whitelist the router’s MAC address. Be aware that GL.iNet’s “Login Mode” helper temporarily switches DNS to automatic, which can expose your activity to the hotel network while it’s on.
Two popular models compared
GL.iNet is one of the best-known travel router brands, but it isn’t the only one. TP-Link and others also make travel routers. The table below lists verified specs from GL.iNet’s US store for two of its current models. It’s not a ranking.
| GL.iNet Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) | GL.iNet Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) | |
|---|---|---|
| List price (as of October 2026) | $98.99 | $169.99 (store was advertising a sale) |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Ethernet ports | 1x 2.5G WAN, 1x 1G LAN | 1x 2.5G WAN, 1x 2.5G LAN |
| Power | USB-C, 5V/3A | USB-C with PD (up to 12V/2.5A) |
| VPN protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN | WireGuard, OpenVPN |
| Max VPN speed (client mode, maker’s figure) | WireGuard 300 Mbps; OpenVPN 150 Mbps | WireGuard 490 Mbps; OpenVPN 385 Mbps |
| Extras | AdGuard Home | Touchscreen for VPN toggle and Wi-Fi QR code |
The VPN speeds above are the manufacturer’s own figures. In practice, hotel Wi-Fi is usually far slower than either router, so it, not the router, will set your real speed.
The alternative: Ubiquiti’s UniFi travel routers
Ubiquiti, the company behind the UniFi home and business networking line, now sells two travel routers: the original UniFi Travel Router (UTR) and the newer UniFi Travel Router Long-Range (UTR-LR), which Ubiquiti announced in late August 2026. Both are cheaper than the GL.iNet models above, and both are especially appealing if you already run UniFi gear at home, since they’re managed in the same UniFi app. Ubiquiti says neither one requires a UniFi account; they also work in stand-alone mode.
| UniFi Travel Router (UTR) | UniFi Travel Router Long-Range (UTR-LR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, Ubiquiti US store (as of October 2026) | $79 | $99 (listed as sold out as of Oct. 12, with a notify-me option) |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) on 5 GHz, Wi-Fi 4 on 2.4 GHz; AC1200, 2×2 | Same radios as the UTR |
| Antenna | Internal | Hinged, fold-out high-gain array (reported at 4 dBi on 2.4 GHz and 10 dBi on 5 GHz) |
| Ethernet ports | 2x Gigabit (1 WAN, 1 LAN) | 2x Gigabit (1 WAN, 1 LAN) |
| Power | USB-C, 5V/2A (adapter not included), plus a second USB-C port for phone tethering | USB-C, 5V/2A (adapter not included), plus USB-C tethering |
| VPN | WireGuard and Ubiquiti Teleport (client) | WireGuard and Teleport; reviewers also report AmneziaWG and OpenVPN profiles and a VPN kill switch |
| Hotel login pages | Supported through its Wi-Fi uplink (WISP) mode | Same software features as the UTR |
| Size and weight | About 3.8 x 2.6 x 0.5 in, 3.1 oz | Thicker (about 19 mm vs. 12.5 mm) because of the antenna |
How they compare to GL.iNet. The UniFi routers win on price and polish, and the Long-Range model’s fold-out antenna is built for the situation travelers complain about most: a weak hotel signal at the far end of the hall. In an early indoor test, NAS Compares measured the UTR-LR’s signal about 20 dB stronger than the original UTR at the same spot. A stronger signal can mean a more stable connection, but not necessarily faster speeds. The trade-offs are real, though. Both UniFi models use older Wi-Fi 5 and Gigabit ports, so the GL.iNet Slate 7 (Wi-Fi 7, 2.5G ports) and Beryl AX (Wi-Fi 6) have more speed headroom. Reviewer Dong Knows Tech also noted that the UTR is managed through the UniFi app with no local web page, and lacks extras like port forwarding or a built-in VPN server. On the Long-Range model, NAS Compares points out that you get the antenna and nothing else: the same processor, ports and top speeds as the $79 version.
- Pick the UniFi Travel Router if you want the cheapest, smallest option, or you already use UniFi at home.
- Pick the UniFi Long-Range if weak hotel Wi-Fi is your biggest headache and you can find it in stock.
- Pick a GL.iNet if you want faster Wi-Fi 6 or 7, more VPN speed, or a full web-based settings page with more advanced options.
Ubiquiti sources: UniFi Travel Router (Ubiquiti store); UniFi Travel Router Long-Range (Ubiquiti store); Ubiquiti announcement; Dong Knows Tech UTR review; NAS Compares on the UTR-LR. Prices and availability as of October 2026.
Who should get one
- Families or couples traveling with lots of devices, especially in hotels with device limits.
- Road warriors who want a VPN on every device without setting up apps one by one.
- Anyone who wants to use a streaming stick on the hotel TV, which often can’t get past a captive portal by itself.
A VPN is only as trustworthy as its provider. Look for a provider whose no-logs claim has been independently audited. Also check local law before you travel, since some countries restrict or ban VPN use.
Our take
For frequent hotel guests, a travel router is one of the more useful under-$200 gadgets you can pack. It turns a frustrating per-device login routine into a one-time setup. It isn’t plug-and-play, though. Expect some fiddling the first few times, especially with stubborn captive portals, and remember that turning the VPN off to log in leaves a short window where your traffic isn’t protected. If you mostly travel solo with just a phone, your phone’s own hotspot or a VPN app may be all you need. And a router won’t make slow hotel Wi-Fi fast.
Prices and specs are from GL.iNet’s US store as of October 2026 and change often, so check before buying.
Source: GL.iNet: Connect to a hotspot with captive portal; GL.iNet Beryl AX product page; GL.iNet Slate 7 product page
