BEST INTERNET TRAVEL ROUTERS

These days most travellers want to be able to get online regularly while traveling to check email, get directions, check hotel and restaurant reviews, upload photos, update social media, and stay in touch with those back home. Travel routers can help with this.

It is definitely easier to stay connected as wireless internet is now widely available in most parts of the world but there are still a number of situations when it can be tricky (or expensive) to connect.

As a travel blogger who regularly has to manage my information on the go, it is often really important for me to be able to get online on a regular basis while travelling and it can be very frustrating when I am in an hotel with weak wi-fi, or I'm being restricted from using multiple devices on one internet connection, or I would like more security when using an unsecured public hotspot.

A travel router is a compact little device which solves these common internet issues and offers a number of features to the on-the-go traveller who wants to stay connected.

Basic Information on what a Travel Router Does

If you are new to travel routers, also known as portable wifi routers, this section will help you understand what they do and whether they might be a good fit for your travels or not.

What is a Travel Router?

A travel router is a wireless range extender designed for people who are on the go and need to connect to the internet when they are away from home. It also performs the functions of a wireless access point.

Just like you would use a home wifi router to connect your devices to the internet at home, you may also want to consider having a portable router to use when travelling.

What does a Travel Router do?

Different wireless travel routers have different features, but the main feature is that they increase the range of existing wireless internet networks. So for example, if you are in a hotel with a weak wireless signal that you are having difficulty connecting to with your laptop or phone, the travel router will amplify the signal so you can connect more easily.

Here is an overview of the main features of a travel router:

• A travel router can extend the range of wireless networks, meaning you can connect to a network somewhere that you might not have been able to connect to with your device because the signal is too weak. The powerful antenna of a travel router can pick up this weak signal and amplify it so your devices can connect to it.

• The travel router also creates a secure wireless network at a public hotspot to better protect your devices. Often when travelling the networks we connect to are unsecured and unencrypted, which means anyone could in theory grab hold of passwords or other data that we send to and from the internet. Travel routers feature a firewall which protects your personal devices from known DoS attacks and port scans from the internet, giving you a more secure internet connection. However, it is still not recommended that you share sensitive information over a public connection. 

• A travel router allows you to connect multiple devices to a network, even with a single login. The travel router is seen by networks as a single device, so if you are only given one login, you can still use multiple devices. You just login once from the travel router via a web browser (or in some cases a provided smartphone app), and then all your devices can be connected to the network created by the travel router.

• Some travel routers can also be used as a wifi bridge. These have Ethernet ports so you can connect Ethernet-enabled devices wirelessly to an existing wifi network. These can include internet-ready TVs, Blu-ray players, and gaming consoles.

• Other features of travel routers may include the ability to connect to a wired network and turn that into a wireless network, to provide USB charging power to devices such as phones. to work without power, and even to act as an SD Card reader or media hub.

• Some travel routers can also act as mobile hotspots, but this is not common.

How much do travel routers cost?

Travel routers range in price from about £20 to £130, although more expensive models with more features are available. I recommend that most people look at ones in the £30 to £70 range, as these will work for most users.

If you have a small budget, you can get a decent travel router for around £30. If you need a travel router that also acts as a mobile hotspot or has other specialised features, then you will pay extra. Some of these can be upwards of £200.