No, most travelers don't strictly need one. If you carry a phone and maybe a laptop, stay in places with decent Wi-Fi, and don't stream to a TV, you'll be fine without it.
Security alone isn't a strong reason anymore. Most websites and apps now encrypt traffic, which is why the FTC says public Wi-Fi is usually safe for everyday browsing. A travel router won't stop phishing or a fake login page either.
When one earns its spot in your bag
- You travel with lots of devices. Families with tablets, laptops and phones hit hotel device limits fast. The router logs in once and the hotel counts it as a single device.
- You bring a streaming stick or console. Fire TV devices have supported captive portals since 2015, but the login pages still trip up a lot of hotel setups, and consoles like the Nintendo Switch are notoriously fussy. A router sidesteps all of that.
- You want a VPN on everything. Running a VPN such as NordVPN on the router covers devices that can't install VPN apps. That's handy for reaching home services or banks that flag foreign IP addresses.
- You work from the road. A stable private network, an Ethernet option and phone tethering make long stays and coworking easier.
- Hotel Wi-Fi is weak in your room. Plugging a router into a wired jack, where one exists, often beats the building's Wi-Fi.
The cheap way to find out
Entry-level models are inexpensive. GL.iNet's Opal lists at about $40 and the popular Beryl AX at about $99 on its US store. Several trips a year with three or more devices? Easy buy. If you travel light, skip it and use your phone's hotspot when hotel Wi-Fi misbehaves.