Most hotels provide a wide variety of amenities and services to make the stay of their guests as pleasing and comfortable as possible. To make their hotel stay more agreeable, some guests bring a variety of electronic devices with them.
You may find it difficult or nerve-racking to part ways with a smartphone, tablet, laptop or anything else that can help make life easier if you are a self-confessed techie or workaholic.
When traveling, you may wonder if your hotel will keep you from using your most trusted electronic devices.
So, can I use my own electronic devices in a hotel?
Various electronic devices, such as Roku, Chromecast or Amazon Fire Stick, can be used in a hotel. Some online ones, like a wireless router, may be challenging to connect to the hotel internet. Using certain electronic devices in a hotel is a bad idea, like portable cooking appliances, as they can set off smoke or fire alarms.
Having some of your favorite electronic devices with you on your trip is pretty much useless if you cannot use them in a hotel.
Furthermore, they can take up a lot of space in your luggage, which can lead to your paying a ridiculous excess baggage fee if they weigh a lot.
The good news is that it is possible to use the majority of your electronic devices in hotels. Continue reading to know more about this matter, especially if you are traveling soon.
A Quick Rundown of Various Common Electronic Devices
With so many electronic devices that you are planning to take with you on your upcoming trip, you may end up spending a lot of precious time checking which one of them you can use in a hotel and which ones you can’t.
Well, we did the work for you so that you don’t have to. Below you will come across a quick list of some of today’s most popular electronic devices. Check it out to know which of your electronic devices you can stash in your luggage.
| Device | Can I Use It In Hotel? |
|---|---|
| Smartphone | Yes |
| Tablet | Yes |
| Netbook | Yes |
| Laptop | Yes |
| Desktop | Yes |
| Bluetooth speakers | Yes |
| Smartwatch | Yes |
| Fitness band/tracker | Yes |
| PS4 | Yes |
| Roku | Yes |
| Chromecast | Yes |
| Amazon Fire Stick | Yes |
| Alexa | Yes |
| Siri | Yes |
| Cortana | Yes |
| Wireless/travel router | Yes |
| Portable medical devices | Yes |
| E-cigarette | No (in non-smoking hotel rooms) |
| Satellite phone | No (in some countries) |
| GPS tracker | No (in some countries) |
Because satellite phones and GPS trackers are banned in some countries, it goes without saying that it is illegal to use one in a hotel in any of those countries.
This is true even if, for some reason, the airport security wasn’t able to detect it. However, it is important to note that it is perfectly fine to use any electronic device with an integrated GPS feature.
Now, let’s get deep into details.
Lack of a Web Browser for Logging in is a Potential Issue
Bringing and using most electronic devices in a hotel is absolutely fine, including those that can or have to be connected to the internet.
This is especially true as hotel internet has become commonplace in this digital age.
To take advantage of the internet hotel, all you have to do is input your username and the password that the front desk will provide you with. Usually, this is done using a web browser.
And this brings us to a matter that can make it challenging to connect some electronic devices to the hotel internet, particularly those that do not have display panels and keyboards be it virtual or physical.
Without the ability to access a web browser, an electronic device may prove to be impossible to connect to the hotel internet, rendering it useless.
Fortunately, there are ways to deal with this issue. For instance, even though Chromecast doesn’t have a display panel and keyboard, it is still possible to use it in a hotel room that has the internet.
Such is with the help of a travel router.
Keep on reading to know why this little device is a definite must-have for any techie traveler.
The Best Solution: Getting Your Hands on a Travel Router
Just like what the name suggests, a travel router is an internet router that you can take with you wherever on the planet you go.
Provided that there is an internet that you can connect your travel router into, you can start using a variety of electronic devices that can be or have to be connected to the internet.
If you take a look at the appearance of a travel router online, you may be surprised that it has neither a display panel nor a keyboard. Worry not because it is trouble-free to connect it to the hotel internet despite this.
TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
Just about any electronic device of yours that can access a web browser and thus connect to the hotel internet can be used to activate your travel router. It can be anything from a smartphone, tablet to a laptop.
Once online, the same device can be then used to connect the travel router to the hotel internet. Needless to say, once that you have carried this out successfully, you can start connecting your various electronic devices to your travel router.
Certain Items are Not Allowed or Prohibited to be Used
While there are many electronic devices that you can bring and use in a hotel, there are also some that you should not take with you when you check-in or use it in your hotel room.
This is especially true for those that can put you and the rest of the guests in danger, such as electronic devices that can cause a fire.
One common example is a portable cooking appliance. Especially if the hotel room doesn’t have a kitchenette, using it can cause the smoke or fire alarm to go off. What’s more, it can lead to a fire if you leave it unattended.
Although it is not an electronic device, it is a good idea for you to know that, in some hotels, a firearm is not allowed. Hotels may put such a policy on their websites, in the lobbies, or at the front desks.
Refrain from bringing your pet with you if you have booked at a hotel with a no-pet policy.
Once any member of the hotel staff finds out that you have sneaked a pet into your room, you will be asked to remove the animal from the premises.
The hotel may also charge you for any damage or cleaning that has resulted from sharing the room with your pet. Booking with a pet-friendly hotel is the way to go if you are about to travel with a pet.
Just Before You Use Your Own Electronic Device in a Hotel
Most hotels don’t mind that their guests bring and use an assortment of electronic devices in their rooms. This is especially true if they are essential for carrying out leisure activities or work-related tasks.
However, certain electronic devices, such as those that produce smoke and are a fire hazard, are not allowed to be used in hotels. As mentioned above, it is a bad idea to bring some of your possessions with you to a hotel.
If you are planning on using your electronic devices in your hotel room, it is a good idea to research beforehand how you can connect them to the hotel internet. This is to avoid any problems that can lead to stress, which can easily ruin your trip, whether for business or pleasure.
Getting in touch with the hotel before you book is a great idea if you have questions or concerns with the use of electronic devices.
Doing so allows you to do the necessary step: either you will just have to leave your electronic devices at home, or book with another hotel that permits the use of your prized possessions.
No matter the case, doing your research beforehand can help keep unnecessary problems at bay, allowing your trip to go without a hitch.
Related Questions
Can I use my electronic devices anywhere in the hotel?
In some hotels, the use of electronic devices, particularly distracting ones, are prohibited in some areas, such as the spa or pool. As a matter of fact, many hotels are offering all sorts of amenities to encourage their guests to undergo the so-called digital detox.
If there are smart homes, are there smart hotels?
These days, there are a handful of smart hotels in various places on the planet, such as Las Vegas, Singapore, and London. While more and more hotels are willing to embrace the idea of turning themselves into smart hotels, unfortunately, many are unsure of how to implement it.
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