Everything You Need To Travel With A Roku

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If you own an external Roku streaming device, like the Roku Ultra or an older Roku Express, here's a pretty novel idea. You can bring your Roku along while traveling to always have access to your favorite streaming services and accounts. It's also a cheap way to get access to entertainment when you're away from home. You can break away from basic cable or whatever a hotel might offer. If you've followed any Roku TV streaming tips or customized your device, you'll bring all those settings with you, as well. But to do that, you may need to carry your Roku and a few extras.

Those extras include the obvious — an HDMI cable and power adapter — and various adapters so you can plug the Roku into any TV. If you don't have a spare, you should order an extra power adapter for your model. The official Roku Micro USB power adapter is a safe bet. You'll also want to carry an HDMI cable if you have the Roku Express or Ultra. HDMI has been the standard in modern TVs since the early 2000s, but if you happen to stay somewhere with an old analog set, you'll need an HDMI to RCA adapter. This BENFEI adapter on Amazon for $9 is a good option.

Don't forget to pack your remote, or pick up a spare for travel in case you lose it. You can also rely on the Roku mobile app for a digital remote instead, but your phone and Roku must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Besides the bare necessities, you may also want to throw a few optional additions into your pack. A portable display with an HDMI port lets you watch your Roku from absolutely anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. Grabbing one of the best budget or expensive portable monitors could work. For those, all you need is a portable power bank for power. You could also just spring for a fully-equipped system like the Monster Vision 2, which incorporates a screen, a battery, and speakers.

You can rely on your phone for a mobile hotspot or a travel router if you have limited data bandwidth. The TP-Link Wi-Fi 5 travel router or the TP-Link Roam 6 AX1500 travel router are solid examples. Bear in mind, you will still need public Wi-Fi access nearby if you use a travel router. They extend existing networks into a sort of private version. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi, as do restaurants, cafes, and short-term rental properties. Roku does have a built-in Hotel & Dorm Connect mode, specifically so you can use public networks that require you to sign in or authenticate through a browser before giving access.

If you're traveling in a van or have extra space, you can pack a portable power station for extended electricity options. There are a few accessible portable power stations that punch well above their price brackets. With select models, you could also pick up a portable solar panel to recharge the station when you stop for a break or pull off to camp.