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I’m an obsessive streamer, and that’s partly why my Roku Streaming Stick 4K is packed in my suitcase before any clothes or toiletries.
For context: I know the Airbnb I’m staying at has TV and Wi-Fi, so I know I won’t need more than the Roku. Also, I was going with a friend who likes two of the same shows I do, and they’re about to start new episodes: The Practice and Harley Quinn.
But while some may think packing my own Roku might be overkill, I know it’s the right call. And, wouldn’t you know it, I was right. So I thought I’d explain two big reasons why I always bring the rock. Sure, if streaming isn’t that important to you—you’re on vacation, your time—you can skip it. But if you’re as unhealthy a fan of TV as I am, here’s what you need to know.
Entering a password once
Say your hotel or Airbnb has a decent TV, even a smart TV. That TV may even have its own streaming device (more on that in a minute). But the real reason I found room for the Roku Streaming Stick 4K dongle in my suitcase is simple: Your host or hotel might not be able to offer you streaming services included.
So when I plugged my Roku into that TV all I needed was to find the wifi password and enter that into the menu. Then, I logged into every app I signed up for, and definitely used it.
Thursday and Friday, as I mentioned above, I was watching a lot of HBO Max for the first and third episodes of Harley Quinn season 3. But that was at night.
When we hang out at Airbnb in the morning (I’m an early bird) or when we go back to bed mid-afternoon, I’ve been watching YouTube Premium, which is the lowest monthly subscription fee I pay. If you don’t know about YouTube Premium, it removes the ads from YouTube videos – legally. I know some people use ad blockers, but that’s not for me.
Then, on Saturday night, when we got home from the event we were at (WWE’s SummerSlam 2022), we opened the Peacock again because we wanted to watch some matches on TV.
Oh, and if you have Sling, YouTube TV, or other great cable TV options, bringing your own streaming device from home means quick access to your DVR. The variety of streaming services you use in any given week makes this even more urgent.
Rokus are better than hotel Wi-Fi (at least for me).
But what if you are in a hotel? Hotel Wi-Fi is trickier than regular Airbnb Wi-Fi, as there are screens where you enter your hotel room information and such. And streaming sticks don’t play well with those.
That said, during a recent weekend at a hotel, I found that Rokus work perfectly with hotel Wi-Fi. This is a case where your-mileage-may-vary, but in my testing, the Chromecast couldn’t connect to the network with Google TV and Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
You may not actually own a Roku. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K might be our pick for the best streaming device, but for side-loaded apps you might choose Fire TV, or Chromecast for whatever reason.
Either way, packing a streaming stick means you’re not dependent on your hotel room’s choice of channels and over-demanding video content.
Outlook: Make your vacation easier
You might think your phone is the only gadget you need on vacation. But I don’t think “watching a video on a small screen” is vacation time. If you know your hotel or Airbnb has a big TV, use it.
I can make any room feel like home by packing my own Roku on the go. Or at least I don’t have to type in my extra long passwords that I have stored in one of the best password managers.
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