"But I can connect at hotspots just fine," you say, "so why do I need a travel router?" Good question. The short answer is that with a travel router, you can create your own hotspot where none exists, unwiring yourself as well any friends, family, or colleagues lucky enough to travel with you. Even better, that hotspot can be encrypted for security, unlike most public hotspots. And since all travel routers are simply compact versions of regular Wi-Fi routers, they can also do double duty at home as regular Internet routers or access points -- just add an Ethernet switch if you need more wired ports. Read on for our top five reasons to buy a Wi-Fi Travel Router.

1. Cut the Hotel Room Cord

The top reason most people buy a travel router is to unwire hotel or conference rooms, which usually have only Ethernet jacks available. Instead of being chained to the hotel desk, now you can lounge on the bed and watch TV while you surf, or invite colleagues into your room to share one Internet connection, which often costs $15 per day. Most travel routers have a feature that lets you limit the antenna power, so that the signal doesn't range outside the room. This is a great security feature. Also be sure to turn on encryption. By creating your own secure network in your room, you won't be subject to the hazards of public Wi-Fi.

2. Unwire the In-Laws

If you frequently stay with Wi-Fi-less friends and family, a travel router is also a great way to share your host's Internet connection without monopolizing it or camping out in their office. By adding your access point to their wired network, a simple matter of plugging the router into an available Ethernet jack in most cases, you can then provide Wi-Fi for that holiday crowd. And if they don't have broadband, there are also travel routers that unwire dialup connections. We bet that once you show them how Wi-Fi works, they'll want it too! We often just bring along an inexpensive standard router as a housegift and leave it there in anticipation of our next visit.

3. Free Your Wi-Fi PDA or Smartphone

Your laptop is not the only thing with Wi-Fi. Plenty of Wi-Fi devices lack Ethernet ports, such as Pocket PCs, Palms, and smartphones. Kodak's new Wi-Fi digital camera is another. If you're in a location with an Ethernet jack, but no Wi-Fi, a travel router is the easiest way to get these other devices connected. Furthermore, your laptop and PDA can share one hotel room Ethernet jack, saving broadband fees.

4. Share Your Paid Hotspot Connection

You can save even more fees by using a router that lets you share a paid hotspot connection. Just one of these marvels is available thus far, but we expect others to appear soon. With this capability, the router acts simultaneously as a Wi-Fi adapter and access point, connecting to the hotspot's Wi-Fi connection, then redistributing that bandwidth to multiple computers or PDAs. Not only will you save on hotspot fees, you can create a secure encrypted subnet with a firewall, and connect devices that normally would not be able to log in at a hotspot, such as Wi-Fi VoIP handsets (more on these below!).

5. Make Free VoIP Calls

If you have VoIP at home, you know how much you can save on your phone bills. With a VoIP adapter plugged between your home router and regular telephone handset, you can get unlimited U.S. local and long distance calling for as little as $15 per month. But what happens when you go on the road? With a Wi-Fi VoIP handset, available now from several vendors, you can use VoIP in your London or Moscow hotel room just like you do at home. Furthermore, friends and family can call you at your local home number, no matter where you are.

But in order to do so, you need to be connected to the Internet, and these handsets can't login in at public hotspots. Nor do they have Ethernet jacks. A travel router can solve both problems, letting you make calls anywhere you can find a hotspot or broadband jack. Current Wi-Fi handsets only work with standards-based VoIP services like Vonage, but a Skype Wi-Fi handset will ship soon from Netgear. For more on VoIP, see our Complete Guide to VoIP services.