Reddit mentions of TP-LINK TL-WR810N Wireless Wi-Fi Travel Router w/ Access Point/ TV Adapter/Repeater/Hotspot (WISP) Modes, Up to 300Mbps

I travel with this router

TP-Link N300 Wireless Wi-Fi Mini Router, Range Extender, Access Point, Client Modes (TL-WR810N) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CVOLGOG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L4v2xbEWAMTHQ

It has the ability to rebroadcast a wifi network under a different name. You hook it up and you authenticate with your phone and the routers Mac address is what's registered with the hotel and then you connect your Chromecast to it.

This is an issue with the chromecast too. The only solution I was able to find was to get a router that is capable of storing your credentials and connecting the chromecast to that router. This might also work for home.

Edit: this is the router I used: TP-Link N300 Wireless Wi-Fi Mini Router with Range Extender/Access Point/Client/Bridge Modes (TL-WR810N)

Edit 2: link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CVOLGOG/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479961559&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

Travel a lot as well. Best purchase I made for this purpose was a travel router. I use the TP-Link N300 because it has the plug built into the unit.

Go into the router firmware, connect to the hotel Wi-Fi network, use any device with a web browser connected to the router to go through the browser-based authentication, all devices are good to go.

Currently have a Roku Stick as my primary travel device, but it also works with a Chromecast without issue. And, while it may be obvious that this would work there as well, all the equipment in this setup works equally well in both the US and Europe.

It seems most "range extenders" do have an AP Access Point mode, for instance the three Netgear models compared here: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-N300-Range-Extender-EX2700/dp/B00L0YLRUW/

Another search option is to look for "travel routers", some have the prongs built right in: 1, 2, 3

I have used TP-Link N300 on my trips. I have also used this as a range extender/bridge at some places I stayed in. Another option you can look into is NETGEAR Trek PR2000 Travel Router

Correct. There are several ways you could do it, depending on how things are currently set up and your preferences, but that's essentially what you'd do. You'd need a device that can join the existing network as a client, and then act as a router itself so clients can join it.

Something like this would be a simple way to do it. You could either use it as an AP, or use the Ethernet out to connect to another device/switch.

If you feel DIYish you could do something similar with custom firmware on a standard router, or install software on a computer like pfSense. Lots of options, but yeah get off that shared network.

Right. For this trip any amount of productivity will make me look good, honestly. I'm wondering about one of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CVOLGOG or mobile hotspot making it a more viable option

This is exactly what I ended up doing. Bought a [TP-Link TL-WR810N] (https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wireless-Router-Extender-TL-WR810N/dp/B01CVOLGOG/) and set it up in "client" mode to effectively give me a wired Ethernet port where ever I wanted one. Works like a charm.

ok ... so saying this back to you to make sure I understand ... since I want wifi in the garage without dropping an ethernet run from the house ...

I'll need either a router that can connect over wifi and provide a wifi bridge using WISP. Something like this.
Or, I can get a WRT54GL router, load tomato firmware and connect a Pi via ethernet to act as an access point.
Is that right?

I have this one, they also have other cheaper ones but I got this one on sale for like $10