Upfront/GO
TV While Traveling
These days, you might need to log in to watch your shows in a hotel room
HOTEL ROOM TVs used to be so easy: Turn on the set, flip through channels, watch. But the rise of streaming services is making in-room entertainment more complicated. To watch what appeals to you, you might need to log in to your own accounts.
• Remember your passwords. Viewers often forget them because they are continuously logged in at home. Memorize or write down passwords before you go on your trip.
• Log in on the TV. The hotel TV may have built-in apps for streaming services or use a set-top box. Using the remote control, select a service and log in. You might need to use your phone to scan a QR code that comes up on the screen, then verify your account.
• Log out before checkout. On checkout day, the TV should reset, wiping clean all account information. “We’re contractually obligated to do that with the Netflixes of the world,” says Scott Hansen, a hospitality operations executive who spent 22 years with Marriott. But it’s still a good idea to log out for peace of mind.
But what if the hotel TV doesn’t support the streaming service you want to watch?
There are a couple of other options:
• Casting. Some hotel chains have sets that let you wirelessly play what’s on your phone, tablet or laptop on the larger screen. One benefit is that you don’t need to log in on the TV. But getting the cast to work can sometimes be frustrating and may require a little technical know-how.
• Connecting a laptop to the TV. To do this, you may need to bring an HDMI cord to plug into the TV. And you may need to change the input on the TV remote and adjust your laptop’s display settings. —Chris Morris