The best ways to stream movies & TV while traveling

Settling down with your favorite streaming service is one of the joys of modern travel, but it’s not always easy.

Depending on where you are, what devices you have, and how you’re traveling, you may need to take some extra steps. Here are some of the easiest ways to watch popular movies and TV shows while you’re away from home. 

1. Bring your own portable streaming device

Many hotels today feature smart TVs that allow guests to log into streaming services from the TV itself. However, one of the easiest and most secure ways to stream media in hotels while traveling is to bring your own small streaming device and plug it into the TV’s HDMI port. That’s because:
 

• Some hotels don’t have smart TVs, in which case you can’t log into the service from the TV.  
• Hotel smart TVs may not have all the streaming apps you want.
• Your own device can have all your streaming apps pre-installed. It can also keep you logged into those apps, so you don’t have to re-enter your password every time you check in to a new hotel room.
• You won’t need to remember to log out of apps before checking out of the hotel.
• Connecting a streaming device to hotel Wi-Fi, rather than your smartphone or tablet, limits the amount of personal information that could be stolen if the Wi-Fi isn't secure.

Many small streaming devices on the market are easy to fit in your luggage, including DIRECTV's Gemini Air device (available with DIRECTV connected via internet), Roku’s Streaming Stick, Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, and Google’s Chromecast.

If you’re a DIRECTV customer, these devices will also allow you to access your live TV streaming through the DIRECTV app anywhere in the U.S.¹ Plus, if you're a customer of DIRECTV connected via internet, you'll also have access to your Cloud DVR, letting you watch your recordings on your schedule even on the road.

2. Stream on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop

If you don’t mind watching on a smaller screen, your smartphone, tablet, or laptop can also be a portable streaming device. As with using a dedicated streaming device, this has the advantage of keeping your apps logged in as you travel and removing the need to log out of hotel TVs.

It’s also the most flexible option—you can stream anywhere you have data via cell network or Wi-Fi. That could be at a hotel, an airport, a train station, as a passenger on a road trip, and lots of other places.

There are some things to consider, though:

• Streaming uses a lot of cellular data. If you don’t have an unlimited data plan, you may run out.
• Streaming can also use a lot of battery, especially if the cell signal or Wi-Fi is spotty. Bringing a portable charging battery can mitigate this.
• Public Wi-Fi isn't always secure, even if the network requires a password. Using a VPN can help protect your data, but can also drain your battery faster and slow your download speed.
• If traveling internationally, you may have limited or no cell service, or your streaming service might not work—DIRECTV, for example, only works on U.S. networks (excluding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
• Even if your streaming service works, you might discover that certain movies and shows aren’t available to stream in that country like they are at home. While Netflix, Hulu, Max, and other streaming services will typically work while you’re abroad, the show you’re currently watching may not be available. 

3. Download content to a device before you go

Downloading your content ahead of time, rather than streaming it directly from the web at the moment you want to watch it, can make things much easier. This is the best option for trips where you don’t expect to have reliable internet, like at national and state parks, on flights, and on train journeys.

Streaming services often offer a download option in their respective apps. These downloads sometimes have time limits after which they expire, so be sure to check that if you’re traveling for more than a couple days.

As noted above, one of the quirks of traveling internationally is that many streaming services only have the rights to certain movies and TV shows in certain countries. This also applies to downloaded media. If your device notices it’s in another country where the streaming service doesn’t have the rights, it won’t be playable. Not sure if your content is available in the country you’re visiting? Consider keeping your device offline while using the app.

4. Take advantage of T-Mobile’s in-flight Wi-Fi

T-Mobile’s In-Flight Connection program gives eligible T-Mobile customers free Wi-Fi, including streaming where available, aboard several major U.S. carriers. You can also message all flight long where available. As of December 2023, in-flight connectivity is available on most T-Mobile partner airlines’ domestic flights, as well as on select international flights.

Unlimited In-Flight messaging, Wi-Fi, and streaming where available is included for T-Mobile customers on Go5G Next, Go5G Plus, and equivalent plans like Magenta MAX. Four full-flight Wi-Fi and streaming sessions where available each year, plus unlimited messaging and unlimited 1-hour in-flight Wi-Fi and streaming sessions where available are included on Go5G, and equivalent plans like Magenta. For now, tablets and laptops aren’t supported—only smartphones.³

Learn more about T-Mobile In-Flight Connection eligible plans and how to use it.

Logging into hotel TVs? Don’t forget to log out

In a pinch, using the streaming apps on hotel and other smart TVs while traveling is fine. The key is not to forget to log out of them when you leave. You don’t want the next guest changing your settings or messing with your recommendations. Plus, some streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ let you buy or rent movies with saved credit card information. Strangers could rack up charges for these services on your dime, if you let them.

Typically, streaming services allow you to remotely log out from devices you no longer have access to. If you’re logging into devices you don’t own while traveling, it’s worth checking where you’re currently logged in at the end of your trip to make sure you don’t accidentally forget to log out of any.