Networking review · ASUS partnership
ASUS RT-BE58 Go Review: My Family Travel Test
I took the ASUS RT-BE58 Go on a family trip to Cabo to find out whether a travel router actually made life easier, from phone tethering in the shuttle to getting our devices online at the hotel.
Steve's verdict
The biggest benefit was a more consistent connection routine for our devices. It still needs setup, power and luggage space, so I wouldn't call it essential for every trip.
Best for
Travelers managing several devices and a permitted shared internet connection.
Skip it if
This adapts my original video and test. Check current specifications, firmware support and prices before buying older equipment.
Original video
2026-04-18
Focus
ASUS RT-BE58 Go review
Article type
Hands-on review
What I like
- Connect the router once instead of repeating setup on every device
- Phone tethering was useful during travel
- Router-level VPN options fit my travel workflow
What to know
- Another powered device to carry
- Hotel login and setup still take work
- A travel router can't guarantee safety on public Wi-Fi
What I took it to Cabo to find out
This April 2026 video was made in partnership with ASUS. I wanted to test the router as part of an actual family trip, rather than leave it on a desk and list specifications. We carried it through the airport and shuttle and used it at the hotel. For a family with phones, tablets and a streaming device, the real question was whether connecting everything became less repetitive.
Sharing the phone connection during the drive
On the roughly 45-minute to one-hour shuttle journey, I tried tethering my phone to the router. The phone supplies the cellular internet connection; the travel router doesn't create cellular service by itself. This arrangement adds cables and power requirements, so a direct phone hotspot may be simpler when you're connecting only one other device. It becomes more interesting when you want several devices to use the same familiar travel network.
Getting the hotel connection running
At the hotel I used the laptop to walk through the router's connection settings. Once the router was online, the devices already configured for its Wi-Fi could join that network. That's the convenience I appreciate, especially on trips involving multiple hotels. It doesn't remove the hotel's login requirements or make a slow hotel connection fast. You still need to get the upstream connection working and follow the property's network rules.
The controls I actually explored
The walkthrough covers network profiles, parental controls, traffic information, VPN settings and the configurable side toggle. Those options made it feel like a small router with familiar controls rather than a basic extender. I also used a VPN during the trip and found the experience more consistent for services I normally use at home. That's a report of my trip, not a guarantee that a streaming service will work through a VPN or in every country.
Would I pack it again?
Yes, for the right trip. I liked having our devices on a known network and connecting the router to the available internet, rather than setting up each device again. But the downside is straightforward: it's another thing to carry, power and configure. A firewall or VPN is also not a blanket promise against hacking or unsafe downloads. If you're traveling light with one phone, keep the setup simple. If the whole family brings several devices, the extra preparation can be worthwhile.
Technical references
More networking guides and reviews
Travel Router on a Cruise: What Happened in My TestTP-Link Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router: My Road Trip TestGL.iNet Slate AX: My Travel Router Setup and ExperienceHow to Set Up a Home Network: My Beginner WalkthroughQuestions before you buy
Does the RT-BE58 Go include mobile internet?
In my tethering example the internet came from my phone. The router shared that connection; it didn't replace the phone's cellular service.
Will it speed up hotel Wi-Fi?
It can simplify connecting your devices, but the hotel's internet connection remains a limit.
Watch the full review