I've been using this for quite a few years now and I'm sure there are better improved ones on the market.

It can accept internet connection wired or wirelessly. And it can route it wirelessly to a few devices.

I can share internet with my laptop. But the main advantage of the router is that I can leave it plugged in from the time I checked in until we're about to leave at check-out. I don't lock it up like the laptop. If I want to quickly access email/Skype with my iphone, I can do it quickly. I don't have to wait for the laptop to boot up to share the internet connection.