@TimWin if your Roku is a Stick model, you are out of luck. The Roku Stick will only work with a WiFi Direct model, so you need a genuine Roku remote. And depending on your model Stick, you might not even be able to buy one locally.
If you are traveling with any other Roku player, you can find very inexpensive universal IR remotes at many stores. I'm talking less than $10. Just make sure they list Roku as a supported device.
As you have found, the app will only work with a device that is connected to the same network. And even if your Roku was connected to the hotel WiFi, you still wouldn't be able to use the app, because the hotel is very likely running a security setting that blocks connected devices from seeing any other device on the network. And that's a security setting you don't want them to turn off.
Dan
Roku Community Streaming Expert
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