As ynottony99 points out it is only good for the preferred sites and it is a cable modem.
You plug the cable TV line into the back of the cable modem and it also has an RJ45 jack on the back of the modem. You use a network cable (think of those bright colored cables blue, yellow, green etc.) to go betweent he cable modem and your laptop if it is equipped with an RJ45 jack.
If yo are not on a preferred site or your laptop is not equipped with an RJ45 jack you can go to the reception outpost and use phone lines there for dial up service.
If yo only have WiFi available, several of the larger hotels have WiFi hot spots (for a fee).
If you are just checking e-mail, some have reported that the business centeresx of the larger hotels will sometimes let you have a few minutes on a computer for free.