Comments on: Why Internet Access Isn’t Free for Travelers

By: Jeremy Toeman

Jeremy Toeman — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:07:06 +0000

Quux – it’s a good theory, only thing is, the airlines not only don’t own the airports, they pay them for it. There was a recent dispute between Boston Logan Airport and Continental Airlines because the airline had free access in their lounge, and Logan tried to make them shut it down…

By: quux

quux — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:47:53 +0000

I can’t comment on the hotel industry, but in airports it seems simple enough to notice that for a decade, all we’ve heard about is airline bankruptcies and failures.

Maybe they need the money?

By: tivoboy

tivoboy — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:43:48 +0000

answer:
stay at a wyndam hotel, or affiliate. Internet is always free, always has been.
nice hotels too.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:59:36 +0000

Without hearing it (time for a podcast), I’d never get the Rapper’s Delight reference… Though I do know it – notice my Gamer’s Delight post heading yesterday! I caught an interesting special on VH1 a year or so ago on how the Sugarhill Gang stole the lyrics which is why they reference people *not* in the band.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:54:47 +0000

By the way, here’s a list of airports with WiFi. A large percentage are free: http://www.travelpost.com/airport-wireless-internet.aspx

By: Jeremy Toeman

Jeremy Toeman — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:54:41 +0000

Dave – actually I don’t knock either Holiday Inn (it was a lyric reference – aren’t you a child of the 80s too??) or Marriott (I was referencing how it’s mostly a businessfolks’ hotel).

Of my travels in 2006, which were, shall we say, plentiful, I’d estimate that no less than 70% had paid-for Internet access. Furthermore, in Europe and Asia the rates jumped from ~9.99 per day to ~19.99 per day on average!

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:44:09 +0000

I was in two hotels over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

Holiday Inn in upstate New York had free wired connections in the room and free wireless int he common areas which extended into our room. Connectivity speed was good, though I don’t feel very secure.

Hilton Times Square charged for broadband, so I used my phone as an EVDO modem which was fine.

More often than not, the hotels I’ve visited in the last year have offered free connections… though I’m prepared with EVDO and T-Mobile Hotspot if needed.

PS You knock both Holiday Inn and Marriott, both of whom seem to offer more free Internet than the others… “Enjoy the convenience of FREE High Speed Internet Access at every Holiday Inn Express hotels in the U.S. and Canada.”