I just got back from Amsterdam and was pleasantly surprised the hotel we stayed in had free wifi covering the entire hotel area and did not make this a paid service (in July, for example, I stayed at a 5 star hotel in Spain and they made you pay for the wifi). I think in this day and age, making guests pay for wifi is becoming a bit like making guests pay for electricity or water in their rooms - it is becoming a service that is expected and should not be charged extra.
So my question is - is this trend (hopefully) spreading and if so, how fast, in your part of the world?
I don't travel often and not sure I've ever stayed at a hotel that had free wi-fi(not that I'd have needed it before getting my tablet this year).
Don't think I ever payed extra for wifi in a swedish hotel. Only place that I can think of that still charges a specific fee for wifi is when I travel by train 2nd class (in 1st class it's included).
I also find myself using my phone as a hotspot more often so I think landline access when traveling is getting less and less of an issue. I can imagine it being nice to have when traveling abroad though to keep from getting ruined by roaming charges.
The EU would garner some much-needed popularity if it cracked down on those extortionate roaming charges.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 03, 2012, 03:24:06 AM
The EU would garner some much-needed popularity if it cracked down on those extortionate roaming charges.
It already did.
Of course I don't expect a British to know about it. :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_on_roaming_charges_in_the_European_Union
I don't stay in five star hotels even on business trips, but I noticed that free wifi becomes more usual in the hotels I stay in. Sometimes it's still limited to a certain volume or to just 30 minutes or whatever.
Quote from: Zanza on October 03, 2012, 03:26:24 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 03, 2012, 03:24:06 AM
The EU would garner some much-needed popularity if it cracked down on those extortionate roaming charges.
It already did.
Of course I don't expect a British to know about it. :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_on_roaming_charges_in_the_European_Union
It's not that RH is British, it's that he doesn't have a mobile phone. You can't cross a border without an automated text telling you about rates - it never exceeds £4 a day for British phones in the EU.
To answer the original question, this year I stayed in one UK hotel for leisure and didn't even bother to see if it had wifi as my phone was sufficient, and two for work. One had free wifi that you had to ask for a new password for each day, the other charged but I got the password from reception by smiling sweetly.
Quote from: Zanza on October 03, 2012, 03:26:24 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 03, 2012, 03:24:06 AM
The EU would garner some much-needed popularity if it cracked down on those extortionate roaming charges.
It already did.
Of course I don't expect a British to know about it. :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_on_roaming_charges_in_the_European_Union
I knew that there had been some improvements, but not the extent of them. The articles I read focussed on the immediate price reductions rather than the (more important) future phases of price harmonisation.
Hmmm..........I might get a mobile phone now :hmm:
Haven't had a hotel charging for wifi in years.
I've got mobile broadband built into my laptop, so I typically don't care whether or not wifi is free. In Chicago at least, some of the hotels I stay at do have free wifi, and others charge by the day.
I've no idea, I've never used wi-fi away from home or occasionally a friend's place, its too much of a hastle,
Quote from: Tyr on October 03, 2012, 05:54:34 AM
I've no idea, I've never used wi-fi away from home or occasionally a friend's place, its too much of a hastle,
:huh: When I connect my phone to wifi, it shows me a list of available networks and I tip one with my finger. How is that "too much of a hassle"?
Quote from: Zanza on October 03, 2012, 06:01:16 AM
Quote from: Tyr on October 03, 2012, 05:54:34 AM
I've no idea, I've never used wi-fi away from home or occasionally a friend's place, its too much of a hastle,
:huh: When I connect my phone to wifi, it shows me a list of available networks and I tip one with my finger. How is that "too much of a hassle"?
I agree in the case of a hotel, or if you're staying somewhere a while. But if you're just in a cafe then I'll often just use my phone rather than the hassle of getting a code etc.
I don't travel much but the hotel across the street has free wi-fi, so does the McDonald a little further down.
I can't think of the last time I paid for wifi at a hotel.
Almost every hotel I go to charges for wi-fi, unless you have a certain level membership in their loyalty programs. That said, I've also noticed that if I stay at the lower middle end of hotels, it is also generally free if they have it. I guess the middle-to-high end hotels have a lot of business travelers who if not in the loyalty program, will just expense it anyway.
Quote from: Sheilbh on October 03, 2012, 06:06:04 AM
But if you're just in a cafe then I'll often just use my phone rather than the hassle of getting a code etc.
Many places don't even have codes.
I have been known when between jobs to take my laptop to a high-end hotel and mooch about in the lobby or cocktail bar nursing a single cup of tea to grant a more luxurious surroundings to my job applications. And save on heating bills. The password is often the hotel name.
Pubs near train stations have taken drastic measures to stop non-customers using their loos. You only get the code for the door with purchase. The code changes every hour. They deserve to have desperate customers piss up their bar.
Quote from: Zanza on October 03, 2012, 06:01:16 AM
Quote from: Tyr on October 03, 2012, 05:54:34 AM
I've no idea, I've never used wi-fi away from home or occasionally a friend's place, its too much of a hastle,
:huh: When I connect my phone to wifi, it shows me a list of available networks and I tip one with my finger. How is that "too much of a hassle"?
Bothering with codes and sign ups and everything.
Plus having to haul my laptop around with me everywhere. I've got my phone so am fine for checking messages online and the point of travelling is to be too busy I dont have to mess around on the internet.
Most hotels I've stayed at in China have free wifi.
Even the shitty Yukon hotels I've stayed at, had free wifi (if they had wifi at all).
Quote from: Barrister on October 03, 2012, 09:01:33 AM
Even the shitty Yukon hotels I've stayed at, had free wifi (if they had wifi at all).
But that's kinda like what I said - as the cheaper hotels here generally have it free if they have wifi...presumably because no one at those cheaper hotels would actually pay for wifi if it came at a cost. On the flipside, I know that the Omni Hotel in Montreal definitely charges for wireless unless you are a member of their loyalty program.
I travel about once a month and always try to stay at a Hampton Inn, which has free wifi. If I'm traveling on my own dime and I'm not at Hampton I try to make do using wifi tether on my phone.
It seems as though the higher end places tend to charge for wifi. And have obnoxious bills for breakfast and parking. Most of that stuff can get waived if you have status or negotiate with the manager though (the latter is really annoying).
Never/don't know, the need for wifi just isn't on my radar.
Quote from: Pitiful Pathos on October 03, 2012, 08:12:48 AM
Most hotels I've stayed at in China have free wifi.
And I'm sure they got everything they needed from your laptop, whether they wanted it or not.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 03, 2012, 09:52:31 AM
Quote from: Pitiful Pathos on October 03, 2012, 08:12:48 AM
Most hotels I've stayed at in China have free wifi.
And I'm sure they got everything they needed from your laptop, whether they wanted it or not.
He lives in China, no? We need to worry when he comes back.
Quote from: Brazen on October 03, 2012, 03:42:01 AM
Quote from: Zanza on October 03, 2012, 03:26:24 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on October 03, 2012, 03:24:06 AM
The EU would garner some much-needed popularity if it cracked down on those extortionate roaming charges.
It already did.
Of course I don't expect a British to know about it. :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_on_roaming_charges_in_the_European_Union
It's not that RH is British, it's that he doesn't have a mobile phone. You can't cross a border without an automated text telling you about rates - it never exceeds £4 a day for British phones in the EU.
To answer the original question, this year I stayed in one UK hotel for leisure and didn't even bother to see if it had wifi as my phone was sufficient, and two for work. One had free wifi that you had to ask for a new password for each day, the other charged but I got the password from reception by smiling sweetly.
The internet rates are quite high, still, though. At least from Polish mobile operators.
Never had to pay in Korea.
Charging me for wifi is like charging me for toilet paper or electricity. I hate it but sometimes have to stay in those hotels because of other reasons, e.g. price and location.
Quote from: Monoriu on October 03, 2012, 11:27:43 AM
Charging me for wifi is like charging me for toilet paper or electricity. I hate it but sometimes have to stay in those hotels because of other reasons, e.g. price and location.
So do you pay for it or do without?
I've never paid for Wifi in a Spanish hotel. Then again I don't go to 5 star ones.
Quote from: derspiess on October 03, 2012, 11:32:19 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on October 03, 2012, 11:27:43 AM
Charging me for wifi is like charging me for toilet paper or electricity. I hate it but sometimes have to stay in those hotels because of other reasons, e.g. price and location.
So do you pay for it or do without?
I'm not mono, but it depends. Sometimes there isn't a choice. If there is an internet cafe (or gasp! McDonalds) nearby that is an option. A hotel I recently stayed at had free wifi in the lobby, but charged about $20/day in the room. I got the code for the free lobby wifi, and it turned out it worked in my room. Problem solved.
I have never made my decision based on wifi. In fact I dont think I have known in advance whether it was free or not.
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 01:47:33 PM
I have never made my decision based on wifi. In fact I dont think I have known in advance whether it was free or not.
Only decision I've made is on whether or not they have wifi.
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:09:54 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 01:47:33 PM
I have never made my decision based on wifi. In fact I dont think I have known in advance whether it was free or not.
Only decision I've made is on whether or not they have wifi.
Thats why we would never get along. :hug:
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 02:11:36 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:09:54 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 01:47:33 PM
I have never made my decision based on wifi. In fact I dont think I have known in advance whether it was free or not.
Only decision I've made is on whether or not they have wifi.
Thats why we would never get along. :hug:
Because I want my hotel room to have internet? :huh:
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:14:26 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 02:11:36 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:09:54 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 01:47:33 PM
I have never made my decision based on wifi. In fact I dont think I have known in advance whether it was free or not.
Only decision I've made is on whether or not they have wifi.
Thats why we would never get along. :hug:
Because I want my hotel room to have internet? :huh:
Because free internet isnt my priority when I am selecting a hotel to stay at - If I am on business I require something with a location convenient to what I am doing on that trip. If it is meeting with clients it will be as close to their offices as possible. Most everything I need I can get by accessing the internet at those offices or on my cell.
If I am travelling for pleasure the last thing I want is a connection to the internet.
What do you do alone in your hotel room with that free internet anyway :P
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 02:18:14 PM
Because free internet isnt my priority when I am selecting a hotel to stay at - If I am on business I require something with a location convenient to what I am doing on that trip. If it is meeting with clients it will be as close to their offices as possible. Most everything I need I can get by accessing the internet at those offices or on my cell.
If I am travelling for pleasure that last thing I want is a connection to the internet.
What do you do along in your hotel room with that free internet anyway :P
But I was agreeing with you that I don't ever check to see ahead of time if the internet will cost extra or not - and in general I don't even know.
I was saying though that I have sometimes picked hotels based on the fact that they have wireless internet available (whether or not free). When crossing through America, there were plenty of hotels that did not.
Oh and I don't have a smartphone, so when traveling I need to be able to look things up before I got for the day. :)
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:20:36 PM
Oh and I don't have a smartphone, so when traveling I need to be able to look things up before I got for the day. :)
We all have smartphones Garbon. Its just that some of us dont need to look up things on the phone first thing. ;)
Clearly we don't all have smartphones if I just stated that I don't. :huh:
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:25:07 PM
Clearly we don't all have smartphones if I just stated that I don't. :huh:
But garbon, we
all have smartphones. :wacko:
Obamaphone!
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 03, 2012, 02:36:45 PM
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 02:25:07 PM
Clearly we don't all have smartphones if I just stated that I don't. :huh:
But garbon, we all have smartphones. :wacko:
Oh sorry. :blush:
Ok, I assumed that if even I had one everyone must have one by now. I stand corrected and I am now officially ahead of you youngsters on the tech curve.
Nice to know.
I have a smartphone, but it doesn't work everywhere, I don't want to use it for tasks such as flight/hotel/car reservations or travel research or paying bills, and I can't work off of it.
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 03:01:52 PM
Ok, I assumed that if even I had one everyone must have one by now. I stand corrected and I am now officially ahead of you youngsters on the tech curve.
Nice to know.
Touchpads are really the latest thing. ;)
CC, if your office has a lot of travel, having admins negotiate rates and this stuff can generate some big savings and perks.
Quote from: alfred russel on October 03, 2012, 03:31:29 PM
CC, if your office has a lot of travel, having admins negotiate rates and this stuff can generate some big savings and perks.
I get handed plain tickets and the rest of the info I need for the trip. The only criteria I set out is location. My secretary does the rest.
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 03:47:36 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on October 03, 2012, 03:31:29 PM
CC, if your office has a lot of travel, having admins negotiate rates and this stuff can generate some big savings and perks.
I get handed plain tickets and the rest of the info I need for the trip. The only criteria I set out is location. My secretary does the rest.
I wasn't getting at the booking process: if you figure out your office spends 300 nights in Toronto a year, if your firm as a process calls the top 3 preferred hotels and says, "this is our annual business and you can have all of it, but we want free internet, breakfast, and parking and reasonable laundry fees plus a quote for your best rate", my guess is your costs would come down quite a bit. If you don't do this already.
You make a good point.
But thankfully I dont have to spend that much time away. Some of my partners do have to travel a lot relative to me and they get more perks of frequent travel through points etc.
Quote from: Iormlund on October 03, 2012, 01:06:56 PM
I've never paid for Wifi in a Spanish hotel. Then again I don't go to 5 star ones.
Free wifi and desktop computers come standard in Korean love motels.
Quote from: derspiess on October 03, 2012, 11:32:19 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on October 03, 2012, 11:27:43 AM
Charging me for wifi is like charging me for toilet paper or electricity. I hate it but sometimes have to stay in those hotels because of other reasons, e.g. price and location.
So do you pay for it or do without?
Usually I do without, but sometimes I have to pay for it. Like when I need to confirm airline bookings.
Quote from: garbon on October 03, 2012, 07:47:08 AM
Almost every hotel I go to charges for wi-fi, unless you have a certain level membership in their loyalty programs. That said, I've also noticed that if I stay at the lower middle end of hotels, it is also generally free if they have it. I guess the middle-to-high end hotels have a lot of business travelers who if not in the loyalty program, will just expense it anyway.
Do you see the charge going away at high end hotels at some point in future? As I said in the OP, I think the tech level has progressed right now to the point where a wifi service is a must have and not an extra - so it is a bit like making your guests pay for water in the shower or electricity in the socket.
I noticed this change because it was for the first time I stayed at a somewhat good hotel (the new Hilton in Amsterdam - sure it is not 5 star, but it was not shabby) and it had both free wifi and, on top of that, an iMac with an internet connection in each room.
By the way isn't it funny how this is probably the Nth thread recently which is splurged all over by CC's passive aggressive "I'm rich so my life is completely different from yours, proles" posts? :D
Heh. I think CC has led a bit of a charmed life.
Quote from: Martinus on October 04, 2012, 01:20:20 AM
Do you see the charge going away at high end hotels at some point in future?
I don't know. I haven't really seen any evidence that the charges will be going away.
So at the front desk of my cheaply hotel tonight, they led with the fact that they have free wireless. :D
Me wonders why Tim is spending time in Korean 'love motels' :hmm:
Quote from: Jaron on October 04, 2012, 11:41:10 PM
Me wonders why Tim is spending time in Korean 'love motels' :hmm:
All Korean hotels below 4 star level are essentially love hotels, although three star hotels will sometimes put on a veneer of respectability if they're going for the foreign tourist market.
Quote from: crazy canuck on October 03, 2012, 01:47:33 PM
I have never made my decision based on wifi. In fact I dont think I have known in advance whether it was free or not.
I don't either, but I make my decision based on the presence of bullshit fees. It just rubs me the wrong way, because in effect it is deceptive advertising. I only stay in hotels with bullshit fees if my employer pays for it.
Never paid at hotels anywhere in Asia.
Quote from: Jaron on October 04, 2012, 11:41:10 PM
Me wonders why Tim is spending time in Korean 'love motels' :hmm:
Are those the ones that charge hourly rates?
I have heard that the Japanese love hotels at least are cheaper than regular hotels and very good quality for the price.
When I went to Nara I stayed in a place which used to be a love hotel but was trying to go respectable and it was cheap as sin, like £6 more than a capsule hotel, but seemed like a really pricey place.
I wouldn't know. Our ISPs have agreements with operators in most worthwhile places, so when I ramp up my laptop, I'll always connect to my ISP's partner and skip the hotel's wi-fi service altogether.
Some years ago, I did have some connection problems and asked the concierge of the hotel I was in (a Sheraton), about their WiFi, and they did charge... but IIRC it was all quite confusing and that I had to tell them when and for how long I'd surfed, or somesuch.
I'm not sure about all the details, but I DO recall that I just went up to the room, connected my laptop and forgot all about it. Didn't pay anything.
So Hilton charged me. Weston is not because of membership in their loyalty program - though my floor also mentions it is preferred guest floor. :D
I don't stay at hotels that are so classy you have to pay for wifi. :(
I miss having a job that let me stay at Westins. :(
I wonder if you can transfer Starwood points to another person.
You can transfer to airlines.