Comments on: Marriott to offer free Wi-Fi in hotel lobbies

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:33:52 +0000

I suspect one of the problems is, that rather than investing in internet/wi – fi themselves, many hotels contracted out to third parties, offering them the bulk of the fees in return for building and maintaining the wireless infrastructure.
These hotels are now left with either paying the providers out of their pockets or replacing the infrastructure in their hotels. A poor decision on the hotels’ part, particularly those who foolishly allow “hourly” connection rates.

I see some people here saying they like Holiday Inn Express in because they always have free wi fi. This might be true in Canada and the USA. However, I recently tried to book a room in a HI Express in the UK, and decided not to book because they had HOURLY fees for internet. It was about five rooms for three weeks. They didn’t get a single room night out of me.

You know, I don’t like the 15 dollar a night internet, but what really bothers me is if they charge that much and it is slower than dial up. If the internet is by the hour, then I don’t want to stay in the hotel at all.

By: Mekhong Kurt

Mekhong Kurt — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:28:34 +0000

It’s good travelers in the U.S. are being offered free wi-fi connections.

Just 12 or 13 years ago, the first Internet shop opened here in Bangkok. Now they’re ubiquitous, and more and more places are offering free wi-fi.

One enterprising restaurant owner here takes a two-pronged approach: for people with their own portables, the wi-fi connection is free — but for those who don’t have a portable available, there one desktop computer at the rear of the dining area. The charge for using the computer is about 3 cents/minute. But that’s fair, and no one objects, recognizing that the owners buy and maintain the equipment.

A few other places either have gone that route or the owners are considering it.

Heck, in some parts of Bangkok wi-fi connections are so dense that sometimes you can be in a place without it — but still hook up, because someone with a nearby connection openly makes it available within range to one and all.

By: Sonia Vining

Sonia Vining — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:03:12 +0000

I’ve always wondered why the “low-end” brands (e.g. Hampton and Hilton Garden Inn) offer free wi-fi, yet the “name” brands (Hilton and Conrad) can’t. Seems a little backwards, dontcha think? ;)

I hope you’re right, Chris. I’m sure I’m like most people who travel — either for business or pleasure. I can’t leave the laptop at home, and I don’t like having to pay $12/day for internet access. Europe is going the opposite direction; I just returned from Amsterdam, where 24 hours of connection time in my room at the Hilton would have cost me $36.90 (converted from 27 euros). Needless to say, I have a lot of e-mails to catch up on.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:09:40 +0000

I hope one day soon to be reading an article announcing free (or at least reasonably priced) wifi on cruise ships.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:14:05 +0000

Exactly why we always stay in Holiday Inns. Free Internet IN THE GUEST rooms and free breakfast. Even if it runs a few dollars more than some other hotel in the same city, we save. And Priority Points add up fast for free nights. This year we have had over eight free nights at Holiday Inns with our points.
We travel a lot for business and it pays to stay where I have internet in the room.

And how is their customer service? At one recent incident the Holiday Inn in Asheville couldn’t get their internet working in the hotel rooms. They made the calls for me and secured the same rate at another one down the road for me to go to. They went the extra mile for me.

Marilyn

By: Phil Day

Phil Day — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:57:32 +0000

I have been staying, off and on at LaQuinta and Holiday Inn Express for a year or so. These folks offer complementary wi-fi in room! So nice to check the web in my jammies!