Comments on: Marriott to offer free Wi-Fi in hotel lobbies http://www.elliott.org/blog/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/ The travel troubleshooter. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:12:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mekhong Kurt http://www.elliott.org/blog/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/comment-page-1/#comment-10037 Mekhong Kurt Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:28:34 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/#comment-10037 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. 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 http://www.elliott.org/blog/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/comment-page-1/#comment-2394 Sonia Vining Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:03:12 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/#comment-2394 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. 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 http://www.elliott.org/blog/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/comment-page-1/#comment-2393 Linda Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:09:40 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/#comment-2393 I hope one day soon to be reading an article announcing free (or at least reasonably priced) wifi on cruise ships. I hope one day soon to be reading an article announcing free (or at least reasonably priced) wifi on cruise ships.

]]> By: Marilyn http://www.elliott.org/blog/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/comment-page-1/#comment-2392 Marilyn Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:14:05 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/#comment-2392 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 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 http://www.elliott.org/blog/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/comment-page-1/#comment-2391 Phil Day Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:57:32 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/marriott-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-hotel-lobbies/#comment-2391 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! 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!

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