HotelChatter's Annual Hotel Wi-Fi Report 2010 157
Ant writes with this excerpt from an annual review of wireless access for hotel guests: "This year marks HotelChatter's sixth annual hotel Wi-Fi report. Over the years we've documented the progression of hotel Wi-Fi, from blatant disregard, to price-gouging for Wi-Fi access, and reliable Wi-Fi for loyalty program members, through guests taking matters into their own hands with wireless laptop/notebook cards and 3G access. A year ago, we thought guest demand for free, reliable, hotel Wi-Fi might just go away, thanks to 3G, but today, a growing number of hotel guests not only demand the hotel they book have proper wireless access, but most will consider not staying at a hotel that can't meet their basic access needs. That's right, Wi-Fi is a make or break amenity for many hotel guests that can sway booking decisions — and that isn't going away."
Close the barn door, Martha! (Score:2, Insightful)
I find it ironic and more than a little insulting when certain hotels (ones that typically charge high room rates) try to gouge an insane amount of money for wifi from travellers when free wifi is all but the nearest coffee shop away. Why do these places, many of which cultivate an air of "our service separates us from the other rabble", treat their customers with such contempt when it comes to wifi? One would think they would do anything to keep what business they have and actively work to get more customers (especially when just about every small mom and pop B&B has free wifi!).
ps. Hyatt Regency Vancouver, I'm looking at you! (benefit of the doubt: that was a couple of years ago)
Most Expensive Hotels Price Gouge on the Wi-Fi (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Price gouging (Score:5, Insightful)
Went to Disney this year. Not only did Buena Vista Suites charge $10 a day for wifi, the speeds were only 1 megabit down (~150 kBps)
The revelation that Disney gouges everyone who sets foot on their property is hardly new.
Re:roaming (Score:4, Insightful)
Domestic roaming is included in most 3G plans.
International roaming, of course, is a complete racket.
Expensive hotel := bad WIFI, cheap motel := good (Score:5, Insightful)
The funny thing I've noticed is, the cheap motels (Motel 6, Super 8, Econolodge) pretty much all offer decent WiFi for no additional charge - even the little mom-and-pop motels are offering free WiFi.
On the other hand, the big boys - the Sheraton's, the Hiltons, etc. - that I've stayed in all either a) have no WiFi at all, just wired Ethernet into a DSL-like system running on POTS cat-3 wiring (and often only for pay) or b) have WiFi but charge you for it.
It seems to me the places where you are staying on Other People's Money (places that cater to business travelers who expense the trip) are gouging on WiFi, the places where you are staying on your own dime all recognize WiFi as a competitive point.
I know that when I am traveling on my own money - you don't have free WiFi, I don't stay with you if I have a choice, and I almost ALWAYS have a choice.
Marriott charges for Internet (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Hotels are For Suckers (Score:1, Insightful)
But will the couch-surfing host complain if I watch porn and masturbate? Because that's what I like to do in hotels.
Re:Hotels are For Suckers (Score:3, Insightful)
Of course, for business trips and the like, that kind of thing may not work out. However, I've often found that corporate overlords dictate hotel choices when flying for business anyways so its not like you get to make the choice based on internet or any other thing that you value.
Depends what your job is. Hotels are part of job perks, and you shouldn't understimate the value of a good hotel/expense allowance when considering a new job.
Reviewing and negotiating the travel policy before you sign up for the job can mean the difference between sleeping in a Best Western and wanking to MTV, and having the St. Regis bar fix you a quick sandwich if you get there at 1AM because of delayed flight or late night with the customer.
For the past two years, I've been traveling abroad an average of 2-3 weeks per month. It may sound stupid, but one of the few ways to keep your sanity is by being allowed to stay in hotels that have the same standards everywhere. There's nothing more disgusting and utterly demotivating than having to sleep in a bed where you wonder if the sheets have been changed.
In other words, if you have to travel a lot, and the company won't pay for proper accomodation, it's time to take your ass (literally) elsewhere.
The same rule applies to personal travel; if you have to lower your standards in order to get away, maybe you shouldn't be getting away, you should just get creative. I've done a bit of couch-surfing, especially when I was a student, and it just doesn't work as a couple. You're often in the middle of the living room of a 60 sq ft flat, and you wake up everytime the host goes for a piss, or because he's a street cleaner and goes to work at 3AM. Granted, I never did it when I was single, and the website wasn't as popular and overflowing with offers as it is now, but heck, I'm not a student anymore. I can pay for a decent hotel and not eat Ramen Noodles for the rest of the month.
Re:Hotels are For Suckers (Score:5, Insightful)
Lots of things that sound stupid when you're young and poor turn into no-brainer decisions when you move into six figures.
Re:Hotels are For Suckers (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hotels are For Suckers (Score:2, Insightful)