How often have you checked into a hotel room, plugged in your laptop and immediately been hit up for about $10 just to access your e-mail?
Traveling execs can rarely take to the road without knowing they’ll be able to access the Internet, but the pricetag for that access is just one more charge on top of all the others that make business travel so expensive.
The cost: usually about $10 a day, but can be as high as $20 in some upscale or luxury hotels.
The solution? Many road warriors are opting to use their own wireless connection, provided by their cellphone carrier and requiring a small USB key. Cost: About $60 per month – but for those who travel more than six days a month, a bargain.
In some cases, corporate travel managers are having luck in negotiating Web access as a part of the corporate rate a hotel or chain charges their company. The key: Making sure that all travelers know they’re entitled to the free access and making sure it’s not inadvertently billed for it.
Of course, most hotels offer free WiFi in their lobby areas or sometime in their restaurants. The frugal business traveler can park in these spots and use the Web for nothing. But public WiFi is also something of a risk. It can be a prime spot for hackers and cyberthieves who lurk in the corners, sniffing passwords and checking out confidential data.
Travelers who don’t need or appreciate the amenitites of luxury hotels can opt for mid-priced chains that include Internet access in the rate (like Marriott Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn and Hyatt Place).
And it’s a good idea to sign up for those “loyalty” programs hotels have. Some offer free Internet access if guest shows their membership card at check in.
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Tags: access, free, hotel, Internet, USB, WiFi
February 26th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
If it’s just for email – not elaborate music or video downloads – don’t forget the old dialup!
Many hotels have low-cost (or even free!) local phone calls. Hardware requirements are a simple phone cord (2-pair wires) with standard RJ-11 jacks (same as on your home phone) and either dialup numbers from your carrier or webmail from your hosting service.
For short sessions – usually 20- to 30-minutes – the frugal roadwarrior can save a bundle for (next to) nothing.
Cox Ferrall, CMC FIMC
February 26th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I used to be able (8 to 10 years ago) to patch in to my computor with a card that had a cord to my cell phone that did not require any monthly service. This went to my dial up number. Anything like that still available? It was slow but worked fine for email. Having just got nailed last weeek for the $10 for one night I am looking again!
Larry
February 26th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Does anyone really use dial-up any longer? I think I would be frustrated beyond imagination waiting for an email to download. Just my thoughts. If the trip is that short and its only email, then use your phone or PDA. Anything beyond that, then its worth the cost of paying for the service or subscribe as they suggested in the article above to a service offered by most carriers.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Buy your Starbucks with a Starbucks card and surf for free. A registered Starbucks card gets you free Internet access at cafes coast to coast. There is an iPhone app to find a Starbucks wherever you’re at…and you can be sure that one is most likely just around the corner.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
With all due respect, I think Frank G misses the point. If we are using a laptop and if we are trying to AVOID the steep hotel on line service charges, then a free (or cheap) local phone call is a good option. Perhaps Frank is a man of means!
Cox Ferrall, CMC FIMC
February 26th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
If you have AT&T broadband Internet at home then you should be able to connect to AT&T wi-fi hotspots using your AT&T email address & password. No Starbucks card necessary.
February 28th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Many phone carriers have the ability to let you use your lap top at certain hot spot locations without incurring additional fees. I know AT&T gets me to log onto their wifi systems at Starbucks and some other fast food restaurants. My point earlier was that I would be too frustrated in waiting on dial-up to do my work. There are many options available nowadays that we do not have to pay the extra fees charged by hotels that would make it worth looking into. Its not a matter of being ‘of means’ its a matter of convenience and what am I willing to do do for this convenience and what is my time really worth.