Expensive Hotels and Costly Internet Access
Okay, I just have to get this off my chest… One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to travelling is that the more a hotel costs, the less likely it is to have free internet access. When’s the last time you walked into a value hotel and were asked to pay $9.95/day for internet access? It’s just not that common. But jump up a few notches in price and the likelihood of having to pay for your access jumps up accordingly. I have a good idea why this is — high end hotels attract more business travellers, and they can simply put it on their expense account — but it still bugs the crap out of me.
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I completely agree. I went to a developer’s conference at the Argent Hotel in San Francisco last year and they charged $14.95 per 24 hours of internet access. AND IT WASN’T EVEN WIRELESS!!! They provided a broken ethernet cable that barely reached to the bed, and I had to make sure I didn’t move to much or else risk pulling the cord out.
You would think a hotel hosting 600 geeks would give some type of deal. However, the hotel is switching over to a Westin, so maybe things will improve. I won’t be going back to them anyway though.
Comment by Clever Dude — Feb 1st 2007 @ 10:53 amhahahaha I bitched about the same thing the last time I stayed at a hotel… nickel and diming me for stuff that should be “included.”
Comment by jim — Feb 1st 2007 @ 11:12 amMy wife and I love using priceline for our vacations. We’ve gotten some incredible rooms at incredible rates that way. But we’re about ready to quit telling it we’ll take 4 star hotels and stick with the 3. Internet is extra ($10), parking is extra ($20), local phone calls might be extra (cellphones save the day). Heck you even get free breakfast at a lot of 3 star hotels which saves us plenty of money.
Plus, my wife doesn’t care for the “floofiness” of some the more expensive hotels.
Comment by Norm — Feb 1st 2007 @ 11:21 amIt bugs the crap out of me too! Even though my company will pay the extra charge for Internet access, I often choose less fancy hotels because I know I’ll save money. (And usually get free breakfast too!)
Comment by Erica — Feb 1st 2007 @ 11:37 amIn November, I spent a week in the Albuquerque Hyatt grumbling about the same thing! Geez, if the Motel 6 can do it on $39 a night…!
And be careful not to touch that $6.95 fancy bottle of water on the night stand!
There’s an entire hotel economy making huge margins thanks to the “expense account.”
Comment by geo — Feb 1st 2007 @ 3:31 pmThis is why we almost always try to stay at a Hampton Inn…free continental breakfast, and free internet.
Comment by SteveK — Feb 1st 2007 @ 6:54 pmHello, found your blog through Consumerist.
There are ways to get around having to pay for internet at hotels, depending on the type of authentication system the hotel uses. Many authenticate by MAC address, which is basically a “unique” identifier given to your network card. However, there are programs which will let you scan the network for other MAC addresses that are already authenticated. And then there are programs that allow you to spoof another MAC address (such as one of the ones found to be authenticated), so that the network will see you as a MAC address it has already authenticated. And voila, free internet!
Comment by Liz — Feb 1st 2007 @ 10:02 pmYep, going after all the business travellors bucks that they can extract. Most companies have a limit on what they will pay for a hotel room. However, the “extras” can still be expensed, so there you have it. A hotel stay that would trip a $200 limit can become $230 with the extra internet/parking fees and not exclude a business travelor because of corporate spending limits or per diem limits.
Sneaky? Yeah. Works? You bet!
Except while the bay area was in melt-down, and you could pick up 5 star rooms for $80 a night in 2003.
Comment by D — Feb 2nd 2007 @ 1:14 amI stayed at the Marriot for a conference - and they do charge for their internet. However, if you join their miles program, the internet is free - and they will even credit the miles to any other program that you have joined already, so that worked out pretty well for me
Comment by Sachin — Feb 3rd 2007 @ 2:57 pmI always try to find hotels with free wifi or hotels that are near cafes that have free wifi.
I agree that its highway robbery.
Comment by Savvy Steward — Feb 3rd 2007 @ 4:50 pmFluffy Towels, upgraded bathroom amenities, upgraded beddings, free breakfst, free WI-Fi or high speed internet acess, free use of business centers, free parking most places……….stay at any of the following hotels…
Best Western, Comfort suites, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inns.
Thaye are as good as or better than 5 stars, unless you are looking for marble lobbies, high end bars and other frills.
By the way no charge for pool/spa and fitness center with mileage rewards or points for the stay.
HIHG END HOTELS=HIGHWAY ROBBERY
Comment by Pravin — Feb 14th 2008 @ 1:09 amI know this is old to comment on, but I must:
To SteveK: I work at a Hampton Inn, am currently working the Night Audit this minute. Free internet, free breakfast, free bottles of water should you ask, and part of the Hilton group. Seriously, we rock. People whine about $89/night rooms in the winter, but don’t realize all the free ammenities available.
Just thought I’d share some pride in the company I work for.
Comment by Craig — Feb 26th 2008 @ 7:22 am