Comments on: Is it time for a “Free The Wi-Fi” campaign for hotels? http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MJ’s Travel Favorites 11-15-09 | Traveling with MJ http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17578 MJ’s Travel Favorites 11-15-09 | Traveling with MJ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:37:01 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17578 [...] Consumer Traveler jumps on the bandwagon for free wi-fi at hotels.  It’s long past time for this to be done. [...] [...] Consumer Traveler jumps on the bandwagon for free wi-fi at hotels.  It’s long past time for this to be done. [...]

]]> By: MLDina http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17547 MLDina Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:10:48 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17547 It never ceases to amaze me the levels the 'big guys' stoop to in order to make that extra few dollars. I understand the convenience factor in some situations, but come on. Help your guests so that they want to come back! It never ceases to amaze me the levels the ‘big guys’ stoop to in order to make that extra few dollars. I understand the convenience factor in some situations, but come on. Help your guests so that they want to come back!

]]> By: Fresh Airfare http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17546 Fresh Airfare Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:08:10 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17546 Japanese hotels seem to get it. Having recently shopped for hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto I was pleasantly surprised to see that the majority had free internet access. However, they didn't have wireless modems. I had to plug in. But, so what, it was free...as it should be. Japanese hotels seem to get it. Having recently shopped for hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto I was pleasantly surprised to see that the majority had free internet access.

However, they didn’t have wireless modems. I had to plug in. But, so what, it was free…as it should be.

]]> By: Arizona Road Warrior http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17536 Arizona Road Warrior Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:10:10 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17536 Leave it up to the market and the hotels to decide. It is very rare for me to stay at a hotel that doesn't offer free WiFi. If the management of these hotels that charges for WiFi doesn't see that they are losing customers than it is their loss. Leave it up to the market and the hotels to decide. It is very rare for me to stay at a hotel that doesn’t offer free WiFi. If the management of these hotels that charges for WiFi doesn’t see that they are losing customers than it is their loss.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Is it time for a “Free The Wi-Fi” campaign for hotels? -- Topsy.com http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17534 Tweets that mention Is it time for a “Free The Wi-Fi” campaign for hotels? -- Topsy.com Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:48:52 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17534 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by and Lindsay Manfredi, Travel_Tweet. Travel_Tweet said: Is it time for a “Free The Wi-Fi” campaign for hotels?: Should wireless Internet access be free at hotels? A va.. http://bit.ly/3KusKh [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by and Lindsay Manfredi, Travel_Tweet. Travel_Tweet said: Is it time for a “Free The Wi-Fi” campaign for hotels?: Should wireless Internet access be free at hotels? A va.. http://bit.ly/3KusKh [...]

]]> By: Kate http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17532 Kate Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:23:50 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17532 My husband and I now regularly inquire about WiFi access before we book, and use free WiFi as the determining factor in booking a hotel. We've been pleasantly surprised by the many unprepossessing hotels that have excellent customer service IN ADDITION to free WiFi--caring for the customer must be a principle with them, and one we want to encourage by giving them our business. Speak up: When a hotel wants to add a charge for WiFi, just say NO and go elsewhere, telling them exactly why you decline to book with them. My husband and I now regularly inquire about WiFi access before we book, and use free WiFi as the determining factor in booking a hotel. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the many unprepossessing hotels that have excellent customer service IN ADDITION to free WiFi–caring for the customer must be a principle with them, and one we want to encourage by giving them our business. Speak up: When a hotel wants to add a charge for WiFi, just say NO and go elsewhere, telling them exactly why you decline to book with them.

]]> By: Mike http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17531 Mike Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:03:31 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17531 I am a "road-warroir", traveling about 75 - 80%. I will go out of my way to avoid paying for internet access. I will stay further away from my choice location to get free acess. Now with Hamptons instead of Hiltons and Holiday Inn Express instead of Crowne Plaza / Interncontinental where sometimes the rates for the rooms are close, with the free internet access AND free breakfasts, as a business traveler how can I NOT stay at those properties? I am a “road-warroir”, traveling about 75 – 80%. I will go out of my way to avoid paying for internet access. I will stay further away from my choice location to get free acess.
Now with Hamptons instead of Hiltons and Holiday Inn Express instead of Crowne Plaza / Interncontinental where sometimes the rates for the rooms are close, with the free internet access AND free breakfasts, as a business traveler how can I NOT stay at those properties?

]]> By: Scott http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17522 Scott Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:17:23 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17522 I think that hotels should know that they lose a full star or better in my mind when they have the nerve to charge money for Internet access in this day and age. You simply cannot be regarded as a four- or five-star property if you're stooping to this low. It's like dating a physically beautiful woman who loads her purse with restaurant "freebies" off of the table. Just plain cheap and therefore ultimately unattractive. I think that hotels should know that they lose a full star or better in my mind when they have the nerve to charge money for Internet access in this day and age. You simply cannot be regarded as a four- or five-star property if you’re stooping to this low. It’s like dating a physically beautiful woman who loads her purse with restaurant “freebies” off of the table. Just plain cheap and therefore ultimately unattractive.

]]> By: SpotLight http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17521 SpotLight Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:48:19 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17521 The lodging operators should pay attention to this. I recently booked lodging in Boca Raton. My first choice was an Embassy Suites, until I determined that it would cost another $10 a day for internet access. I subsequently made reservations at a nearby Residence Inn that included internet access as part of the room rate. Plus the Residence Inn rate was 20% less than the non-internet-included rate at this particular Embassy Suites. The lodging operators should pay attention to this.

I recently booked lodging in Boca Raton. My first choice was an Embassy Suites, until I determined that it would cost another $10 a day for internet access. I subsequently made reservations at a nearby Residence Inn that included internet access as part of the room rate. Plus the Residence Inn rate was 20% less than the non-internet-included rate at this particular Embassy Suites.

]]> By: Natalie http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/is-it-time-for-a-free-the-wi-fi-campaign-for-hotels/comment-page-1/#comment-17517 Natalie Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:47:25 +0000 http://www.consumertraveler.com/?p=21656#comment-17517 I agree. I don't understand how a budget hotel has free wifi but the nice hotels do not. I recently went to a department offsite meeting at a Hyatt (couple hundred employees attended) which had a conference center. The wifi was not free and our company brought in its own wireless equipment to broadcast its own signal at the conference center. I agree. I don’t understand how a budget hotel has free wifi but the nice hotels do not. I recently went to a department offsite meeting at a Hyatt (couple hundred employees attended) which had a conference center. The wifi was not free and our company brought in its own wireless equipment to broadcast its own signal at the conference center.

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