Washington-based syndicated columnist Clarence Page is a man who rarely leaves town without his laptop. Recently he addressed a luncheon meeting in a small Tennessee city. He expressed mild surprise that his hotel offered wi-fi free of charge.
It's a nice find, but don't expect such good fortune in all your travels.
Many upscale business hotels routinely charge $9-15 USD/day. That's not too much of a departure from what hotels had been charging for ethernet hook-ups.
Other places are bound to offer "free" access but simply add the cost into your room rate. Hotel prices are on the rise in many parts of the world because innkeepers are under pressure to provide these and other services to an increasingly demanding clientele.
A common solution for hoteliers is to offer wi-fi in the lobby or conference areas, but keep the expensive ethernet hook-ups in rooms. You can spot these hotels quickly. The common areas in the lobby that had been momentary stops for meeting people are now crowded with patrons checking email.
What are your best strategies for beating the wi-fi connection costs?
Click "next" to read about what some travelers have discovered that can save you money accessing the Internet.
