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#1
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Wifi in USA hotels?
During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get
my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). But many just say 'High-speed Internet access'. Do I assume that is *not* wifi, but plug-in sockets for laptops/notebooks, or maybe even just a fixed PC or two? Are there any particular hotel chains that are noted for free wifi throughout the hotel? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#2
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Wifi in USA hotels?
On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:33:54 +0000, Terry Pinnell wrote:
During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). But many just say 'High-speed Internet access'. Do I assume that is *not* wifi, but plug-in sockets for laptops/notebooks, or maybe even just a fixed PC or two? You'd have to inquire of each hotel as to the exact meaning, but these days Internet connectivity is generally available in the rooms themselves. Personally, given the choice of wi-fi in my room and ethernet cable, I'll take the cable, especially if I don't know which wi-fi is available (b, g, or n). Among other things, probably less chance of someone intercepting my signals. But I see you have an iPad; I doubt it has a T-10/100 connector, so... I've been in hotels where wi-fi was available in one part of the hotel but cable in another. -- Dave Hatunen, Tucson, Arizona, out where the cacti grow |
#3
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Wifi in USA hotels?
In Terry Pinnell
wrote: During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). But many just say 'High-speed Internet access'. Do I assume that is *not* wifi, but plug-in sockets for laptops/notebooks, or maybe even just a fixed PC or two? You could always pack a cheap wireless access point, just in case only hard-wired connections are available. As a plus, this would allow you to set up an encrypted wireless link. -- Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN |
#4
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Wifi in USA hotels?
In message Terry Pinnell
was claimed to have wrote: During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). But many just say 'High-speed Internet access'. Do I assume that is *not* wifi, but plug-in sockets for laptops/notebooks, or maybe even just a fixed PC or two? Are there any particular hotel chains that are noted for free wifi throughout the hotel? Honestly, no. There's no consistency or reliability when it comes to either the definitions of the service, or the service itself. Main chains offer free wifi across their entire chain (Holiday Inn Express, I believe), and this will typically include the entire hotel not just the lobby. However, the quality of signal varies so significantly within the hotel that you have no guarantee of getting a usable signal in your room, and hotels don't seem to care much when the signal isn't usable. Similarly, even if wifi is down for days or weeks at a time, it's rarely a priority for the hotel. You can always request a room near the lobby to increase your odds of having a usable signal (and a noisier hallway) Calling in advance is the only way to find out what a hotel means by "High-speed Internet Access" In my wanderings I've found that, oddly, smaller motels and non-chain hotels seem to do better for having functional service, at least for those that offer wifi at all. Also, a surprising number still have wired ethernet in the rooms and often the staff don't even know about it, they just assume everyone will use wireless. If you bring your own access point and ethernet cable (A AirPort Express can be preconfigured to go online automatically, for example) you may have better luck using your own wifi hotspot than the hotel's wireless network. Honestly though, for an iPad, I'd highly recommend using 3G. Drop by any AT&T store and buy a SIM for $10ish and sign up, just be sure to cancel the plan before you leave the country (assuming your iPad has 3G support) |
#5
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Wifi in USA hotels?
"Terry Pinnell" wrote in message ... During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). But many just say 'High-speed Internet access'. Do I assume that is *not* wifi, but plug-in sockets for laptops/notebooks, or maybe even just a fixed PC or two? Are there any particular hotel chains that are noted for free wifi throughout the hotel? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK My experience when travelling in the US (and Canada) is that the vast majority of mid market and even many of the cheaper motels and hotels offer wi-fi throughout the hotel and rooms. Surprisingly (perhaps) it's some of the more expensive properties that provide the service at a charge. In Yukon and Alaska last Summer a couple of places only had it in the lobby and one motel on Vancouver Island only offered wired internet but I consider them to have been exceptions. If by chance you choose somewhere that doesn't offer service you'll find that (as in the UK) many fast food joints and coffee shops offer connectivity. In recent years I've stayed in Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Ramada, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Super 8, Residence Inn, Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Days Inn, Embassy Suites, La Quinta and some independents. The only place where internet has been completely missing has tended to be in National Parks. |
#6
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Wifi in USA hotels?
"Terry Pinnell" During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). This makes me think of the time when Internet and cell phones were luxuries and not necessities. I remember in the early days of my Internet connection I could post my email address all over the Internet without getting spam. |
#7
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Wifi in USA hotels?
On Sat, 5 Feb 2011 20:33:37 -0500, "Tim923"
wrote: .... I remember in the early days of my Internet connection I could post my email address all over the Internet without getting spam. In the *really* early Internet days, all our addresses were printed in one book like a telephone book, less than a half-inch thick. I still have a copy... Wonder if it'd sell on ebay? 8 -- Larry |
#8
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Wifi in USA hotels?
"Graham Harrison" wrote:
"Terry Pinnell" wrote in message .. . During my imminent holiday in California I want to be sure that I'll get my daily fix of wifi access from my iPad. Some of the hotels I've browsed explicitly refer to 'free wifi', which is fine (although I also need to be sure I can get it in my room, not just in a limited public area). But many just say 'High-speed Internet access'. Do I assume that is *not* wifi, but plug-in sockets for laptops/notebooks, or maybe even just a fixed PC or two? Are there any particular hotel chains that are noted for free wifi throughout the hotel? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK My experience when travelling in the US (and Canada) is that the vast majority of mid market and even many of the cheaper motels and hotels offer wi-fi throughout the hotel and rooms. Surprisingly (perhaps) it's some of the more expensive properties that provide the service at a charge. In Yukon and Alaska last Summer a couple of places only had it in the lobby and one motel on Vancouver Island only offered wired internet but I consider them to have been exceptions. If by chance you choose somewhere that doesn't offer service you'll find that (as in the UK) many fast food joints and coffee shops offer connectivity. In recent years I've stayed in Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Ramada, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Super 8, Residence Inn, Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Days Inn, Embassy Suites, La Quinta and some independents. The only place where internet has been completely missing has tended to be in National Parks. Thanks all, appreciate those very helpful replies. Re that excellent suggestion about a 3G microsim for my iPad, I've asked my son if it's possible to get me one in advance of my arrival. I'll need about 16 days worth. Not sure what that would cost, but presumably more than '$10ish'? I expect I'll be in Southern California, maybe going NE into the desert and maybe several national parks. I guess I can expect patchy or non-existent coverage there? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK |
#9
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Wifi in USA hotels?
It varies a lot, and I'm not sure you can really make generic statements about it unless a website for either the chain or the specific property makes it explicit. Many hotels (especially high- rise ones) have Wi-Fi in public areas but only hardwired Internet in the sleeping rooms, simply because the geometry and construction style makes it difficult to have Wi-Fi throughout. Others (including most motels that offer such services at all) have Wi-Fi everywhere. I'd say that the term "high-speed Internet" (or equally "broadband") doesn't imply much about your question. Whether the Internet access (wired or not) will be free is another question. In my experience, the trend is toward free high-speed Internet in the room at chain motels and the more humble hotels; the fancy joints downtown or near the convention center are the ones that want $10 a day for it, above and beyond the room rate you're already paying. Expect that the place where you sit in the room will make a big difference in Wi-Fi signal strength. (Of course, that's true at home and at work too.) If you have a Wi-Fi-only device and the room has only hardwired Ethernet, you might be able to make do with an inexpensive wireless router (for maximum versatility, choose a router that can be configured from a wireless device -- I don't have this problem since I travel with a laptop with a hardwired Ethernet jack and thus find it easy to configure the router). There are "travel routers" made to be small and convenient in this sort of use, in ways that you don't care about at home. --Joe |
#10
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Wifi in USA hotels?
In message Terry Pinnell
was claimed to have wrote: Thanks all, appreciate those very helpful replies. Re that excellent suggestion about a 3G microsim for my iPad, I've asked my son if it's possible to get me one in advance of my arrival. I'll need about 16 days worth. Not sure what that would cost, but presumably more than '$10ish'? $10-$15 was the range when I snagged one on my last trip into the US. I don't have the receipt handy, but my budget was $15+applicable taxes just to have it on-hand for future trips. AT&T will want the iPad's serial number and whatever, but they'll sell the SIM without it (or at least that was my experience) |
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