Free internet access in every room
 

I'm looking at hotels in Chester, and one I've been looking at has this message proudly displayed on their home page. However what "free internet access" actually means is going to reception to get a cable and plugging it in - not a lot of use for a lot of devices these days. If you want WiFi access you have to pay £10 per 24 hours. To me that's misleading since I'm pretty sure when most people read "internet access" they assume it's WiFi.

This is another reason why tethering is so great.

I was at a hotel that charged $15 a night for internet access a while back. But since I have 100% unlimited data on my cell phone, and rooted so I don't have to pay those silly tethering fees, I don't worry about these hotels anymore.

I always look for hotels with free WiFi (both hotels I've stayed in previously, one in York, the other in Lincoln, had it), which is why I was looking at this hotel (and someone suggested it on Trip Advisor) That was until I read a review someone wrote where they said they were charged for internet access (but didn't give any details), and another that mentioned about having to get a cable from reception; so I enquired about it.

Of the other two hotels I'm looking at one, a Best Western, actually has free WiFi (all their hotels do), and the other (a Premier Inn) charges £10 for a whole week's worth of access, although of course that chain is a much more basic hotel.

I could use the personal Hotspot feature of my iPhone, but there might be reception issues in a hotel room.

Which carrier do you have?

Could be Verizon. My mom has unlimited 4G on her Thunderbolt.
Or Sprint. I know Sprint has unlimited but limited data. lol


Anyways, I usually toss in a wireless router in with the rest of my electronics on any trip I take. Usually I end up at places with internet, and maybe even a router, but not a wireless router. Then at Hotels, they might have free wireless internet, but you could still end up in the room with limited reception.

Take a router? That's an idea. Expect that would leave someone else at home with no internet access.

I wasn't aware there were still hotels that didn't offer free wi-fi. Even the most ghetto of places has wifi. Even my super cheap hotel in cancun had free wi-fi (which I used to make free calls back to the U.S. :P)

Not really. In my view there is a clear different between saying "free internet access" and saying "free wifi".

"Free internet access" could mean wifi, but not necessarily.

Verizon people can be grandfathered in but to keep it must pay full retail price for all of their phones. You can only get subsidized prices if you are willing to go to a tiered plan.

I used to live in Chester, a lot of the pubs have wi-fi for free. Not sure if that helps at all.

Not really. I'll only be in a pub when I want something to eat. I need something do in the hotel room in the evening. I usually play with my iPad.

I have Sprint. My brother and I share a plan because they give him a 25% discount for working for IBM.

Yeah, it's true they aren't fast, but it get's the job done.

How long are you staying for, and what's your budget? If you ask nicely a lot of hotels will waive the daily wifi charge - but it's definitely more common than not to charge for in-room access.

This particular hotel is charging £416 for a double room for four nights, bed and breakfast (although I can get a discount code).

If you ask nicely a lot of hotels will waive the daily wifi charge I can't see them doing that. The WiFi is provided by BT OpenZone.

Which hotel is that in Chester?? You could probably get the Grosvenor for that!

--- Post Update ---

It can't do any harm to ask.

If you're on O2, BT OpenZone is free.

Yes and no. It's only BT openzone hotspots that are free. All those btopenzone networks you see popping up generally aren't. Them and BTFON are usually part of private networks that you need to pay a fee to use.

Just use the wireless hotspot feature on your iPhone bungle.
http://cdn.redmondpie.com/wp-content...ace-iPhone.png

The Blossoms.
I'm on 3.

Could do, but I'd rather use proper WiFi tbh.