Comments on: A Common Traveler Tale: High Cost Net Access http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:49:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zac Echola http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/comment-page-1/#comment-2059 Zac Echola Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:43:05 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/#comment-2059 This is probably why FON has done so well in Europe. Members can piggyback off each others connection for free. It's a great system if you're able to locate another FON user. This is probably why FON has done so well in Europe. Members can piggyback off each others connection for free. It’s a great system if you’re able to locate another FON user.

]]> By: Joe Zekas http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/comment-page-1/#comment-2058 Joe Zekas Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:47:48 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/#comment-2058 Beware the Hyde Park Hilton in London, where internet access is $30 for 24 hours. That's 24 hours on the hotel clock, which ends at noon. So, if you sign on at 11:30 a.m., you pay $30 for 1/2 hour of Internet access. Beware the Hyde Park Hilton in London, where internet access is $30 for 24 hours. That’s 24 hours on the hotel clock, which ends at noon. So, if you sign on at 11:30 a.m., you pay $30 for 1/2 hour of Internet access.

]]> By: Steve Yelvington http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/comment-page-1/#comment-2057 Steve Yelvington Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:36:57 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/09/29/a-common-traveler-tale-high-cost-net-access/#comment-2057 Hear, hear! After my last Hilton stay, the Strasbourg Hilton sent me one of those email surveys, and I gave 'em what-for. Swisscom wi-fi service in European Hilton hotels is 17.50 euros per day. That's about $25 US. The trick is to lower your standards. In the US you get free wifi and breakfast at most inexpensive chain hotels, where the same company will charge through the nose at their flagship brand hotels. In Europe you frequently can find a private room at a hostel or two-star hotel for not much more than Hilton would charge for net access, and you get free wi-fi and breakfast to boot. (This probably doesn't apply to Russia, where the gap between cheap and "quality" is extreme and wi-fi hasn't yet trickled down to the proletariat.) I've noticed that the Europeans are pretty uptight about their wi-fi access points. On my recent trip to Germany, France and Spain I walked around with my Nokia N800, hoping to Skype home on an open access point. I found hundreds of access points, and every one of them (except my Barcelona hostel) was tightly locked down. By contrast, in the Georgia town where I live, more than half the restaurants and bars have free, open wi-fi -- even drive-through restaurants where you eat in your car. Hear, hear!

After my last Hilton stay, the Strasbourg Hilton sent me one of those email surveys, and I gave ‘em what-for. Swisscom wi-fi service in European Hilton hotels is 17.50 euros per day. That’s about $25 US.

The trick is to lower your standards.

In the US you get free wifi and breakfast at most inexpensive chain hotels, where the same company will charge through the nose at their flagship brand hotels. In Europe you frequently can find a private room at a hostel or two-star hotel for not much more than Hilton would charge for net access, and you get free wi-fi and breakfast to boot.

(This probably doesn’t apply to Russia, where the gap between cheap and “quality” is extreme and wi-fi hasn’t yet trickled down to the proletariat.)

I’ve noticed that the Europeans are pretty uptight about their wi-fi access points. On my recent trip to Germany, France and Spain I walked around with my Nokia N800, hoping to Skype home on an open access point. I found hundreds of access points, and every one of them (except my Barcelona hostel) was tightly locked down.

By contrast, in the Georgia town where I live, more than half the restaurants and bars have free, open wi-fi — even drive-through restaurants where you eat in your car.

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