Does anyone know why, the more expensive and up market a hotel the more likely they are to make an extortionate charge for high speed internet access, while the cheaper and more down market the hotel the more likely it will be to be free? Does this tell us something about heavy internet users? These days it should be like any other utility, included in the price. The Intercontinental here in Perth is one of the worst with $30 australia per 34 hour period.
Comments (7)
Dave,
FYI - I mostly stay at Marriot Hotels during my travels (domestic US) and they offer a $9.95 deal for 24 hours of internet & unlimited local and long distance calling.
Posted by stefan lafloer | September 18, 2007 6:55 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 18:55
I think the thinking of more expensive hotels is that customer's company would probably pay the bill so they might as well charge them through the nose.
I prefer the middle-range/budget hotels in South East Asia, they always seem to have free wi-fi.
Posted by Preetam Rai | September 18, 2007 6:59 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 18:59
That's a good question, Dave! I'm sure the price of the hotel (not to mention the room service we geeks use so that we don't have to disconnect while we eat) more than covers any costs the hotel might incur in providing the service. While we were in Spain, we found we had to pay everywhere for internet access. Meantime, by contrast, there's an insignificant little fuel station here in Milton Keynes that has a free wifi parking bay outside. How cool is that?
Posted by Karyn Romeis | September 18, 2007 7:29 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 19:29
That is pretty high Dave. Hotel broadband costs were actually one of the reasons I purchased a wireless broadband service. It is more flexible - I can even use it on the train (e.g. right now) and I'm saving money on hotel services.
Posted by Andrew Mitchell | September 18, 2007 9:15 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 21:15
Hi Dave, I invite you to read a story I wrote a year ago regard the same issue...
Here is the link: http://yigalc.wordpress.com/2006/09/16/jet-bike-or-fast-wireless-internet-access-what-would-you-prefer-to-ride-on-3/
Posted by Yigal Chamish | September 18, 2007 9:42 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 21:42
Australia and New Zealand seem the worst. In several cases not only is there a $25-30 per day charge,but also a 50mb cap after which more charges switch in. US I can always find a hotel with free or cheap access and the UK is starting to go the same way (although only at the cheaper end of the market)
Posted by Dave Snowden | September 19, 2007 12:32 AM
Posted on September 19, 2007 00:32
Because it's what the market will bear. People who stay in expensive hotels are more likely to be on expenses and not care about internet charges.
There's a story that BA started by losing money on Concord. One day a pilots asks the passengers what they think they paid for the tickets (of course, they don't know because it was handled by their secretaries) which is a lot more than the real price. Soon afterwards, the fare went up a lot.
Posted by Steve Freeman | September 21, 2007 12:13 AM
Posted on September 21, 2007 00:13