For business travelers, having access to the internet when you are out of town is a must. For that reason, many hotels now offer high speed internet for their guests. Sometimes it is free; sometimes it is not. Some hotels use wireless internet, while others use an Ethernet connection that the guest has to plug into. The good news is that by having internet access in your hotel, business travelers really have no reason to miss those web conferences. The bad news is that business travelers really have no excuse for missing those web conferences. So even once you check into your room for the night, you still have the ability to work.
Ways of Connecting
There are several ways you can connect to high speed internet in your hotel. The first, and easiest way, is to use Wi-Fi, for those hotels that have it. Your computer should automatically detect that there is a wireless network available and all you have to do is log onto it and you are good to go. If the hotel doesn't have Wi-Fi, the next best option is to connect to the Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network). If you have an Ethernet card in your laptop, simply connect your computer to the Ethernet jack using the appropriate cable. Your high speed internet should then be up and running immediately. If neither of those options are available, then you should have picked a better hotel. Seriously, though, your last option is using a dial-up connection. You would then have to connect your computer to the phone jack and dial the ISP. Be aware, though, that if you are used to high speed internet, using dial-up service will make you scream and want to kill somebody.
Cost
Some hotels offer high speed internet access for free. Others charge a flat rate you pay for the duration of each day. The rates vary from hotel to hotel, but having internet access can tack an extra $10 onto your charge. But, this fee sometimes also includes local and long-distance phone calls so it can work to your advantage and be well worth the price if you regularly need to communicate with others with more than just internet access. Many hotels have much cheaper internet access, though.
Hotels with High Speed Internet Access
If having access to the internet in your hotel is important to you, you should call hotels in the area in which you will be staying to see who has internet and how much they charge. Generally speaking, the better quality hotels tend to have internet access while low-end hotels might not. Just because you stayed at a particular hotel in the past and it had internet access does not mean every hotel in that chain will. In general, your big names like Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, and Howard Johnson have internet access. Notable chains that may not have internet are Hyatt, Sheraton and Travelodge. Honestly, though, does anyone who stays at a Travelodge have anything as fancy as a laptop computer? Maybe, but as far as I'm concerned, anyone who stays at a Travelodge should be happy if their sheets are clean and their door locks. Extras like internet access and a flushing toilet are a bonus.
But, in all seriousness, high speed internet at your hotel is very common these days. In a world of instant communication and constant development of new technology, internet at your hotel can be a must for the on-the-go business person. This is why hotels are making it more and more readily available, sometimes throughout the hotel through the beauty of Wi-Fi.
High speed internet is a common amenity at hotels these days. Whether through Wi-Fi (wireless internet) or an Ethernet connection, many better than average hotels offer it for free. However, the lower end hotels may not offer it for free but instead charge a nominal fee, such as $10 or more. In a few cases, dial-up is still available if you're really desperate. But, in most cases, you should be able to find free Wi-Fi at the average to high-end hotels.