Wi-Fi is essential for traveling today and we expect it when ever we check into a hotel. It doesn’t matter whether it’s 5-star or a budget hotel we have come to expect Wi-Fi access. However, not all hotel Wi-Fi’s were created equal which led to this detailed report from Hotel Chatter. They are all over the board from free to way overpriced.
I think Wi-Fi should be free of charge and it usually is at most hostels. Business hotels and luxury hotels seems to charge the highest fees. In a world where you can find multiple free hotspot walking down the street it’s hard to hand over the cash for a 24 hr pass to access the internet especially when we are already paying the hotel to stay there.
According to Hotel Chatter:
The cost of WiFi and for a 250-room hotel, the cost is about $2.50-$4.50 per room, per month. Hotels on average charge $13.95 a day for WiFi.
So it is clear to me they are taking advantage of their guests. Yes, they need to make a profit but often this service is slow and unreliable after you pay for it anyway. If that is the case be sure to get your money back by speaking with the front desk. Sometimes your 3G or 4G hotspot might be the best option.
Check out this great graphic from Hotel Chatter. The worst offenders charge over $9.95 a day and even for multiple devices. That means you would have to pay two fees for your smart phone and laptop which is completly absurd.
They also list:
