HotelChatter

2011 Hotel WiFi Report :: Best :: Worst :: International :: Best and Worst Cities :: FAQ :: Infographic

BEST CITIES FOR HOTEL WIFI

BOSTON
Boston is known as a walkable city, but better known as a walkable city with excellent free hotel WiFi options. Kimpton, which does make you join their loyalty program to access free WiFi, has three locations in the area. One in Cambridge, and two downtown. The Omni is right on the freedom trail and is one of the best lobbies for digital nomads to hunker down in and log on to free reliable WiFi in the lobby. Furthermore, there are a couple of Holiday Inns in and around town, one next to the Boston Garden, plus a Courtyard on Tremont street and a Residence Inn in Charlestown, all with free WiFi. Avoid the Ames, which charges $15 for WiFi and doesn't allow VPN passthrough.

NEW YORK
New York never used to be a great city for Hotel WiFi but thanks to the dozens of new hotels that have opened in the past year, most of them with free WiFi, getting on the internet is easier than before. For business trips, we love the Andazes--at Wall Street and Fifth Avenue--which offer WiFi totally free (and minibar snacks too.) Party spots like the Standard Hotel and the Gansevoorts make it easy for you to Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr your wild adventures as they happen. Uptown luxury with free WiFi can be found at The Surrey off Central Park and for downtown boutique hotel lovers, the James, The Crosby Street, the Soho and Tribeca Grands and The Greenwich all offer internet gratis. Avoid the W Hotels where internet costs $14.95 a day. (See our complete list of places with free WiFi here.)

HONG KONG
Hong Kong is one of those rare cites where hoteliers of all kinds realize guests want free WiFi. When you stay in a luxury hotel here, chances are the WiFi remains free.The new Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong has broken from the brand standard by offering free WiFi, same with the W Hotel. And of course, The Peninsula Hong Kong, has it free (as do all Peninsula hotels worldwide.) Avoid the Harbour Grand, a 4-star business hotel for Chinese businessmen which charges about $17USD a day.

WORST CITIES FOR HOTEL WIFI

LAS VEGAS
One might argue that with all the other distractions in Vegas (gambling, drinking, Chippendales) why would you waste your time in the room on the internet? Well, if you're in Vegas for a convention, which is a HUGE part of Sin City's tourism business, chances are you need the internet. But much like the casinos try to squeeze you at the tables, hotel rooms are making a play for your wallets by charging for internet. Most hotels now roll internet charges into resort fees, which average about $12 a day but at Harrah's Hotels (Caesars Palace and Planet Hollywood), expect to pay $12.95 or more to get on the web. (See VegasChatter's list of places with free WiFi here.

SYDNEY
When Oprah took her audience to Australia this year, do you think she warned them about the lack of free hotel WiFi in Sydney? Probably not but the fact remains that Sydney is a sad city for hotel WiFi. We found only four hotels in the Central Business District that had free WiFi. You can't even get it free at the Holiday Inn on the Rocks. And avoid The Observatory Hotel where internet costs $35 AUD. Instead, book a room at the Shangri-La Sydney where the unreal Harbour views come with free WiFi

SAN FRANCISCO
You would think that San Francisco would be the one city in the world, or at least America, where the WiFi would be fast and furious and free. But we often run into pay walls when staying here. That's probably because San Fran is a tourist wetdream and its hotels scene is populated by mid-range chains like Westin, Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton who always charge for internet. And don't think the luxury brands like the Four Seasons or the St. Regis will help you out either. Instead, seek out the many Kimptons or the Joie De Vivre hotels when you visit. You will have to join their loyalty program but it's free to do.

Have you logged on in a hotel recently? Let us know your Best and Worst Hotel WiFi Experiences Here.

2011 Hotel WiFi Report :: Best :: Worst :: International :: Best and Worst Cities :: FAQ :: Infographic