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HotelChatter Annual WiFi Report 2009

HotelChatter Annual WiFi Report 2009 :: Best :: Worst :: International :: Tips :: Chart

Worst Hotel WiFi 2009

Some of the suspects on this list have made our Worst Hotel WiFi list before, and some are, sadly, new offenders. The major crime is charging for wireless or wired internet, obviously — but there are other reasons for making this list. For instance, confusion: Where do we get the WiFi? Is it free in the lobbies? Or is it pay-only everywhere? And another offense: waffling. You know, when a hotel once offered internet connections for free but now has decided to charge guests. And with that, let's do a perp-walk.

1. Thompson Hotels: We're sad to report that Thompson's free WiFi has switched sides. The hotels now charge $10 (or more) a day for internet access, both in guestrooms and in the lobby. Guests are required to enter their room number when they open their web browser, and the internet fee will be automatically charged to their rooms.

We asked Thompson Hotels Chief Operating Officer Stephen Brandman one simple question: why?

This is an a la carte service that not every guest was using and we were paying for it whether they used it or not. That's why we have started charging guests for internet. So far, we haven't received any negative feedback from guests and we think that in this economy, they are understanding of this change."

Now Thompson has gone the way of boutique hotel rivals, Morgans Hotel Group. Sad.

2. W Hotels: Starwood has made great strides with their internet offerings by making it free in the Element and Aloft-branded hotels, but when it comes to the cool older sister in the Starwood fam, W Hotels, internet access is a fickle, often costly thing (see also: the time we paid $17 for internet). The hotel collection does offer free WiFi in its lobbies Living Rooms, but since these are often close to the bars and restaurants, it's not an ideal place to get work done.

3. Four Seasons Hotels: Once again, the Four Seasons is on our list for not even considering free WiFi in its rooms. For a hotel brand that commands premium prices for its rooms, we think charging guests for WiFi just doesn't seem right. To be fair, there are some Four Seasons hotels that offer complimentary WiFi in the lobbies and in business centers — but with such plush rooms awaiting us upstairs, why would we want to spend time in a business center?

4. Ritz-Carlton Hotels: The Ritz-Carlton is Marriott Hotels luxury brand, and the fact that they still charge for internet throughout their hotels while their budget Courtyard by Marriott brand makes it free (and fun!) is just a blatant rip-off.

5. Las Vegas Casino Hotels: Considering how badly Sin City wants conventions and business conferences to keep on coming into town, you would think hotels would start to offer free WiFi or internet. This past year, we had not one but two horrendous experiences with WiFi at the Excalibur and The Mirage. The issue: there was no working WiFi. The Excalibur only offered ethernet for $13.95 a day, and The Mirage's $14.95 a day WiFi was down entirely, forcing us to chain ourselves to the desk with an ethernet cable. VegasChatter has rounded up some places where you can get free WiFi in Vegas, so be sure to check it out before your next trip to Sin City.

Still Charging for In-Room Internet
· Morgans Hotel Group: Internet charges start at $10.95 a day.
· Hilton Hotels: Like other big-box hotel chains, their budget properties like Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn and Suites don't charge for WiFi while their flagship hotels do. We don't know if Denizen Hotels will ever happen, but if it does, we hope they offer free WiFi.
· Marriott Hotels: The higher-end brands like the flagship, JW Marriott and Renaissance all charge for in-room internet.
· Loews Hotels: While it's free in the lobbies, in-room will cost you.
· Kor Hotels: Most Kor Hotel brands charge for internet in-rooms but there are some exceptions like the Viceroy Miami, The Viceroy Palm Springs and The Tides Zihuatanejo. So you can't be sure of what you'll get.

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