HotelChatter

HotelChatter is a working stiff and we put in global hours. That means we need to be connected whether we’re in a Hong Kong hotel or poolside in Aruba. So, when we realized the Brickell’s free lobby WiFi didn’t extend a few feet away to the fab pool where we’d planted ourselves, shelling out for a connection was in order.

Here’s where it gets dodgy. When you log on to Brickell’s poolside network there’s two options, 1 hour for $10 and 24 hours for $20 for one device only.

But when we’d checked in to the hotel, we remembered the receptionist saying in-room WiFi was just $10 for 24 hour access. So we trudged back to the lobby in our wet bathing suit and asked for clarification before we made any transaction.

The receptionist was as confused as we were about the cost discrepancy, but reiterated that purchasing a WiFi card through her was just cost $5.95 for an hour’s worth of access and $9.95 for the day. Of course, we took her deal so we could connect anywhere on property. Still, that rate was just for one device, but what can you do?

The bottom line? Reading the fine print and listening to the check-in spiel can save you from costly internet injustices—in our case a 50% worth.

Chanize was a guest of Brickell Bay while on assignment for another publication. All opinions expressed here are via her own paid-for WiFi.

[Photos:Brickell Bay/HotelChatter]