Mainz in Germany is an attractive city. That’s where I spent the night on Sunday ahead of a full day on Monday with a client in Rüsselsheim.

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency. Right on the bank of the river Main. A very nice place, comfortable room (and bed), excellent breakfast menu, great service overall.

Except the internet connectivity.

Rooms are wired or wireless with broadband internet, as you expect from every major hotel these days. What I also expect – but constantly hope to be pleasantly surprised to the contrary – is to be ripped off with outrageous charges for internet usage.

I get that at the hotels I usually stay at when travelling – typically Marriotts, Hiltons and Holiday Inns – and now Hyatts.

Just take a look at this:

50 Eurocents per minute! That’s about 34 pence or 66 cents US. So 30 minutes online – all I needed to quickly check email and a do a couple of other things – would cost me €15 / £10 / $20.

Is that highway robbery or what?