One of the feaures of travel these days is the (usually-met) expectation of high internet charges in your hotel. It’s common in Europe, for instance, for hotels to charge eye-watering rates to let you get online: charges of £20 or equivalent per day aren’t unusual.
Some hotels include internet costs in their room rates, treating it as part of the plumbing, as it were. Even if room rates are elevated to cover the cost, it’s perceived as a good deal when your experience in the hotel is “free internet.”
That’s been the case in my hotel, the Luxor in Las Vegas, where I’ve been staying during this week. They say quite clearly that unlimited internet access is included in the room rate.
But I wonder what the Mandalay Bay Hotel is thinking with its pricing – just look at the screenshot of their website showing their rate when I visited the site on my smartphone. The screenshot shows $525. Not a typo!
I have no idea what the Mandalay’s pricing goals or philosophy are, and the place where I accessed their website was in the convention centre attached to the hotel. But the price is eye-watering nevertheless, don’t you think?
I wonder when it will become a common competitive differentiator for hotels and other public places to offer you “free internet.” It might be the difference for a connected traveller to choose your place instead of another when he or she can get online with wifi or a wired connection without fuss or concern.
Perception is everything.
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Looks like I won't be staying at Mandalay Bay anytime soon. Then again, I'm the type of person who can't understand the allure of Lost Wages, Nevada. Perhaps it's my mathematical education.
+Daniel Stoddart choice is such a wonderful thing.
Hmm. I'm thinking wireless hotspot is the way to go. Or iPad with wireless access and a keyboard.
+Rich Fisher in the Luxor, the internet is wired. So a problem if you have mobile devices that don't have ethernet ports.I've been using Connectify.me, a really cool Windows application that makes my netbook a wifi hotspot so smartphones, etc, can get connected too.
+Rich Fisher in the Luxor, the internet is wired. So a problem if you have mobile devices that don't have ethernet ports.I've been using Connectify.me, a really cool Windows application that makes my netbook a wifi hotspot so smartphones, etc, can get connected too.
Well, hopefully I would be able to put the bill on my expense report then!
Well, hopefully I would be able to put the bill on my expense report then!
That is one heck of a way to push you into the casino.
That is one heck of a way to push you into the casino.
The Motel 8 right behind the Mandalay Bay has free wifi! http://motel8lasvegas.yolasite.com/
The Motel 8 right behind the Mandalay Bay has free wifi! http://motel8lasvegas.yolasite.com/
And the Motel 8 has pre-starched sheets!
And the Motel 8 has pre-starched sheets!
one of the comments in the Google Maps listing for Motel 8 states: Drug Dealers and Hookers kept me awake all night.
Wait, people sleep in Vegas?
one of the comments in the Google Maps listing for Motel 8 states: Drug Dealers and Hookers kept me awake all night.
Wait, people sleep in Vegas?
It may be $525, but you get a 100Gb pipe… not really. Sounds like 'SmartCity Networks' is running their convention area.
It may be $525, but you get a 100Gb pipe… not really. Sounds like 'SmartCity Networks' is running their convention area.
That easily beats my all time high of the Athens Hilton, which charges the comparatively cheap $55 a night.
http://james.cridland.net/blog/hilton-hotels-should-come-clean-about-their-internet-charges/ has more.
That is a convention centre price, though. And I bet you are interested what the Las Vegas Convention Centre costs, aren't you? Hold on there, caller…
…and I'm back. For internet in the booth we're in in the LVCC, we'll be charged (for one computer only, no routers or sharing allowed): … drum roll … $1245 + 8% sales tax.
That easily beats my all time high of the Athens Hilton, which charges the comparatively cheap $55 a night.
http://james.cridland.net/blog/hilton-hotels-should-come-clean-about-their-internet-charges/ has more.
That is a convention centre price, though. And I bet you are interested what the Las Vegas Convention Centre costs, aren't you? Hold on there, caller…
…and I'm back. For internet in the booth we're in in the LVCC, we'll be charged (for one computer only, no routers or sharing allowed): … drum roll … $1245 + 8% sales tax.
Damn, I get upset when it's $10 for the day. If work is covering it that's one thing, but when it's personal, paying anything is a bummer.
Damn, I get upset when it's $10 for the day. If work is covering it that's one thing, but when it's personal, paying anything is a bummer.
I guess they figure "hey, people here are burning money anyway, why not charge $500+?"
I guess they figure "hey, people here are burning money anyway, why not charge $500+?"
I am, however, quite happy for hotels to charge for wifi, as long as they tell me first. $5 for a day's wifi avoids people from misusing it, and you're a little less likely to be given a wifi connection that takes five minutes to download the BBC News front page.
I am, however, quite happy for hotels to charge for wifi, as long as they tell me first. $5 for a day's wifi avoids people from misusing it, and you're a little less likely to be given a wifi connection that takes five minutes to download the BBC News front page.
Another reason I love my iPad. It's a bitch to work on but as long as I have AT&T coverage, I have internet.
Another reason I love my iPad. It's a bitch to work on but as long as I have AT&T coverage, I have internet.
Meh, just makes them look a bit silly, greedy, and out of touch.
Meh, just makes them look a bit silly, greedy, and out of touch.
Hobson: The value of free internet: One of the feaures of travel these days is the (usually-met) expectation of … http://t.co/vJRRuEXs
Liked “The value of free internet” http://t.co/NmE77AfW
+James Cridland agree, James, re prior notification of cost. But imo, still a short-sighted approach. I'm far happier with "free internet".
Don't get him started on the mini fridge!
Would you pay 525 USD for internet access? http://t.co/CeHe5VNG
“Hotel’s Free Wi-Fi Comes With Hidden Extras” http://t.co/8x33CD1Q Interesting, esp re my post the other day http://t.co/9ZWk7UIN
RT @jangles: “Hotel’s Free Wi-Fi Comes With Hidden Extras” http://t.co/uZmEq6P1 Interesting, esp re my post other day http://t.co/aodQjoIj
This makes me vicious: I travel a lot and having to fork out so much so often is so deeply frustrating! Didn’t the roots of WiFi lie in free access for all?
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