FREE wi-fi, internet connections, and computer usage - worldwide survey

OK! I have been prompted by what I found on recent travels to post this as a start to what others may feedback for the benefit of all. So I will start with free Wi-fi which was available at the Vale Hotel at Niseko. Then there was free internet connections at Antlers at Vale in Colorado and the Radisson Hotel near the Paris airport. Free computer usage is available at Changi airport in Singapore and also at Hong Kong airport. In addition, there is this new chain of cafes called Pacific Cafe which is all over Hong Kong (including The Peak) which offers free usage of computers and internet if you buy a cup of coffee. I understand there is free wi-fi at a park in San Francisco, but I cannot remember the hotel nearby where I stayed. Many other hotels, including the Radisson in Singapore, Harbour View and Mariott in Hong Kong charges unreasonable prices for internet usage.

So! this is my list so far. I hope others will add to this list to benefit all members here on their travels. Common ioan, I bet you can name quite a few. ;)

Does this help - http://v4.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

In general WiFi provision is usually very expensive, and of poor quality. e.g. In travelodge it's £5 for 1 hour! But a more reasonable £30 for a month. But the quality isn't great, on the rare occasion that Vodafone decides to grace me with a 3G signal I can usually get a faster connection through that than through hotel wireless.

Where it does come into it's own of course is at home and at work where the signal is very good. I particularly like the way my phone will automatically join known networks without a fuss, unlike my previous phones!

Hotel wi-fi is a joke, as Mark says it can be stupidly expensive. Some of the better hotels give you free wi-fi, but it's usually simpler and cheaper to either use a 3G dongle or tether through your mobile phone.

We have no public wi-fi as such in the UK, although networks like BT Openzone have hotspots in thousands of locations - at a cost.

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Originally Posted by Dave B

We have no public wi-fi as such in the UK, although networks like BT Openzone have hotspots in thousands of locations - at a cost.

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This thread has reminded me to set up my phone to access these, apparently I get 1GB a month allowance through my vodafone account.

Another gripe I have with wifi is systems that require you to sign in on a webpage before you can login to the system. At home or at work I have my username/password stored in the phone, so as soon as I'm in range, I'm connected and logged in without me knowing about it. Public wifi usually requires me to go through a faff on of inputting my username and password, accepting the terms & conditions before I can start using it.

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Originally Posted by Dave B

although networks like BT Openzone have hotspots in thousands of locations - at a cost.

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For people with a BT broadband connection, who have not disabled BTFON, you can use their WiFi hotspots as part of the package.

O2 provide unlimited Wifi to me as part of the contract also. Coverage varies but it does seem possible to get this to connect automatically on my phone.

On top of that, some chains are providing free wifi. I once got a BCC News 24 feed going in Wetherspoons without any problems just for the sake of it.

Be wary of insecure connections if the data you're transferring is something that you wouldn't want to share.

I've never tried using public wifi networks with a computer, only phones.

For my on-the-move data usage, getting 3G is usually fast enough.

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Originally Posted by martinbalmer

For my on-the-move data usage, getting 3G is usually fast enough.

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Yep, trouble is that 3G coverage is patchy indeed. In fact much of the time when out geocaching I'd be happy to get a plain old 2G signal!

I usually find I get 3G when I least expect too. And not when I do... For e-mail getting the basic signal is do-able.

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Originally Posted by martinbalmer

O2 provide unlimited Wifi to me as part of the contract also. Coverage varies but it does seem possible to get this to connect automatically on my phone.

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Me too, but I've never once found an O2 hotspot, even standing outside one of their stores.

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Does this help - http://v4.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

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This is great. I also forgot - Paris : McDonalds at NATION. Not only do they provide free wi-fi, but they also had sofas where you can sit and plug into a power source to recharge your laptop. I had absolutely no problems with Wi-Fi at Vale Hotel at Niseko, so please guys, don't be so negative about hotels. Some charge, but this thread is to publicise where you can get Wi-Fi, internet connections or computers for free. OK! I just remembered : there is a cafe in Whistler (can't remember the name) that offered free computer usage also. And we had good espresso there also.

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Originally Posted by Mark

In general WiFi provision is usually very expensive, and of poor quality. e.g. In travelodge it's £5 for 1 hour! But a more reasonable £30 for a month.

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The sort of offer that's only really of use to an Alan Partridge-style permanent resident.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

The sort of offer that's only really of use to an Alan Partridge-style permanent resident.

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Yep, but as I usually stay in a travelodge 2-3 days per week, it's a deal I've taken advantage of in the past. For those staying just one or two nights, it's very poor value indeed.

I took the family on a 3 week camping trip along the US west coast last summer.

I don't remember the specific names of the campgrounds we stayed at, but most of the private campgrounds had free wi-fi. Also, a number of the rest stops and tourist info places along the highways had free wi-fi as well.

Came in real handy for finding a campground closeby (with pool for the kids) at the end of the day, as well as doing my pick'ems. :p

15€ a day at a supposedly fairly facy Penina Golf resort hotel in the Algarve... no Wifi and only a short Lan cable - I had to rearrange my room in time for F1 tomorrow :p
The buggers are clever too: no chance of setting up a paralell link for the floor we're occupying :erm: :andrea:

The Casino Hotel in Portimao we'd been staying in up to now at monthly intervals was much more lax: Firefox would log me into their Wifi using old voucher cookies from one trip to the next! :laugh: