FREE internet in the desert at Amangiri
As you know, dear reader, if there’s one thing we hate more than being ripped off, it’s being ripped off for life’s essentials. Rather than climbing back onto our high horse following our piece on extortionate hotel and internet charges, we’ve decided instead to shower bouquets on major hotels that do provide free internet. After all, these days, internet = oxygen, and it’s no longer a matter of being able to pay, it’s that hotels shouldn’t be charging in the first place. Kudos then, to the very few major hotel groups that don’t gouge you for getting online.
While there are plenty of budget and boutique hotels and small or lower category chains like Holiday Inn and Best Western that have got the message and provide free internet, disappointingly, the big luxury chains are lagging waaay behind. If backpacker hostels and the small guys can do it, why can’t the big five-star chains, with the high room rates they’re charging, do so?
FREE internet while drying your nails at The Peninsula Shanghai
The first major luxury business hotel group to provide comp internet was The Peninsula, way back in the 20th century (1998), bless. But wait, there’s more. On top of WiFi and wired internet, they provide other extras as standard like newspapers and in-room fax machines, and the newest property in Shanghai even provides VOIP for comp long distance calls, as well as a nail dryer, how darn neat is that?
FREE internet while canoodling at Shangri-La's Boracay Resort & Spa
It was a long time between drinks before the next major group, Shangri-La, joined the party in February 2009, declaring that internet, both wired and wireless, would be comp across all its properties. Shangri-La have also introduced a mobile website that works across the most popular smartphones, making viewing and booking a room surprisingly easy.
FREE internet with your suntan at The Chedi Muscat
There are also the pioneering leisure luxurists like Amanresorts, Six Senses (excluding their Evason brand, sadly) and GHM (of Chedi and The Legian, Bali, fame), who don’t charge to get connected… Hmm, why is it that the Asian brands are leading the way over their North American counterparts in this respect, as they do with airlines, is it because they have a better understanding of real hospitality, rather than tip-based service?
FREE internet while getting bladdered at The Berkeley's Blue Bar
Some US-based groups, such as Fairmont and Kimpton, provide comp internet if you sign up to their free member programs, and Fairmont even throw in local calls, hurray. In London, LUXE favourites Maybourne group, which includes the Connaught, The Berkeley and Claridge’s also let you get connected for nought.
Get in bed with FREE WiFi at Radisson Blu Madrid
Of the scandalously few higher-end global brands that provide comp internet, only the Radisson and Radisson Blu hotels come close with their worldwide reach, and while they’re not in the luxury league, we love that they’re opening more funky, well priced properties.
So come on readers, vote with your wallet and feet where you can and demand that more players get in on the free internet game. For an in-depth review of WiFi in hotels and who’s earning our love and who’s not, see what the folks at Hotel Chatter have to say on their name and shame list.
