jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It looks like Wi-Fi is a major money maker, but the fines can be hefty.

http://boingboing.net/2014/10/03/fcc-fines-marriott-for-jamming.html

Jim_In_Plymouth Loc: Plymouth MN

On the same topic. When travelling on business I noticed the more expensive hotels charged for internet and the more economical ones such as Holiday did not charge.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've seen the same thing.

Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa

In choosing a hotel, all things being equal, free WiFi always swings it for me. Do these hotels realise that there may be many who think along these lines?

Bobbee

I like the 600k fine!!!

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

And it's not just Wi-Fi.

It's a curious thing that as you go up to the classier hotels you start paying for every little thing. There's a sweet-spot somewhere in the mid-range where Wi-fi, free breakfast and sometimes even an open-bar happy hour with hors' d'ouvres come with the price of the room. As you go up from there you find the price of any extra going up.

I recall staying in a posh Marriott in London a couple years ago where they charged $30 a day for Wi-fi; being old enough to recall when $30 seemed a lot to pay for a room, I made due without that extra service.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I think a lot of it is snob appeal. It's nice to stay in a high class hotel, and they know it. So, they add charges and fees for everything they can.

WereWolf1967 Loc: Knoxville, TN

A few weeks ago, I was working on some consulting projects in Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC. When it came time to get a hotel room, everything in MD was booked solid due to the Nigerian Summit in DC. I was referred to the Downtown DC Marriott. They had a convention in their exposition center and so they wanted to add on $40.00 for "Convention tax". I told them I wasn't a conventioneer so I shouldn't pay the fee. I had to go all the way up the totem pole to the hotel GM to get that off. I was also charged $45.00 per night for the privilege of self parking my Range Rover in their underground, on premises Garage, ($41.00 per night for Valet parking). I also got charged $12.95 for the worst wireless WiFi internet I have ever had. This is all on top of the $375.00 per night room rate!!! This was a special rate for Marriott Gold Members (I am one) AND AAA or AARP members (I am one also).
With taxes & all the other crap, One Night cost me $477.00!!!
I told the clerk to wait a minute, while I went outside and brought back a large tube of KY Jelly that I carry for such occasions. I wish I could have taken a photo of his face. Especially when I told him that I was used to being kissed and told that I was loved before getting royally screwed!!!
I know he thought to himself, "What a Royal Asshole". Even though I was pissed off, I remembered where I was, Washington, DC, The Capitol of Fiscal Irresponsibility and Total Corruption. The next night, I stayed out north of Bethesda, MD, after the Nigerians left, and got a King Suite at a Hampton Inn for $92.00 per night including all taxes!!!.
I showed them my receipt from my stay at the Marriott and I thought the GM was going into cardiac arrest. I'm glad I'm the president of my company and sign my own expense reports.

Bobbee

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Two things that piss me off when traveling on a weely basis at hotels.

Paying for parking - 18-30
Paying for WiFi - 9-25

YOur right, you find some hotels, Free Internet (most), Frre Parking (most), Happy hour (Some every night, some on Tuesdays).

PS, I forgot to mention, FREE BREAKFAST !!!!

New York Steve Loc: St. Augustine, Florida

I don't mind paying for parking if it's in a secured garage. What gets me is that a lot of places will charge to park your car in a lot that's open to the elements and enjoys exactly zero security.

When I traveled on business, I had an expense account. As long as charges were within reason, the company had no problem with it. They wanted us to stay around $145.00 for a room but, when in New York City, that was almost impossible. $200.00 a night there was common, and perfectly acceptable.

WiFi? If I have to pay for it, I will, but I'm usually successful in getting that removed from the bill...

Bobbee

I thwart the WiFi charge, I have a Droid Max with an unlimited global talk and data plan. It is just a pain to get out, plug in and turn on the access point. Much easier to search for WiFi signal. But it is a great backup.

New York Steve Loc: St. Augustine, Florida

Which is exactly what this thread is about, I believe. Marriott was bumping people like you off of your personal hotspot.

I've stayed at Marriott's which had daily internet charges of $25.00 or $30.00, and have always been able to get that charge removed.

Always...

Bobbee

Yes, I read the first post. But I have not encountered that yet. I have been in Hotels where the wireless did not work in my room but had to go to my phone hotspot. If both 'did not work' I guess I would just turn on the TV and sit an watch. If you are reading the other thread about no more cartoons on TV you know I will HAVE to watch reruns of 'Texas Ranger' with Chuck Norris.

WereWolf1967 Loc: Knoxville, TN

When all else fails, I use my I-Phone as a Wi-Fi hot spot.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

As an electronic tech, I want to celebrate every time I see the FCC fine any illegal jammer.