Anger as Australian Hotels charge up to $35 per day for Internet access

[Pushka]

thankfully as platinum we get free Hyatt internet but its so slow we use our 3G Telstra USB. Internet anywhere but Australia is usually free and fast.

 

[turtlemichael]

My experience is that many hotels outside Australia also charge for access though where I stay I usually get it for free because of status.

I really have no idea what it costs in Australia but I do know that it is an expense for a hotel and they'll either recoup it in the room rate or by a user charge.

What do you prefer, the Qantas model or the Jetstar model? Starbucks recoups it on the cost of a cup of coffee.

 

[Blinky]

How then do staff access basic company tools like email, file sharing, HR systems, Expenses, intranet access and enterprise social networking tools?

Sorry, I should have explained. We do that through a citrix card, which is net nannied to death. The problem is that it is glacially slow.

 

[Flashback]

Same here. My company refused to pay for hotel internet access because of the chance (okay, likelihood) of staff accessing, ahem, inappropriate material.

One of the hotels I stay at for work... when you add on the internet package (5 GBP) it adds the WHOLE entertainment package, adults channels and all :shock:

My experience is that many hotels outside Australia also charge for access though where I stay I usually get it for free because of status.

I really have no idea what it costs in Australia but I do know that it is an expense for a hotel and they'll either recoup it in the room rate or by a user charge.

What do you prefer, the Qantas model or the Jetstar model? Starbucks recoups it on the cost of a cup of coffee.

5 EUR / day @ Hilton Prague Old Town :mrgreen:

 

[Moopere]

450THB / day at the Hilton BKK, whats that? About AU$15

But data in Australia is expensive, look at the laughable "plans" the big providers have on offer, and this is for home grade dsl.

The only hotels I've stayed at overseas so far with 'free' wifi (presuming not included in room price) have been cheapies who are basically running home DSL systems shared between all guests. Its unusably slow when more than 3-4 folks are actively using it.

The pay model in the 4-5 star hotels does appear, in my experience anyway, to provide usable speed and so far I've not bumped into any data allowance problems either (though surely its not uncapped as a general rule)

 

[Pushka]

We've had free wifi throughout France and Spain. But we didn't stay at the large international chains.

 

[anat0l]

I guess most people expect that - like most cases from a consumer point of view - they don't care about the cost of supply and only care about how much they have to pay, and the bare fact is that hotel internet in Australia is one of the most expensive in the world - viz. it is costly to use and/or is bandwidth limited. New Zealand is similar in this regard.

I suppose to supply internet at a better rate than current hotels would simply have to lower their rates and wear whatever cost or cut into profits that entails.

I don't know how smaller hotels offer free internet - my guess is that some of them just share a single connection (especially, e.g., B&Bs with a home connection which they just share, just as if someone stayed at your place and you gave them the wireless password). Or, they simply do what the larger hotels don't, which is just wear the cost of the internet and thus have a smaller profit.


This kind of story has been doing the rounds often. It also makes a great recurring AFF thread.


At least you don't hear people - unlike in the USA - arguing that free internet should be a basic human right. *shudder*

 

[ALH]

We could have had another person at our Xmas drinks last night. It was just benmay and myself last night.

If I'd been invited...... I was stuck at home washing down Coconut crumbed Banana prawns with Tattinger

 

[dajop]

What do you prefer, the Qantas model or the Jetstar model?

The thing is with hotels they are in some ways opposite to airlines (aside from Tune hotels). It often seems the cheaper the hotel the more inclusions, and the more the expensive the hotel the more expensive all the add-ons are. With airlines it's the other way around.

But internet is hardly the only travesty in hotels, look at telephone charges, which are just crazy. Completely disproportionate, when its cheaper internationally to use a international roaming mobile than hotel phone (which are usually both orders of magnitude more than local mobiles, local fixed line phones and of course Skype and the like).

 

[seanpodge]

The thing is with hotels they are in some ways opposite to airlines (aside from Tune hotels). It often seems the cheaper the hotel the more inclusions, and the more the expensive the hotel the more expensive all the add-ons are. With airlines it's the other way around.

But internet is hardly the only travesty in hotels, look at telephone charges, which are just crazy. Completely disproportionate, when its cheaper internationally to use a international roaming mobile than hotel phone (which are usually both orders of magnitude more than local mobiles, local fixed line phones and of course Skype and the like).

That's before we get to laundry bills that cost as much as a new wardrobe. Most hotel fees make Australian airport shops look like op shop prices. Would be quite happy with a small self service laundromat setup in the basement myself.

The internet prices in the article are clearly a rort. I've stayed in several perfectly acceptable hotels in China where internet was included in the room price that was less than half what some of those add on internet fees are. If hotels want to charge first world prices, then they should provide first world services. Included internet is very much a make or break factor when I choose a hotel and I doubt I'm the only one of that mindset.

 

[Pushka]

We stayed at a fabulous hotel in Barcelona. Cost around 200 euros a night but included in that was a fabulous breakfast, and a 24 hour snack bar of drinks (non alcoholic) sandwiches, fruit, toast, cold meats and cheeses, cakes, deserts, tea and coffee, chocolates etc

And the best free wifi ever. I would tune in to the radio app on my IPhone at night and listen to the radio stations in Australia. Not a chain hotel but they do have a sister hotel in Berlin. It's rated as the number 1 hotel in Barcelona on trip advisor and deservedly so.

 

[JohnK]

Yes that is a joke.

It is not the most ideal solution but wouldn't everyone that travels regularly in Australia have mobile broadband? Optus is AUD130 for 17.25GB and lasts 12 months.

Stayed in Baan Manthana in Hua Hin and paid ~AUD38 for room with free wi-fi also included. I think it was time limited but it was free. Hilton ~1km away charges an arm and a leg if you are not Diamond.

 

[serfty]

Interwebby acces, whether complimentary or otherwise can get quite glacial at hotels worldwide.

I have notices quite a few properties these days have different options with max indicated speeds / volume etc for different rates. I guess if you pay more you should expect better.

I do note the HHonors Gold/Diamond benefit is for:

Enjoy complimentary high-speed internet access, each day of your stay.

At hotels that already offer a choice of a standard or higher-speed connection, you will receive access to the higher-speed connection at no cost. If a hotel does not offer high-speed internet connectivity, simply choose another option.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We stayed at a fabulous hotel in Barcelona.............................It's rated as the number 1 hotel in Barcelona on trip advisor and deservedly so.

Casa Camper Hotel?

Interested in your thoughts as a group of us are heading to BCN June - we stayed at Hotel Arts last year - €25 for wifi / nt but amazing what a €50 tip to GSM will achieve.

 

[Mal Ware]

Don't like it ? Don't use it, and/or use an altenative

Always easier to whinge than vote with your feet/$$ though

This isn't a thread about Qantas.

 

[burrco]

Surprised nobody has mentioned New Zealand where even lower class hotels often charge for internet - as well as having pretty low download limits.

 

[Pushka]

Casa Camper Hotel?

Interested in your thoughts as a group of us are heading to BCN June - we stayed at Hotel Arts last year - €25 for wifi / nt but amazing what a €50 tip to GSM will achieve.

Yes. Loved it. Very new. Brilliant amenities. The rooftop seating area is perfect for a chill out. Staff are all young and enthusiastic. Perfect location off la Ramblas and very quiet despite that. Very secure entry. Cute little sitting room opposite each room with hammock lounge suite and extra tv. Very funky. Breakfast was really nice. Highly recommend it if you can go the price.

We stayed there before and after a med cruise.

And to keep on topic, their Internet was free and fast and I uploaded heaps of photos to Facebook while there as well as streamed radio.

 

[seanpodge]

Surprised nobody has mentioned New Zealand where even lower class hotels often charge for internet - as well as having pretty low download limits.

New Zealand has the internet? :shock:

 

[Deleted member]

It's like the extra charge for Amex. Surely an adjustment to the room rate would sort this out . I have often said that if you charge a price and discount it for cash,you get a much more friendly response.

 

[Deleted member]

If I'd been invited...... I was stuck at home washing down Coconut crumbed Banana prawns with Tattinger

And veuve , and ..... The list goes on.

Don't forget the world famous Chilli Plum sauce.
BTW. The best Prawns I have seen in a long time