Originally Posted by stimpy
Two points. I have never had a problem hooking up my laptop in any internet cafe in Europe. Some ask you to pay a little extra, but no one has refused me. Nor have I ever been asked to show a passport.
Second, if you use WiFi in the lobby of a 5-star hotel you shouldn't really be worried about getting mugged. Not that I would worry about it anywhere in Italy myself.
I have used TI in several nice hotel lobbies across Italy with a credit card purchase online. It works reasonably well.
I wasn't worried about getting mugged in a Starwood lobby..in fact, it would be great if we could have internet access there. I meant using Wifi in such very public places as parks, near popular fountains, plazas, etc.