You'd think that Vegas would be one of the first cities in line to connect to the WWW.

But as I'm sitting in a random cafe paying for wireless access, I can't believe how there is almost no where on the Strip to connect, either by wire or wirelessly. With all the freebies the hotels give, you also think that WiFi is all over the place too.

As far as I can tell, only the Flamingo and the Imperial Palace (where I am now) even offer WiFi access (ignoring the business centers that charge an insane price). There's also the Starbucks at the Fashion Show mall. I also know that Aladdin has wired access in the rooms.

Another shocking fact... a lot of the Downtown hotels DO offer WiFi. Go figure.

Vegas is one of the worst connected cities in the US (in the theme of Houston(I think) being the best).

Hilton Grand Vacations Club (on the strip across from Sahara) has free wired broadband in all guest rooms, and free wifi in the lobby / common areas.

McCarran airport has free wifi in the terminals.

According to ads on the monorail, the Nextel store at the convention center also offers free wifi.

There are quite a few starbucks outlets that offer t-mobile hotspot ($10/day or $30/month).

They want you in the casino betting, not in a cafe surfing!

Most Strip hotels have pay internet (wired or wireless). And I have a cellular wireless card, so I can connect from Zzyzx, Death Valley, or wherever.

Almost every Strip hotel has wired access in the rooms.

Currently have wifi in their rooms:
MGM Grand, Mirage, Treasure Island, Mandalay Bay, Hard Rock, Sahara, Golden Nugget, Silverton, all of the Station Casinos (Greeen Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Sunset Station, Santa Fe STation, Texas Station, Boulder Station, Fiesta Rancho, Fiesta Henderson, Redrock Station-opening next April), all of the Coast Casinos (Orleans, Barbary Coast, Gold Coast, Suncoast, Southcoast-opening this December).

Will have wifi in their rooms soon:
Caesars Palace, Bally's, Paris, and Flamingo (a corporate contract to cover these hotels is lose to being signed, these properties already have wired broadband access in their rooms).
THE hotel @ Mandalay Bay is having wifi installed this fall, as is the West Wing at MGM Grand. As stated above Mandalay Bay's regular hotel (3400 rooms) as well as the rest of the rooms at MGM (4300 rooms) already have wifi.

All of these options cost at least $9.99 for 24 hours but it's inaccurate to say there are not places to surf the web in Las Vegas. Even the pool at the Hard Rock has wifi service.

The Venetian has wired access. They say it is $9.99/day, but I've never been charged for it for any paid or comped stay.

I should correct myself in saying, there's almost no FREE WiFi access in Vegas. And if you don't have a laptop in Vegas, you're really screwed.

I'm just used to free WiFi, or at the very least being able to find an Internet cafe open late at night.

For most people you gotta have a laptop if you want *FREE* Wi-Fi but I agree there seem to be a real lack of internet cafe places in LV. I guess they prefer you (1) gamble, (2) drink or (3) spend the big money not the $10 per 24 hr stuff.

MisterNice

Stardust was setting up some WiFi systems last time I was there (March) and I think it was free at that time, though I don't know if it was going to be free on a continuing basis.

Just come right over here to Northern Arizona and see how much good that celluar wireless card will do you.

Is it really true that there is free wifi in the airport?

Yes, the wifi is free at at the airport.

More info on the McCarran wireless is at the link below (select the appropriate option under the "Business" section):

http://mccarran.com/services.asp#

If you have a car just drive to the parking lot of almost any apartment complex. There are LOTS just a block or so off the strip along Paradise. I've never had to try more than two buildings to get WiFi for free