Should we avoid hotels that have a per device Internet access fee?
 

I've just stayed at the W hotel Times Square in NY and was very annoyed by their policy regarding Internet access. They charge US$14.95 per day but limit the access to one device at a time.

This is, IMHO, very frustrating. Who does travel with only device in 2011? We're on a family vacation and between tablets, computers & smartphone, carry 8 devices. The hotel was very strict about their policy and said they would charge us 8 times if all devices were connected at the same time. Do they really expect customers to pay US$120 per day for Internet access???

Shouldn't we avoid properties with such practices?

I wrote a letter to management explaining how frustrating their policy was but they replied without addressing my complaint (but did credit me with 10,000 SPG points).

10k SPG points is great compensation!

I always carry a small travel router with me for exactly this reason...

Yes, I consider complimentary internet access to be of value to me when looking at hotel options. Paying more for a hotel only then pay more again for internet access is foolish and not a habit I regularly engage in.

I also find it entertaining that the complaint was met with 10K points. Seems quite similar to the legacy UA policy of just throwing points or TCVs around and not caring about what is actually broken (or perceived to be that way).

Yes, we should.

$15 per day is ludicrous and akin to highway robbery.

Vote with your wallet.

If I have 3 devices, I really only need to connect to one of them. Phone, ipad, and computer? I mean c'mon.

I feel it is fair to require 1 connection per person. If you're a couple, 2 devices. If you have a child who really needs to be connected, another connection for each child seems fair.

But, asking for 8 devices for $15 is pushing it, don't you think?

I do carry a router as well by it only works in room so doesn't help much when roaming throughout the property. Once again I'm not asking for complimentary Internet but to be able to use more than one device when paying US$15 per Day.

Yepper... I do... What I find amazing is that 2:-: and 3 :-: properties generally have free internet while the "better" hotels charge out the whazoo for it...

I find a few hotels nowadays offering two levels of internet - one for a single device and another at higher price for multiple devices.

$15/day for internet is not particularly expensive though. I think $20-30/day is about the norm in most parts of the world that I travel to.

I'm just asking for peace of mind. Logging out and logging in multiple times a day is a pain. And if you think asking for connectivity for 8 devices for $15 is pushing it, what do you think about charging $120 per day for internet access?

I would.

Unlimited free wifi is a criterion for my choice in hotel. There are too many places that offer unlimited free wifi to bother with the places that do not.

Completely reasonable if you have so many devices and are willing to stay at a place that you know charges for such access. ;)

I take it that's sarcasm with the use of the "wink".

( A smiley that is offensive in some parts of the world, where a wink is an insult or the equivalent of fighting words. )

Should you avoid them?

If that's the reason you pick a hotel room, yes.

Is it unreasonable for them to charge that?

No it's not, as I'm sure they made it clear. It's your choice. It's no more out of line then them selling cans of soda for $2 when the grocery store down the street has a 12 pack for $4. People that freely pay $25 for two eggs and two slices of toast don't really care what the internet costs.

For most people traveling, it's not an issue. Business people are more and more traveling with their own internet, and not everybody shows up needing eight connections (and if they do they probably have a travel router they use).

Personally I don't care what they charge. In Times Square I'll easily get a strong fast 4 G signal in the room.

The W's business is not gonna change one way or the other based on their internet costs.

What the... Where do you go? I can usually get a full week out of that kind of money (and even then I think it's ridiculous, but acceptable at least.)

Fairmont now has a high speed and low speed option.. For FPC members they get a discount on high speed, generally around $9.99 per night and complimentary for the low speed..

Per device idea.. I would just use the one device.. Its' a choice to use their system or not..