One of this things I hate most about hotels is that many of them are engaged in a crusade to trick me into making long distance calls billed to my room phone. Many of us use local phone numbers to connect to our ISP's while travelling. If you're going to, say, Phoenix, there will be a Phoenix number in the ISP's directory, so there is no problem. However, when travelling to suburban locations, (such as many airport hotels) there is often no number listed for the place you are actually in. The only solution I've found is to get all the possible nearby numbers, and then consult the often Byzantine Local Calling Guide in the phone book in the room (if the last guest hasn't torn it out) to determine which exchanges are local calls from the hotel's exchange. Do others do this? Am I insufferably anal? Is there an easier way?

What other way is there? Been doing this for years...

Dorian

Yep, me too...

Would love to know if there is a different way. I've been fortunate with Earthlink as my ISP because they always have some extra numbers that are not posted on the site. If I think a # is questionable, I call their 800#
Tech Support line and get a back-up #, if it exists.

I've been fortunate so far...

I've had mixed results call the hotel operator or front desk, and asking which of the following area codes or exchanges are local. If I can't get a good answer, I just dial each number as a local number using the phone, and wait for the modem tones, or some other message (i.e. "You have dialed a number...")

If you do this though, dial the number quickly, and hang up quickly, once you know the result. Almost all hotel call accounting systems are unable to determine if the call actually connected, so they simply start timing from the time the "9" was dialed, until the time you hang up. If it's longer than 30-36 seconds (5-6 rings) the presumtion is that it is a chargeable call. If it's less than that, the presume no connection.

Works good for calling pagers too. If you're real quick, you won't get charged.

Huh huh, welcome to the wonderful-wide-world of greedy hotel extra charges. I use the following cost minimizing methods for the non-metro areas or remote locations (I have 3 ISP's and 2 laptops):

(1) If you dial out without using a "1" (you will probably have to use an "8" or "9" though), it always (I believe) goes out as a local call not a long/regional toll call. If a voice comes on, then it's a $$ collect call. Try all the ISP numbers to see which connects in this way. I keep mine in a separate list with hotel etc location.

(2) If at an airport area hotel, take the hotel shuttle and use a free airline club connection if you belong to a club. Usually free coffee, danish, cocktails etc there too as we well know.

(3) Many of the concierge levels have free local phone calls. Should you be fortunate enough to be staying there, go and plug your laptop in that lounge.

(4) At the greedy hotels, I use a low cost pre-paid calling card to dial out using a "800" number. I refuse to play their silly nickel-n-dime game. Hilton, as an example, has lost much of my business lately. The cost of this method is typically 5-10 cents/min. I, and others, try to keep this telephone site updated: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/001535.html

(5) Lastly most ISP have a "800" 10 cent/min calling option. Unfortunately these are usually very slow, ie 28K or less connects and SLOW through-puts. The "800" calling card route is almost always faster.

Good Luck!!!

I used to think that if you dialed "9" (for local calls, or whatever the prefix is for local calls at a particular hotel) before the number that it would not connect if in fact it was not a local call ...

I found out this is not always true at the Courtyard in Annapolis ...

and also many townships in NJ...

Or in Gaithersburg, MD, where I can call downtown Washington, DC (different area code - 202) as a local call from the Hilton, but not from the Marriott, which is actually several miles closer to downtown.

Seems like almost everything is a long distance call from that Marriott.

[This message has been edited by dgolds (edited 11-11-1999).]

The business about dialing "1", and dialing "9" rather than "8", is usually, but not always, true, as shadow and beckles have noticed.

Washington, D.C. is definitely a cosmic singularity, as local calling areas go. In fact, until just a few years ago, it was possible to call adjacent areas in different area codes in MD and VA, without dialing the area code (if you were in 202). Also, at BWI they used to (maybe still do) have pay phones marked (alternately) "Local call to Balt." and "Local call to D.C."