Web Connections From the Road
by John Hawks

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Hotel computers and business centers

If you'd rather not carry your laptop or other Web-enabled mobile devices with you, you could call ahead to determine if the hotels you'll be staying in offer lobby computers or a dedicated business center for guests. However, many hotels charge by the minute or by the quarter hour for using these computers (that adds up fast!). You may face time limits on how long you can use them, so that other guests may log on as well. And, the business center or lobby computer area may not be open around the clock, restricting your ability to check email whenever you'd like.

Hotel WiFi connections

More hotels offer wireless Internet connections these days (it's not just the upscale business chains). You'll need a laptop that's set up for wireless computing, of course. While some properties offer free "WiFi" connections for guests, others charge by the day (or even the hour), so don't forget to ask for those details as you make your reservations. This handy chart shows the current Internet fees at many hotel chains, but the amounts and restrictions can change at any time, so check ahead.

Hotel wired connections

It always pays to pack your own Ethernet and USB cables when you travel with your laptop, so that you can use them if your hotel does not offer WiFi Web access. These cables may fit into your hotel room's phone or data jack to access the property's wired Internet connections. Sometimes, the hotel's front desk will offer these cables to guess (free of charge, or for a fee), but you can't rely on their availability. If you don't know what these cables look like, check with your local electronics store (e.g., Best Buy, Circuit City, or even Wal-Mart).

Mobile broadband access

Do you travel a lot -- say, more than one week a month? Or, do you work outside your home office several times a week? If so, you should think about getting a mobile broadband account that works on your Web-enabled cell phone or laptop. Mobile broadband access gives you an Internet connection without tying you to a specific location such as your hotel room. Today, you can work with providers such as Sprint/Nextel and Verizon to set up mobile broadband access, but it's pricey ($40 or so for a basic account, up to $100 a month for Sprint's new "Simply Everything" plan that boasts unlimited access time). Sprint just signed a deal with Clearwire to build a truly nationwide WiMax wireless network by 2010 that may drop these prices substantially.

Internet Cafes and Hot Spots

Places like Starbucks, Kinko's, and Barnes & Noble promote "hot spots" -- wireless Internet zones in which you can sit and use your Web-enabled laptops and other devices to connect to the Internet. Note that "public" does not mean "free," as many of these locations charge by the minute for your connection!

The bottom line? Carrying your own Ethernet and USB cables is a safe bet for connecting your laptop to most available Internet connections from your hotel, but you should consider a mobile broadband account if you travel more than one week a month away from your home office.

(Credits: Matthew Bowden; Rodrigo Cesar)