It is time again to vent as part of the “Things That Tick Me Off” series — an arbitrary list that helps keep me sane by periodically raving at the world. This week’s addition is wi-fi charges, particularly at high-end hotels (though this remains the case with some mid-range hotel chains as well) I am staying this week at the Waldorf-Astoria while I speak at the ABA’s Legal Malpractice conference. Not only does the hotel charge $15 bucks for wi-fi in the rooms but $15 for each and every device such as iPads. The Waldorf-Astoria is a beautiful and historic hotel and it is certainly not alone in this practice. However, it is irritating to be clipped for such costs after checking in. This is less common in Canada and Europe hotels.
I have always been struck by the fact that budget hotels largely offer free wi-fi. However, luxury hotels charge customers ridiculous rates. While someone else is footing the bill, Waldorf-Astoria charges $750 for a standard room. Yet, even at $700 a night, the hotel still clips customers for wi-fi — for each and every device. A recent survey showed that wi-fi is the most important feature for most travelers — over such features as coffee makers and other standard items.
I realize that the hotels are bilking business and well-healed travelers but it would be refreshing for a luxury hotel to offer the same services as Comfort Inn. While some top hotels have moved away from the imposition of fees for wifi, hotels like Waldorf-Astoria continue to rip off customers. Thus, you can get free wi-fi in any number of cafes and pizza joints in New York, you will pay for wi-fi at the Waldorf-Astoria and other luxury hotels in addition to some of the highest rates in the world.
Notably, I just took Amtrak to New York and was again pleased to have free wi-fi on the train. Amtrak asked what travelers wanted most and offered the free service. Conversely, I just got off a United flight that not only charged me $60 each way for an economy seat with added room to be able to open my laptop, but also demanded separate fees for wi-fi and access to the programming on the television screens at each chair.
However, it is the charges at high-end hotels that is the most galling. I realize that, for those of us traveling on accounts, we should not care, but it is a rip off.
It’s not just the charge for the wifi, it’s also that their wifi is usually terribly run and barely connects and has very little throughput.
I’ve sometimes found that while there is a charge for the wifi, there is still an old fashioned RJ-45 plug that is still connected to a router somewhere that you can use if you carry a cat-5e cable with you.
If you have a Windows 7 laptop with you, you can try using the free program Maryfi to share the connection (even a wireless connection) on that laptop with your various other devices.
How does the high end traveler feel, being ripped off. Can’t imagine. 30 years since brief visits as a pawn in king’s clothing.
But, it does make for a laugh, a bitter one, at the LACK of the most important: HOSPITALITY. It ain’t there. “This castle is my home, and here I am king” is what they should offer.
Shades of “Paris on 5 a day” where those low-end hotels charged for a bath..
I once was booked at the most exclusive hotel in Hyde Park. When “cheap suit Sam” checked in, the hospitality was enameled in place. The only problem experienced, when wanting to “feel” the ankle deep carpets, the soles of my feet became coal black, a souvenir of their coal heating years.
The Jaguar salon car with chauffor was waiting after a replete breadfast for the country ride to their offices. My hosts had arranged it all.
Astor Hotel. Humph!!
Something we’ve all fought for years and sometimes successfully negotiate for meetings, it still astonishes me that there is a charge. It is however yet another profit center for hotels who weren’t making the profits they had been and saw this as another opportunity. As many say it’s their right to make money!
…It IS tho’ the difference in a lower-end (than the Waldorf) hotel not charging and this, and that AMTRAK doesn’t and airlines do.
Maybe, like at SWSX, someone will pay people to walk around or hang-out in (is that loitering?!) hotel corriders and be providers. http://nyti.ms/HK0Vu9
The high-end traveler is hardly being “ripped off.” If he or she doesn’t like the high prices, well, there are plenty of budget hotels. No one is forced to stay at the Waldorf-Astoria. Luxury hotels are luxury goods, and if wealthy people don’t object to paying high prices – whether for cars, paintings, fine wines – what’s the harm? An argument can be made that the Waldorf’s high prices are a good thing – assuming they pay their workers decently, those prices are what allow the Waldorf to keep a staff of desk clerks, bellmen, cleaners, etc., employed.
The real scandal here is the expense account – which is another way the one-percenters treat each other to the high life while ducking the taxman.The Waldorf bill is tax-deductible as a business expense to the firm that’s hosting the visitor, while the hotel stay (and all the pampering that goes with it) is not charged as “income” to the guest – as it would be if he’d won it in a contest, say.
The abuse may not be quite as great in the Professor’s case since the ABA is nominally a non-profit, and the expense of his hotel stay is likely built in to the price they’re charging the conference attendees. The lawyers are treating you to a nice stay at the Waldorf, prof. Enjoy. But frankly, this post comes across as a little pouty. The kind of whine you might expect from the Romneys. To us 99-percenters the high prices at the Waldorf-Astoria are not worth a moment’s complaint. Most of us are never going to be able to stay there. And like I said, if you find their prices offensive, stay someplace else.
Not bad for a hotel that was built to pies the Vanderbilts off…… Yes, I agree…. The more upper scale the hotel the greater the wifi costs….. Check the inroom safe fee…. You are charged for that whether you use it or not as well as the phone in the room….. All add ons….. Most don’t take the time to fight it….. Most people don’t know you can use your phone as a modem… At&t have some restrictions…… Bluetooth it, tether or bridge it…..
It’s typical of business class hotels like Hyatt, Westin, Hilton (the Waldorf is a Hilton property), etc.Frequent stayer program members with at least modest levels of “status” usually get it free in those places and there’s usually free wiofi in oublic areas and the Starbucks that’s inevitably across the street, plus a business center is almost always present with free internet.
On Sunday we stayed at a Sheraton for the first time, usually we use budget places with travel coupons. (Many have a $1-1.50 fee for a safe, I don’t understand.) I mentioned their 10 buck fee for internet and that I had never paid for the service and the desk guy said, “I’ll waive it.” Of course the Sheridan did not have a free “continental” breakfast.
Next time you are in NY stay at the Paramount, just off Broadway. It was recently renovated and quite nice. Though the rooms are tiny and I am sure it is not nearly as classy as THE WALDORF, its a lot more reasonable and the wi-fi was free.
(No, I don’t work for them, just discovered them on a trip to NYC & enjoyed our stays)
I’ll happily pay $15.00 for wi-fi but why must I pay $10.00 for in-room jelly beans?
Yes mespo…. You must….
You know the history behind the Waldorf, don’t you?
My husband complains about the wi-fi in the high end rooms. It turns into a hassle as soon as we check in. If I remember correctly the Waldorf is especially bad. Stayed there because we got a deal on the rooms. Would not stay again. They give Hilton Honors points and I was able to put our daughter up there on a recent visit on the points earned at no cost.
I fully agree with this. Right now I’m at the Amway Grand Plaza hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and this is the first time I’m been in a higher end hotel that provides complimentary wifi access.
Make a Pringles Can yagi antenna and point it out the window to the free access site:
http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448
Next time sleep on the train. The second name of the hotel suggests that they might just stick it to you in the ass.
It’s laughably pretentious. Rather like saying “We provide you with a commode but there will be a service charge for every flush.”
No sympathy here. If you don’t like paying for the “amenities” at the high end hotel, stay someplace else. The mid-range hotels are quite nice.
Marvin,
That is a very nice hotel…..yes the DeVos will take great care of you…. If you have the chance head up to Traverse City or up the east side to Holland….. Or Zeeland…..
at least the bed bugs get to eat free.
My father tells me that, during World War II, when grocers faced price freezes, they’d find a way around. Grocers who couldn’t raise the price of icecream began charging for the carton.
Professor, please! It’s “well-heeled,” not “healed.”
“Good quality shoes have never been available to the poor and consequently have been seen as an indication of prosperity. It’s reasonable to assume that the heel being referred to here is the heel of a shoe or boot, as in the converse of the phrase, ‘down at heel’.”
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/well-heeled.html
I was just in Costa Rica and there was free wifi everywhere. We never had to pay, and the coverage throughout the nation was excellent…no blank spots. We would have to build some infrastructure to compete with this central American nation, haha
It is a rip-off and stupid. They could bury the cost into their overhead and not have to deal with the bad publicity.
I call them WTF charges.
I agree with rafflaw. I once stayed at a 300.00 per night luxury hotel that didn’t even include breakfast. I found that incredibly distasteful. What was the point in staying at that hotel? The view? The only reason I’d stay in such a high-priced hotel would be for the additional included benefits that would justify all least some of the ridiculous cost.
Also, I just read a very interesting article about how having wealth does not necessarily, paradoxically, beget generosity. In fact, the opposite was found to be more typical. One would think the more resourced hotels would show a little more generosity, but I guess not.
And the high-end hotels usually have the worst cable TV channel selection.
If you want generosity, seek out those with the least. They tend to be willing to share whatever they have. If you want stinginess, seek out those with the most. They tend to be the ones least willing to share anything.
Sometime we need to see the “man with no feet”
On Tribal Lands, Digital Divide Brings New Form Of Isolation
Posted: 04/20/2012 2:50 pm Updated: 04/20/2012 3:13 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/digital-divide-tribal-lands_n_1403046.html
It’s not the case in all hotels, but to some significant degree, internet access cannibalizes sales of porn PPV.
Tom,
You know what…. I’d never thought of that….. But that is an interesting point…..
Jonathan Turley said:
“While someone else is footing the bill, Waldorf-Astoria charges $750 for a standard room. Yet, even at $700 a night, the hotel still clips customers for wi-fi” at $15 a clip.
Sorry, Charlie. But for some reason, I’m only able to muster 1 bar on my sympathy meter for you.
Fretting over micro-charges in your luxury room that someone else is paying for at the Waldorf in New York?
Careful. People might start suspecting that you’re living like a one-percenter.