# Internet on-the-go for tourists in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955 "2010-05-19T01:53:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/1 "2010-05-19T01:53:30Z")
My best friend and her family will be traveling all over the U.S. this summer and are looking for recommendations for mobile access to the internet using their netbook. They live in Germany, where [UMTS Sticks](http://www.splitbrain.org/blog/2009-03/10-huawai_3g_umts_stick_on_arch_linux) are apparently now available all over the place. (Her SO sent me a flyer from ALDI; the sticks seem to be the internet equivalent of phone cards.) SO was hoping he could get one of these in the U.S. He wants to be able to book reservations and such. Unless my Google-fu is completely failing me, we don’t really have a cheap equivalent. I think they should bring the netbook and rely on wi-fi hotspots (I don’t think they’re going anywhere where there isn’t at least a McDonald’s). They’ll be traveling literally coast-to-coast (NY-Oregon, with a bunch of stops in between, both staying with people and camping or staying in hotels. Any other cheap suggestions for easy internet access? (Did I mention cheap?) Thanks in advance for the collective Doper wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/2 "2010-05-19T03:28:56Z")
I really really hate to say this but --------- AOL via hardwire dial-up. I did find one place in the US where I couldn’t get a local connection but I used their 800 number to get me through those two days. I just pray to God someone comes up with something better though because AOL sucks as bad as folks say. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/3 "2010-05-19T03:31:58Z")
Any place that gets cellular service can get at least really slow Internet service. There’s a special card you can get from the phone companies. As far as cheap, I don’t know. Usually these are measured in so much money per month. The problem with AOL is that it’s difficult to cancel your subscription in time not to have to pay at least your first bill. They fight pretty hard to keep you from actually getting the free trial for free. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/4 "2010-05-19T08:07:34Z")
I would look into [clear](http://www.clear.com/) internet. It uses the cellphone network, so anywhere you get bars you get internet. The coverage looks decent but that’s at 3G speeds. A lot of hotels, coffee shops, and KOAs have wireless access as well. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/5 "2010-05-19T13:26:51Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > I don’t think they’re going anywhere where there isn’t at least a McDonald’s. This is the cheapest plan. All McDonald’s now offer free WiFi, via ATT. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/6 "2010-05-19T13:41:06Z")
As **Wilbo523** says, McDs is free, but many coffee shops and motels also have free WiFi. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/7 "2010-05-19T23:21:03Z")
Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking free-wifi was probably the best plan, but I wanted to make sure there wasn’t some other option I was missing. If anyone has any additional ideas or tips, feel free to chime in! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/8 "2010-05-20T02:41:35Z")
Starbucks is also good for free internet. To get 2 hours per day, simply pick up a Starbucks card, load it with a few bucks and register it online (which will set up a free ATT account). As long as you use the card every week or so, the account stays active. You could set this up and mail your friend the card. Clear coverage is very spotty and I doubt that your friends netbook will have a modem (if it does, it might not be compatible with the US phone system) so AOL is problematic. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/9 "2010-05-21T11:04:59Z")
Thanks **jasg** ; yeah, I looked at the Clear coverage map and it didn’t look like it would be worth the money for them. Getting the Starbucks card for them is a great suggestion. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Alpha834](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Alpha834](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha834)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/10 "2010-05-21T21:59:43Z")
Many public libraries also provide free wi-fi. In most cases I can tap into the libraries wi-fi from the parking lot and do not even need to leave my car although I have been to some libraries in smaller towns that required a passcode for wireless acess, this passcode was provided at no cost. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/11 "2010-05-21T22:45:00Z")
I live in a college town where there is free wifi EVERYWHERE, so I know I’m spoiled, but imho, Starbucks has the _worst_ wifi of anyone. You have to buy a card and sign up for shit, and the one time I tried to use it, I couldn’t get it to work for me. All of the local cafes around here are much simpler - just click on their wifi signal and you’re on, no cards or sign-ups required. Plus, as far as ambiance goes, Starbucks is the pits. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-on-the-go-for-tourists-in-the-u-s/539955/12 "2010-05-22T03:16:28Z")
Thanks for the info, **Kyla**. I’m spoiled, too. There are 4 or 5 sources of free wi-fi in walking distance of my house. I think I’ll check out some free wi-fi directories and send him some links… Any other ideas out there?