# Really stupid wifi in hotel room question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858 "2010-07-16T00:24:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gusano](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusano/32/9091_2.png) [@Gusano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gusano)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858/21 "2010-07-16T21:51:51Z")
You might want to confirm that the WiFi is free. I have stayed at a couple of hotels where Ethernet access was free but where wireless had a surcharge. The instruction card provided by the hotel will be your best bet for information, but it may or may not have relevant MacBook screens for you. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858/22 "2010-07-16T23:58:08Z")
Just watch out for the so-called “free wifi” scam. > **[Don't fall victim to the 'Free Wi-Fi' scam](https://www.computerworld.com/article/2549362/don-t-fall-victim-to-the--free-wi-fi--scam.html)** > > You see the wireless network connections all over the place -- especially in airports -- advertising "Free Public Wi-Fi" or "Free Internet Access." But don't connect, warns Preston Gralla, because they could be a security attack. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858/23 "2010-07-17T15:43:26Z")
> [@Gusano](#): > > You might want to confirm that the WiFi is free. I have stayed at a couple of hotels where Ethernet access was free but where wireless had a surcharge. How can they know that you and precisely _you_ used your iPod Touch (or whatever) to connect to their WiFi 😕 ? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858/24 "2010-07-17T16:10:56Z")
> [@Khaki\_Campbell](#): > > How can they know that you and precisely _you_ used your iPod Touch (or whatever) to connect to their WiFi 😕 ? MAC address. ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858/25 "2010-07-18T22:55:02Z")
> [@Gusano](#): > > You might want to confirm that the WiFi is free. I have stayed at a couple of hotels where Ethernet access was free but where wireless had a surcharge. This is the reason I always carry a [travel router](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156262) whenever I stay in hotels. Just plug one into their wired ethernet and you’ve got free WiFi without any fuss. I learned this lesson after a business trip to Orlando years ago. I naively assumed there would be WiFi access in all the hotels, but where I stayed they offered only wired connections. I hadn’t brought a cable with me, so had to rent one from the front desk for $10/day. Unfortunately their cables were only a meter long, forcing me to do all of my work with my laptop either on the floor or precariously balanced on the armrest of the sofa nearest the ethernet port. Never again. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858/26 "2010-07-19T23:16:30Z")
> [@sco3tt](#): > > This is the reason I always carry a [travel router](http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156262) whenever I stay in hotels. Just plug one into their wired ethernet and you’ve got free WiFi without any fuss. > > I learned this lesson after a business trip to Orlando years ago. I naively assumed there would be WiFi access in all the hotels, but where I stayed they offered only wired connections. I hadn’t brought a cable with me, so had to rent one from the front desk for $10/day. Unfortunately their cables were only a meter long, forcing me to do all of my work with my laptop either on the floor or precariously balanced on the armrest of the sofa nearest the ethernet port. Never again. Geeze, at that cost, it’d be cheaper to just go into town and buy an ethernet cable.☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-stupid-wifi-in-hotel-room-question/546858.md?page=1)