Hi,

My mum is driving down between Darwin and Perth with some relatives and I imagine they will be staying in not rock bottom budget but certainly closer to that than top end places as they travel.

I was thinking of getting her a netbook laptop but that really only makes a huge amount of sense if the majority of cheap hotels/motels offer some kind of free wifi or free wired internet.

Does anyone have any idea if many places along this journey are liable to do so?

I have checked out a few places that look like the sort of thing they would be staying in, and some do, some dont.

Any opinions on this would be very helpful.

Thanks

Ali

I cannot say for sure BUT I would suspect that as there is a low population in most areas your mother will be going through, the chance of wifi is rather remote - like the area itself. They would be lucky to have broadband.

You've found the answer, Ali .... some will & some won't have either wireless or broadband. Despite the Gov't & Telstra's bleetings about 98% access - the reality is it's population, not location that has the coverage, and the majority of our population is on the eastern seaboard.

It's a matter of reception in some places and not everyone offers free access. I paid $15 in Moree recently but got free access in Lightning Ridge (both NSW North West).

Have you had a look at Telstras pre-paid wireless BB packages.
http://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond_in...|S||3212481635
No contract and it'd be a back-up anywhere they can't get free internet.

But it's a fair expense you'll be looking at for a laptop/WL even if you get a secondhand one.
And most places where there is going to be BB, Kununurra, Derby, Broome, Pilbara region, Exmouth,Geraldton etc. either landline or Satellite there'll likely be internet access available at places like newsagents or libraries if not an internet cafe or some other shop that has decided there's business in it.

If they look at staying in hostels [double/twin rooms at most] they'll likely find internet stations set up at those too.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Think we will be giving the netbook a miss.

Ali