Laptops in hotels
 

This really seems like a basic question, but for a non-business person who is still relatively new to the world of computers it is an important one. When traveling with a laptop and hooking up to the internet in hotels, how does that work? I assume I can dial AOL or Gateway, or my usual appropriate server on a local or 1-800 line to access my own server from any location in the US, but if I sit and surf for a hour or two, what does that cost. Will the hotel charge me some exhorbitant rate, or is that totally dependent upon individual hotels. I do not have a laptop now, but am considering going that route considering the length of my next summer's trip and length of stays in each location. Or will I have a lot of problems using the laptop in hotels? A friend told me he can never seem to get his to work from most hotel locations, but I don't think he's too bright anyway.

I always try to stay in hotels that don't charge for local or 1-800 calls. I don't know how common hotels with that policy are, but I've generally been able to find them in the few locations that I travel to regularly. I'm currently in a Hampton Inn that doesn't charge.

<BR> <BR>Patrick: <BR> <BR>Before going on a trip, just look up the local access number of your internet provider in the destination city. For instance, with Earthlink, before leaving home, I go to the Earthlink home site and under "Users Help" (or something like that), I can find the Earthlink server telephone-access number located in the city to which I'm traveling. Then, upon arrival, I need only to make a local call, just like at home. (BUT! be sure the number is local, and not simply in the same area code.)

Any other info/advice out there? We're planning an extended road trip and I had similar concerns. <BR>Thanks, Emily

Besides making sure either 800/888/877/866 or local calls are free (or not charged by the minute), don't forget to add the 9, or 8, in front of the number. <BR> <BR>The 9 (or 8) depending on the hotel will get you the dial tone, and the , (comma) will add a pause. Sometimes a pause is needed to wait for the outside line dial tone to come on before the acutal number is dialed. <BR> <BR>I have found that it is easier to just overwrite the dialing number rather than trying to set up a new connection or new location on your internet service. <BR> <BR>Example: <BR>If you normally dial 234-5678 or your service, change the number to 9,234-5678 . <BR> <BR>Also, to be sure you aren't charged, you can ask the hotel to block all toll calls and/or make a short call to the number, hang up and call the operator/desk to check on the cost of the call (if any). <BR> <BR>

Some hotel phones are mounted on thewall, but you can usually take them off the wall by tugging upward on the body of the telephone. Then you'll usually see a normal telephone socket into which you can plug your computer. <BR> <BR>Remember to take a long enough cord to reach from the wall to wherever you want to have the computer. <BR> <BR>Some hotels do charge for local calls, so be careful. Others charge various extra rates for long distance over the normal telephone company long distance charge, so check this, too. And some hotels charge some travellers for phone calls, but do not charge people who are members of a frequent guest club of some sort. <BR> <BR>And finally, rates vary sometimes between hotels in the same chain, depending on the city. It might be free in Cleveland, but cost a fee in Toledo. <BR> <BR>BAK

I travel with a laptop frequently for work. Here are a few suggestions and observations: <BR>1) If traveling by air, carry the computer with you - never check it. Most airports have a security system desingated not to hurt computers and they don't. Be sure the laptop battery is charged as you may be required to boot it up in security. <BR>2) As mentioned above, don't dial long distance to get to your service provider. If you must, then program a calling card number in your dial program so it gets charged there at a much lower rate. <BR>3) About 1/2 of the hotels have a data port in the side of the phone. Others you have to crawl around on the floor. Bring along a duel phone jack (inexpensive at radio shack). With this tiny thing, you can take the plug from the back of the phone and connect to your phone line, without having to go all the way back to the wall jack. <BR>4) Most importantly, keep an eye on your laptop. They are one of the most stolen items in the US. I have a really obnoxious yellow stripe of paint on my generic black laptop case. This will not prevent it from being stolen, but will make it more recognizable in the lobby of a hotel full of others holding black cases.

Hi Patrick, <BR>I am on the road 80 -100% of the time for business and I live with a laptop! Many of the major chain hotels advertise a "business" room that will have a desk with one or two phone lines set right up on the desk. Always ask for a room with a line for your computer and it should not be a problem, ask the hotel policy for calling and they will tell you their rates. I stay mostly in Marriott's and their local calls are free. <BR>Never plug in to a line unless it is designated for a computer. The first thing that I do when I check into my hotel room is look at the setup for my computer and make sure that it works - if it doesn't, or if the room is set up funky ( I once had a room where the modem line was over the headboard of the bed!) - I ask for another room and I always get one. Good luck!!

Since you say you do not have a laptop now, one thing to consider when purchasing is size. If you're mostly going to use it to email home while traveling you won't need anything very large. We have the little Sony Vaio and the nice part is, it's small enough to fit in the in-room safes. Unless you plan to carry the laptop with you at all times, being able to lock it up is a big help. Ours is also very light weight, which is a big deal after you've hauled it through several airports. We travel internationally quite often and our email connection is a marvelous way to stay in touch with home. Even with extra charges, its much cheaper than calling home and a great way to compensate for the time zone differences - we write in our time zone, they read in their's. Good luck.

TC. No, I don't have one now, and was sort of expecting people to tell me about all the problems of traveling with one, thereby saving me lots of money by not buying one. However, it seems that the problems are not so great. Since I will be gone for 5 months again next summer and staying a full month in both LA and NYC, it really seems like a good idea to get one. But it also seems like I might get a really good one to replace my computer at home, rather than switching back and forth. I suppose I use my computer about 10% for emails, 20%for surfing and planning travel, and about 70% being on Fodors. (maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but not much.) Any comments? Don't forget, I'm not traveling back and forth for business, but pretty much at home 6 or 7 months, then traveling for 5 to 6 months.

For whatever this is worth, I know someone who bought the $99 e-mail stations (now advertised on TV). They asked me what I thought before it was purchased, and I gave a thumbs down and essentially said, "Why not get a laptop?" This person travels away from home in the summer months (from kid to kid) and has become an e-mail enjoyer. You could definately say this person is a non-techie - ANY minor problem causes a stoppage. <BR> <BR>Well, this person has returned home after a summer with the e-mail station. It was a total success. No problems changing places and finding local dial in number. We traded e-mails several times a week. The keyboard was not too small (some fat fingering). I was very surprised - but it did change my mind on these 'dumb' devices... especially for someone who I know would not conquer a new computer or a laptop. There is no internet access - but always available at the local library in the nearby cities and towns for surfing (for the geneology interests). <BR> <BR>Sounds like you need internet access, so the laptop is a way to go....

My laptop was 'scrogged" at a Comfort Inn in Atlanta... <BR>Still can't figure out why... <BR>Any ideas?

What does "scrogged" mean?

We use Microsoft Access and have remote email capabilities set up so it will dial the 1-800 line to the company server. We can also get to the internet that way, but at a measley transmission rate. Last month I was fortunate to be booked at the W Hotel in SF. Not only could I use my laptop, but if I had wanted to spend time surfing the net, for $9.95/day extra I could use webTV. Pretty cool. Of course I never spent enough time in my room to want to websurf, but I know I've been on other trips where it would have been a terrific entertainment.

Hi. My husband is an international airline pilot- and goes out for up to 11 days at a time traveling all over Europe and Asia. We changed our internet provider to Earthlink. They have local access numbers in all the cities he travels to, AND, we travel frequently in the US, and they also have local numbers in all the us cities. We live in a small (~8000) town in the midwest, basically middle of nowhere, and we have 2 local access numbers to earthlink from our home. Our traveling computer live has been made so easy with them. NO, I don't work for them, but with all the time zone differences, email is our main mode of communication from overseas.