Why so few internet cafes in tourist areas?
 

On a recent long cross country trip we looked everywhere without much luck for an internet cafe where we could check our emails and change travel and hotel reservations. We tried the local library but the waiting line to use the computers was extensive and many required a local library card.

During a recent trip to Asia, I noticed there was an internet cafe on every corner, but here in America INTERNET CAFES are nearly impossible to find. Seems like a money making opportunity.

I do not have a laptop for WiFi.

I believe it's a case of economics. While traveling in Asia, I found internet cafes are hangouts for hundreds of young people. At 5:30 a.m., you couldn't get in an internet cafe. When you do get in, they're having a great time, laughing and playing games.

In the US, most people have their own PC's and don't need to leave their homes for access. Also, I found most hotels have a business center, or a computer for public use if you just ask. I've found coffee shops very often have a couple of computers.

Kinko's often have a PC available; I've used one before when traveling on vacation. However, frequesntly when I'm at a resort, I'm not looking for email access so it may be a demand issue.

I know when I'm on vacation, the last thing I want to see is an email. Maybe the demand isn't so high?

If there is an emergency at my office, they have my phone numbers and can track me down. Otherwise, I'm offline, off the phone, and off stress.

Internet access in other areas such as Europe is not as common in homes as it is in the US. Hence more public internet access in public places.

I have a computer with internet at home and work! Where I need one is while traveling and it appears almost impossible to find a place with internet access for the traveler.

The wait for internet at libraries is incredible. This shows me there is incredible demand for public internet access.

My question stands, why so few internet cafes for the traveler?

First of all: If you're so intent on keeping up with e-mail and Internet access while traveling, break down and BUY A LAPTOP. Most good hotels will have some kind of broadband connection for you to get on. Most even make accommodations for dial-up. Laptops now have the horsepower and reliability to be desktop replacements.

Second: I can only speculate that internet cafés are popular in Asia because it's a relatively cheap way for middle-class kids to network AND to get out of their parents' houses at night. Computers are not as relatively cheap as they are here in the US (where they're becoming appliances), so not as many households have them, and they tend to be shared when they do have them.

In the US, however, internet cafés seem to be most popular (in my travels) in college towns and in cities with sizable Asian populations (especially recent arrivals). Mostly for cheap networking, I imagine. But for those who seriously need internet access while on the road, they have laptops already. They're not that expensive nowadays.

Not profitable. Revenue per square foot doesn't cover the rent, much less all the other expenses of running an internet cafe.

A couple of years ago I was thrilled to find the huge new Easy Internet place on 42nd Street in New York -- two floors of high speed computers that were nearly all filled, but easy to use. Yesterday I went by there. Although I'm traveling with my laptop I needed to print off a coupon so thought I could do it there. I was surprised to see the place half empty and the entire upstairs ripped out. I suspect there just wasn't the business that place enjoyed initially.

And there have been two attempts at home in touristy little Naples, Florida for internet cafes. But both have closed within months of opening. Just not enough interest. Kinko's still offers the service, but at pretty high prices, and their few computers are never all busy.

I agree, it seems to be supply and demand.

Few years ago, when I worked at the local beach bar as a part-time bartender, here on very touristy Siesta Key, Florida, the owner decided to install an internet station in the bar as one of the improvments. It was a brand new desktop with a high-speed cable connection, and the best part was the fact that it was totally free.

We get tons of tourists here in the summer from Europe. Also tons of American families as well, and snowbirds and college kids in the spring. To be honest with you, if I saw maybe 1 person a day using it, that was about it. The other times it was the employees during a slow time of the day and/or local beach bums. The intention of the owner was that if tourists come in and use it they will stay in our friendly place to enjoy a drink and some food. The two biggest user groups did not qualify for that. The station was taken out about 6 months later. I also want to add, that it was heavily advertised in our weekly local paper during the high season.

The others are right. If keeping in touch during your travels is so important to you, either stay at hotels that have business centers, or buy a cheap laptop. You could get a nice unit for under $500 that will allow you to connect anywhere there is wireless(100's of spots added everyday), high-speed connection(mostly business hotels) and dial-up(just about any place on earth). If internet cafes were big money makers in this country, you would see one on every corner, and since you don't what does it tell you?

By the way, I've had good luck at libraries. While the wait is sometimes prohibitive, I've never had a problem with not having a card. I tell the librarian that I am from out of town and just want to use the computer, and they give me a temporary ID card. I have done this in Europe as well, when there was no nearby internet cafe.

There not very profitable and they detract from people in the cafe spending $$$

I've often wondered the same thing. I'm an American living overseas, and when I'm visiting the US, it's near impossible to find inexpensive, convenient Internet access.

I've found Internet access at Kinko's, but it's expensive. It's also available at libraries, but you have to be a local resident to get a library card, and then you can only use the computers for about an hour.

I travel often, in fact, I'm in New Zealand right now, at one of five Internet stations in a town of 1,700! All locations have 4-8 computers, all have high speed access, most are coin operated, and the going rate is 10 minutes for 1 NZ $, which is US .60.

I'm only on the Internet because it's pouring rain and there's not much else to do at the moment!

I do have a laptop, but choose not to travel with it on long trips (current trip is 7 weeks long and includes many stops). I feel traveling with a laptop on holiday is a hassle, one extra thing to keep up with and in many parts of the world, dial up access is not all that common in non-business hotels.

I often travel to Europe and I've never had a problem finding an Internet cafe there either.

I guess the lack of Internet facilities in the US is due to the fact that so many of us have our own computers and laptops. It does seem that there is a market for people traveling within the US, from overseas and elsewhere, but apparently, there's not enough money in it.

Incidentally, many Internet facilites in NZ and Europe combine businesses - for example - I'm currently at a Wash and Surf - a combo laundrette and Internet station. Great idea.

Other people have said it: many Americans have not only their own computers but also internet access at home. I think internet access at home costs much more in other countries than it does in the US. Local telephone use may be by the minute in some countries.

So, in the US, it's a demand issue. Believe me, if there was a way to make money with an internet cafe in America, people would be doing it. If you must use an Internet cafe while traveling, do some research next time and find out where they are ahead of time. I too have used Kinkos a few times, though they tend not to be cheap.

I think in the next ten years we are going to see an amazing growth in notebook computers, to the point where it won't make much sense to buy a desktop computer anymore. Notebooks in ten years will have amazing battery life and be thinner and much lighter - so you'll be able to slip one into a suitcase and just use it to check your email via WiFi at your hotel or anywhere else you happen to be on vacation. Seeing that on the horizon, I can't imagine why I'd invest now in building an Internet cafe that is going to be obsolete fairly soon.

Andrew

LAPTOPS.

I don't agree that demand at the local library means there should be demand for an Internet café.

I was between jobs a couple of summers ago and used my local library for Internet access. It was quite busy. However, it was a completely different type of person using the library than I see using Internet cafes in Europe. Some of the people at the library were unemployed and job-hunting like me. Some were kids that had siblings at home and couldn't get to the family computer as much as they wanted. Some appeared to me to be poorer people who might not be able to afford a computer. Some were retirees accessing social security information that had no desire to set up a PC at home. In fact more than a couple of retirees cursed the day the dang contraption was invented. :-)

I found this out because I helped more than a few as they struggled with the Internet and the PC. I'm in the business and could figure out a lot of their problems for them.

Tourists in expensive tourist areas aren't lacking from money (or credit card debt perhaps :-D ) to the point where they don't have a laptop or a nicer hotel with Internet access. They don't need Internet cafes. Therefore there is no demand for them and they don't exist.

lowell, Is there anywhere you have not been to recently?