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It may come as a surprise, but the free Wi-Fi you've been enjoying at cheaper hotels over the years can cost you a pretty penny at more up-scale lodgings. Now, places like Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Starwood, and Hyatt will toss loyal customers wifi for free, rather than charging $10 to $15 a day.
More and more luxury hotels are starting to view free high-speed internet access as a basic expectation instead of a convenient option, and are now offering free W-Fi to guests. But, they make you jump through a few hoops first:
- Hilton Hotels Must be a gold or diamond member of its HHonors program.
- Ritz-Carlton Must be a gold or platinum member of its rewards program.
- Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, and Park Hyatt Must be a platinum or diamond member of its rewards program.
- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Must be a platinum member of its Starwood Preferred Guest program.
If signing up for a rewards program doesn't sit well with you, booking your stay through certain credit cards, like an American Express Platinum or Centurion account, will also earn you free Wi-Fi. This perk varies between both hotels and cards, so make sure to do some research on your specific card prior to making your reservation.
Of course, some luxury hotels have no intention of offering Wi-Fi for free, arguing that faster internet speeds and on-site technical support are worth paying for. When you can get the same service for free at a motel down the street, we suspect their guests might beg to differ.
[Image credit: Michael Gray]
[via The Wall Street Journal]
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