Easy Access for Road Warriors – Practical Help’s Tip of the Day #TOD010

Here is how road warriors can make using the internet in hotels easier.

Frequent travelers, road warriors and people who spend a lot of time staying in hotels have a continuing beef with the way hotels serve up internet access.

The problem is that some hotels do things one way, some do things another way. Some make it easy to use the internet, some make it hard. Some charge extra for internet access, and some include that in their room rates. And many give you a lousy login screen you have to go through each time  want to access the internet.

Now most hotels offer wired internet in the room, but many don’t offer wireless. And for those that do, the wireless access can be painfully slow, since you’re sharing with lots of other guests. This can be really annoying!

So here is a way to make things at least a little easier.

For a handy printable tip sheet, please click this link: RoadWarriorEasyAccess.pdf  (Adobe PDF, get free reader here)

Just bring your own wireless router with you on trips. We like the compact yet powerful Apple Airport Express because it doesn’t take up much room in your luggage, and works pretty simply. Just plug an Ethernet cable from your hotel room into the Airport Express, and plug the Airport Express into a wall outlet.

Now in advance, you need to:

1. get yourself an Airport Express,
2. set it up for your use,
3. connect to it with all the devices you travel with, so they will remember it.

‘All the devices’ means your computer, tablet, and smartphone. Once you’ve connected to the Airport Express the first time, your device will remember that connection so you don’t need to do it again. Just pack the Airport Express away in your luggage, along with an Ethernet cable and any power plug adapters you might need for different countries.

Then when you travel, use it in your room and no muss, no fuss – your own personal wireless network is with you easily! Your own wireless network means you’re not sharing a slow wireless signal with the hundreds of other hotel guests. Since your devices already know that router, you don’t have to go through any complicated connection process. Just two caveats:

1. This works in your hotel room and maybe an adjoining room, but not throughout the hotel!
2. Depending on the hotel, you may have to log in and get internet access authorized, perhaps once every 24 hours

Even with these caveats, you can avoid most of the hassle of online access in hotels with this simple solution. Practical, eh?