Why no WiFi?!
Jul 19th, 2008 by Lisa
I’ve just spent the last 2 weeks looking for Victoria area, family-friendly accommodations that offer WiFi. Why is it that so few hotels, motels, B&B’s, campgrounds and vacation rental homes offer this? With BC supposedly being touted as Techcouver, our tourist industry sure isn’t listening.
I have very simple needs; a clean, non-smoking room with two queen sized beds, a pool (that’s Gary’s request), a price under $300 a night and WiFi. For under $100 you can get a decent router and charge a few bucks a day to provide Internet addicted patrons the key to their affliction. When you’re self-employed, there is no such thing as a day off, but being able to bring your laptop poolside is the next best thing.
With the 2010 Olympics fast approaching, I’m sure the offer of free WiFi accommodations will be a huge selling point to tech connected families, business travellers and media. It makes absolutely no sense to me why a business wouldn’t offer it. Why limit your customer base?
If anyone knows of a decent hotel with a pool and wifi within an hour of Victoria, please let me know!
Have you looked into the Marriott? It’s right downtown - that’s where the kids and I stayed last month. No idea if there’s WiFi, but the hotel is great. There’s a pool, too (just a regular pool, nothing fancy).
When are you guys going over? There’s a great restaurant, called the Sticky Wicket on Douglas Street. Awesome food!
Supposedly Harbour Towers Hotels & Suites has wifi, not sure of the room rates, but they have a pool.
I guess I am one of the BC folks who is technologically challenged….I had to actually go and look up what WiFi was before I could respond….I guess it would be a good idea if you are travelling for buisness or on international travel and want to make posts about your adventures…..but for local use….I don’t get it….personally I want all electronic gadgets left at home….I am on vacation to enjoy my family the surroundings etc….if I so desperately need to connect to the world via internet then off to a internet cafe I would go….most hotels have computer connections in their lobbies….
It’s just not something I would necessarily want or concern myself about if I was on holidays….personally I thnk sometimes we have taken this whole techonology a bit to far….what ever happended to face to face contact and just asking the desk clerk for directions or suggestions for sites to see…..call me crazy….just my thoughts….I hope you found a place suitable…..and enjoyed your time….cheers!
Hi Mary Anne, while I certainly agree - a vacation should be a time to unplug and devote all time to family, we just cannot do that. We run an internet business and must be able to connect 24/7. With a web hosting business that offers constant support, our staff need to be able to email us if a problem they can’t handle occurs. Now that does not mean we are constantly on a laptop, but if a problem should arise we may need to work on it for a few hours so we’d rather have wifi by the pool to work rather than have the kids stuck in a hotel room. We get 700+ emails each night (about 2000 each day) and it would be impossible for us to not spend the hour or two each morning reading and/or answering them.