[snaimon]

I don't travel much for business, but I do travel. Usually in US in major markets (Wash DC, Philadelphia), hotels offer FREE WIFI or ethernet access WITH YOUR STAY @ the hotel. Thus a phone or laptop can be easily used. An amenity and a must for the business traveller.

My point was that, in the very limited locations I mentioned in my post, free WIFI access as we experience it here in the US, is not very common in Europe. TRUE, I was not staying at the HILTON. The time before we were also in Versailles FR and the hotel had computers in the lobby, but, again, you had to pay for access. I did not have a phone with me and I cannot imagine they offered FREE WIFI. Did not see a sign nor were we told of the service.

As an aside, I don't frequent Starbucks or other such shops, but I believe many such establishments in US, including bookstores, offer FREE WIFI acccess.

I was in a cafe-bar in Duesseldorf (? - I really can't remember, but that is the most likely place) and they also offered internet access in the basement FOR A PRICE, of course, on their computers.

Stan