Wi-fi Spots In Hotels....how To Find?

[davejonesbkk]

For my work I have to be online every single day to both check emails and send replies, follow up enquiries etc. So if I go away to an island of other tourist place I will need to stay in a resort/hotel which has wi-fi so th that I can just sit down with my laptop and do a bit of work for a few hours a day (and would prefer to sit by the pool! ) as I don't want to have to go off and use internet cafes.

So can anyone recommend any resorts/hotels with this or do you know anyway that I can find out? I usually like to go to Koh Samet so if you can tell me about a place there it would be great!

David

[Rice_King]

For various locations you may be heading, try these sites David:

MSN WiFi Hotspot Locator

With 133,836 free and paid WiFi hotspots in 72 countries, our Hotspot Locator makes it easy to locate wireless Internet access around the globe. Use the View on Map feature to see your search results on a map powered by Virtual Earth.

WiFi 411

JIWire

According to Google, these hotels on Koh Samet do provide wi-fi:

Novotel Rim Pae Resort

Ao Cho Grand View Resort

[Guest Reimar]

you may even could use an WiFi Finder to see you're in an area with accessible WiFi! I've one together with NB everytime I need to go somewhere while need an computer. The cost is between THB 1,000 - 2,500

[lomatopo]

Given your relatively simple, and low-bandwidth, application you really should consider using GPRS/EDGE. That is, using your mobile phone as a modem and utilizing a mobile phone service provider's data network. Easy, simple, 100% coverage and cost-effective.

[rafval]

woks work very well

[monty]

Concur with Lomatopo...

GPRS is very cheap over here, just by using pre-paid simcards.

It's time-metered and not data-metered as usually done in the West. Dtac sim prepaid around 250 Baht for a week unlimited use. AIS you choose how many hours you think to need in a month, with for example 100 hours costing 350 Baht, and 250 hours 500 Baht...

Downloading and sending e-mails using a mail client (outlook, thunderbird and the likes) works like a charm, and so will the occasional surfing.

Most populated area's are Edge capable, with theoretical topspeed of 238 kbps, but with practical speeds averaging between 60 and 140 kbps depending on time of day and how many people are calling away on their mobile phones!

And best of all, it simply works everywhere! Nationwide, poolside, beach, local pub, your room....

[Trevor]

For various locations you may be heading, try these sites David:

MSN WiFi Hotspot Locator

With 133,836 free and paid WiFi hotspots in 72 countries, our Hotspot Locator makes it easy to locate wireless Internet access around the globe. Use the View on Map feature to see your search results on a map powered by Virtual Earth.

WiFi 411

JIWire

According to Google, these hotels on Koh Samet do provide wi-fi:

Novotel Rim Pae Resort

Ao Cho Grand View Resort

Problem with many WiFi signals is that they are encrypted and you need to pay; sometimes it's even hard to find who to pay!

The MSN site above has a 'PAID' symbol next to Wi Fi sites -- does this mean they are free, or paid, or that they paid MSN for the listing?

[davejonesbkk]

Ok thanks for the info guys. The GPRS looks good and I'll look into getting that set up and give it a test here in BKK first.

[Plus]

Just check hotel websites. They all list wifi as part of their serives, don't they?

[Guest Reimar]

Even some restaurants offering FREE WiFi like Back Canyon and others. And its a diffrence to work on an fast Wifi System instead of an in many areas slow GPRS or EDGE! For this a WiFi Finder really pays off and I use my one alot!

[tingtong]

you may even could use an WiFi Finder to see you're in an area with accessible WiFi! I've one together with NB everytime I need to go somewhere while need an computer. The cost is between THB 1,000 - 2,500

Is there any available in Bangkok? on the net there is few different version, i guess the best which also show if the network is open, or secured. as i also travel a lot, it would be very practical, not to power up the laptop, and find there isnt any wifi to connect there.

however i've never seen any here yet.

Anybody?

[Guest Reimar]

you may even could use an WiFi Finder to see you're in an area with accessible WiFi! I've one together with NB everytime I need to go somewhere while need an computer. The cost is between THB 1,000 - 2,500

Is there any available in Bangkok? on the net there is few different version, i guess the best which also show if the network is open, or secured. as i also travel a lot, it would be very practical, not to power up the laptop, and find there isnt any wifi to connect there.

however i've never seen any here yet.

Anybody?

At Pantip Plaza 3. Floor Shop Platworth and an other near to the elevator, that shop is on the corner and running by Indians!

Edited November 17, 2007 by Reimar

[tingtong]

thanks a lot, Reimar.

i will have a loook there.

[tingtong]

been in Panthip. found both shop. neither had any to sell anymore.

however I saw 2 different shops with it.

but both had expensive model, 2500 baht, and non was sure to pick the unsecure networks out from the bunch.

the sellers doesnt have much clue, what is all about. or so I found.

anyway, will try next month, when back to the west.

thank you.

[punisher]

Concur with Lomatopo...

GPRS is very cheap over here, just by using pre-paid simcards.

It's time-metered and not data-metered as usually done in the West. Dtac sim prepaid around 250 Baht for a week unlimited use. AIS you choose how many hours you think to need in a month, with for example 100 hours costing 350 Baht, and 250 hours 500 Baht...

Downloading and sending e-mails using a mail client (outlook, thunderbird and the likes) works like a charm, and so will the occasional surfing.

Most populated area's are Edge capable, with theoretical topspeed of 238 kbps, but with practical speeds averaging between 60 and 140 kbps depending on time of day and how many people are calling away on their mobile phones!

And best of all, it simply works everywhere! Nationwide, poolside, beach, local pub, your room....

hi,just curioud did u ever use a mobile phone to connect via gprs to the internet,and if so did u ever got a speed of 60kbps or up?im using nokia 6681 and nokia n70,even in bkk it's never faster than 28kbps,also between 6pm till midinght really bad connection,i conect via bluetooth,is usb cable better?