Having to pay for Wi-Fi access one of holidaymakers biggest pet peeves, as a new survey has revealed that 38 per cent dislike putting money down in order to get online whilst abroad.
According to dailymail.co.uk, the survey, which was conducted by Thistle Hotels, also found that 51 per cent of tourists state that free Wi-Fi access is vital to their holiday experience. Getting online for free proved to be even more important to holidaymakers than their hotel having a pool or having a TV in their room. What’s even more shocking is that free Wi-Fi ranks above the hotel’s location, as only 41 per cent said being close to the destination’s attractions is a must.
The demand for free Wi-Fi is likely to be so strong because tourists just can’t drag themselves away from what’s happening online. On average, a holidaymaker will spend at least an hour every day browsing their favourite websites or updating their social media profiles.
Mike DeNoma, chief executive of GHL, which owns Thistle Hotels, explained that the hotel chain has just launched its own free Wi-Fi service.
“It’s crazy to think that in 2014 hotel chains are still charging up to £20 a day for Wi-Fi,” he said, reports travel-news.co.uk. “Our research shows that free, fast and reliable Wi-Fi is very important to holidaymakers.”
