Timeshares and Internet

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

We are trying to decide if we should drop our dial up service. We only use it at timeshares and traveling, since we have high speed internet at home. What has been your experience recently at the timeshares you exchange into, rent or own and use?

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Same

I'm in the same boat. I keep elcheapo AOL for dial-up. Just can't make myself drop it yet, but maybe in November.

Nancy

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

The last 3 resorts we have been to have wireless....

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Netzero gives you 10 hours a month for free and has local numbers everywhere I have travelled. However, many resorts are now charging for local calls. Still, if the choice is 5 bucks for 10 calls during the week to check what I need to check, important stuff like fantasy football scores and such, vs. being out of touch for a week, I will pony up the dough.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I've had wireless everywhere I've been in the last 3 years- the last trip had good free wireless but no cell connection. Next trip will have ($ 20/wk.) wireless and good cell reception. It's getting to the point now that I would be worried about the dated condition of a resort that did not have wireless.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Olcc

OLCC doesn't have wireless in units.

Nancy

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Mauna Loa Village has no wireless internet. Fifty cents per local call, I think I spent $3.50 to do what I needed to do that week using netzero.

Sedona Summit is free in the lobby/lounge. $7 a day or $35 a week (I'm guessing but those numbers are close) in the room.

Galleon was $40+ for the week in the room and wired pc's in the lobby for a per minute fee.

Sheraton Desert Oasis has some wired rooms but they led us to believe that most are not. There are ethernet cables in the rooms that have it.

Outer Banks Beach Club was free in the lounge, nothing in the rooms. Free local calls so Netzero was free if I didn't want to walk to the lounge.

La Sammana had computers in the lounge, no wireless.

All of those visits were since Feb, 2007. As I look at the list, the only resorts with no wireless were Mauna Loa and La Sammana and I would say my info on the Sheraton is incomplete. None of those resorts is outdated or rundown though.

[shaneric Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shaneric]

depending on how much you are gone from home and your computer equipment, a possibility is to replace both with an "air-card" type high-speed broadband modem. You can use it in a laptop when you are at home and on the road.

This would only be viable if you were gone enough weeks out of the year. You will usually pay a little more than your home service, but you can take it wherever you go.

shaneric

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I keep an el-cheapo ($7/month) account with basicisp.net I needed it in the Wisconsin Dells this summer. I might use it at DVC next February rather than pop the $10/day.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I might use it at DVC next February rather than pop the $10/day.

The Mouse CHARGES for wi-fi? That's sinful.

I personally think that All gold crown and pineapples should have wireless free or reasonably priced in your room. Especially the high-end brand names.

Stayed at a tiny little place in Sanibel last April and their charge was $5/week.
Laguna Surf was free.
Morritts charged for service and it was wired, I think $10/day. If you stay in the last building next to The Reef you pick up their wireless and that's free.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I have one of the air cards. It can be hit and miss too. If there isn't good cell phone reception, it might not work well. I did add an extra antenna, and that helps, but still may be slow.

The air card isn't cheap, so if you can use it enough, it is okay. As was suggested, use it at home and at the timeshare, you might be okay cost wise.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

Most places I go have wireless. If they don't you can usually find an Internet Cafe', especially overseas. Starbucks and the like also have free wireless. Most libraries in the states also have free Internet connections as well. My bet is if they have phone service wherever you are, they have alternative ways to connect besides dial up.

If you want to drop dial up, I don't think you will be left without options.

Cheers

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

We dropped dial-up AND the land line years ago. Don't miss having it at home or on the road. Even if we have to pay for wireless at a hotel or timeshare on occasion it's cheaper than keeping phone/internet service we were paying for monthly.