A lot of our lives revolve around being able to get online and access the internet. It’s become a crucial part of our lives keeping us in touch with the rest of the world and up-to-date with news. It makes it even harder to switch off from work if we’re constantly hounded by customers or checking emails has become addictive. If you’re one of those travellers that needs a connection to the internet, then there’s lots of options to keep you hooked up to wi-fi. We cover some of the surprising places in the world you can stay to connected, and where to look for a hotspot.
Photo by: ake1150/Adobe Stock
The greatest wonders of the world… even greater with wi-fi?
If you’ve already visited one of these places then it’ll come as no surprise, but some of the world’s biggest attractions have free public wi-fi. These are great for instantly updating your Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook live stories… or just sending a photo back home to your family to share the moment. Catch the connection from the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, and Petra.
Photo by: klublu/Adobe Stock
Recycling abandoned telephone booths
With the rise of mobile phones, telephone booths have almost become obsolete. New York City have found a great way to make use of these abandoned boxes by turning them into information hubs connected to the internet. Browse maps, the net, or find travel information. Handy if your phone is out of data while in the city. 7500 of these booths will be able to offer free and fast wi-fi. London is also home to some of these updated telephone boxes.
Poor wi-fi in your accommodation
If you think the wi-fi might be sketchy in your hotel room, consider packing a short ethernet cable so you’re not relying on the wi-fi. Plugging your laptop into the mains can also help boost the strength of your connection.
Photo by: upslim/Adobe Stock
Scale the mountains while staying connected
Wi-fi connections are being trialled and rolled out around some of the best mountain hikes including Mount Everest, Mount Fuji, and Girnar Hill.
Beating boredom in airport lounges
The wait for your flight to be called becomes that much longer when you’ve not got anything to do. A clever app, WiFox, shares the wi-fi details for hundreds of airport lounges around the world, enabling you to easily connect up and get online. Some airlines even offer wi-fi during flights now. Be sure to check before taking off though.
Photo by: Tomasz Zajda/Adobe Stock
Travel with wi-fi in your pocket
There are lots of portable, battery-powered options available for travellers to either buy or rent, allowing them access to the nearest connection wherever they are around the world.
Skyroam allows you to either rent or buy their Hotspot box. Connect up to 5 devices and pay one flat daily rate with no subscription so you can use it as and when you travel. Purchasing the box can be more cost effective if you travel a lot (priced at $79.99) and pay for passes allowing unlimited data for 24-hours (at $8 per day). For one-off trips, simply pay $9.95 per day to rent the box and get your data.
The alternative TEP Wireless system works in a similar way. Like the device from Skyroam, these can be collected from airports before you fly off and returned when you get back. Alternatively, you can pay postage costs to have it delivered to you. Pay £6.95 per day plus £1.50 per day extra for the 4G upgrade and get 500MB of data each day.
Photo by: Visionsi/Adobe Stock
Cafes, restaurants and pubs
Although open public wi-fi can be less secure, prioritise searching for a password protected option. Simply ask for the password when you place your order at the counter. As it’s password protected, it means less people will be using it and it’s more secure. Many cafes will offer free wi-fi to entice you inside. Make sure you order something though!
Keep safe on public wi-fi
As mentioned before, open and free wi-fi isn’t the most secure. Only enter sensitive data on sites marked as “secure” in the browser you’re using.
Photo by: Myimagine/Adobe Stock
Wif-fi in public transport stations
Many of these will also offer free open wi-fi because we all know how time drags when you stood around waiting for your bus or train to arrive.
Grabbing wi-fi with your hire car
Some suppliers that we operate with can offer a wi-fi box with your rental car. For example, wi-fi can currently be requested when booking through Zest with the supplier Rent Car 4 Less in Portugal. You’ll be provided with a set amount of data per day, discussed upon arrival, and any extra you use will be charged to your credit card.
Book your hire car today and travel unhindered!
Written by Jessica Juby.
Make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest travel tips and news. Remember to sign up to our newsletter below for the latest deals.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Want our blogs emailed direct to you? Sign up below to get updates featuring our blogs and car hire top tips. Receive the best deals on car hire straight to your inbox.
