I'm going to a conference, and staying at the conference hotel, which is a Marriott. Is there free wi-fi? No. Is there free breakfast? No. I wish I were staying at a Holiday Inn Express or similar!

There's not even a g-d minibar anymore. I miss my stupid $5 Snickers bar and $11 tiny bottle of Chablis.

if you can afford a high-end hotel, you can afford to pay extra for the wifi, because the reasons people choose that level hotel don't have to do with the little extras, but with the brand.

The hell. The WHOLE reason I would choose a high-end hotel is for the little extras! Though the only time I stay in high-end hotels is when the company is paying for it. I'm a member of the Marriott and the Hilton progrmas, but for personal travel, I'm a fan of Best Western Plus - free wifi, free full breakfast, nice rooms, reasonable price.

My duplex neighbor is hammering stuff again. She was pounding on the walls last night at 10:30, I had to text and ask her to cut it out. What the hell are they building over there now.

Happy birthday, Sheryl!

Hello (again), Becky!

Though the only time I stay in high-end hotels is when the company is paying for it.

That is the key part of all of it. For the big hotel chains their business model is built around clients where a company is paying the charges, not an individual.

The YMCA rule for locker rooms is no opposite-sex kids over 5. But that's a bit different than public bathrooms, since there's nekkid people involved.

A (5) sticks like glue to her Dad and insists on going with him into the men's room than coming into the women's room with me, but hopefully not for much longer. Why aren't all bathrooms just unisex with stalls for everyone? Do urinals really save THAT much time?

There's not even a g-d minibar anymore.

Seriously? That was what made me think paying for wifi made some kind of sense, it'd be like having internet access in the minibar.

For the big hotel chains their business model is built around clients where a company is paying the charges, not an individual.

Yeah, that makes sense, but I would think wifi would be something companies would very much want their traveling employees to have.

I think I am giving up on lawn maintenance for today and ordering a new lawnmower from Amazon. Kind of silly, but I think it's what will get my grass cut soonest with the least aggravation. Sorry, neighbors.

My problem has been that even when the company picks up the cost of internet, fancy hotel internet is not especially fast or reliable.

My problem has been that even when the company picks up the cost of internet, fancy hotel internet is not especially fast or reliable.

This too. My employer always pays for "enhanced" wifi, but most of the time 4G on my phone is faster.

That is the key part of all of it. For the big hotel chains their business model is built around clients where a company is paying the charges, not an individual.

True. Which I guess explains the lack of minibars, except I'd be happy to pay for my own stupid $11 tiny Chablis. (What? I like minibars.)

My problem has been that even when the company picks up the cost of internet, fancy hotel internet is not especially fast or reliable.

It really isn't. They never seem to provide enough bandwidth to accommodate all the conference people who are jumping on it all at the same time.

And let me tell you, the cost of providing wireless in a conference space is a huge racket. The hotel makes such bank on that.

They could do a better job of it, then! Our IT guys are there struggling to manage the connection every time.