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Wifi by fluzo |
Moving apartments last week reminded me of the transitory nature of being on the road. Most of the time, I need the Internet to work, live, and breathe, but being without it proved to be refreshing. There would be no e-mails, no alerts, and no digital calendar flashing orange message boxes across my laptop! By Day Two, I was still enjoying the serenity. By Day Three, my eyes had started to twitch, and I needed Internet.
So I did what I always do when I’m lost, lonely, and starving: ask directions. I sent a text message to 4info, where, after signing up online, you can always send a text message from your phone with the word wifi and the ZIP code of your location, and it shoots back a few spots (and the service does indicate whether the spots are “free” or “pay.”)
And I have a few other tricks to find Wi-Fi when traveling:
- Low-tech common sense says to explore and keep an eye out for multiple laptops and iPhones within a few yards of each other.
- Coffee shops go hand in hand with Wi-Fi, and if they have it, it’s often free. (Starbucks wi-fi is not free, but it is reliably easy to find.)
- I can’t think of a major hotel chain that doesn’t have Wi-Fi or Internet of some sort. I’m hoping if you’re at a hotel, you already checked, and if you haven’t, I suggest asking now.
- Look for a library! As this database shows, a lot of them offer you the chance to connect. [h/t Web Worker Daily]
- Airlines have been adding Wi-Fi to flights all over, though most of these networks are paid services. (A few months ago, Gizmodo put up a good list of things to know about these services.)
- Even when getting away from it all, national parks like Yellowstone offer access.
- Even a T-shirt can help you. [h/t Web Worker Daily again] — Andy Dost
