unlimited cellphone data plan vs. hotel internet fees

In my recent experience (May) everywhere I stayed had free wifi, except one 5-star hotel where there was a charge if you used it in the room, but it was free in the lobby. In addition, you can find free wifi all over the place - public parks, restaurants, etc. - or for a very small charge at places like McDonald's and Starbucks. I can't imagine that what you would be charged by a hotel could possibly more than $80/week.

Over the course of several trips to Europe, I also have experienced that most places offer free wi-fi. One place in Urbino, Italy charged something like 1E per day.

Almost everywhere we went in Italy had free wifi except Albergo Milano in Varenna. No way would I pay $12 a day for data on the phone.

Just as Nancy mentioned, every B&B and hotel we stayed at recently had free WiFi. Only our high end chain hotel charged for internet in the room, but it was free in the lobby. It's a good idea to take advantage of the free WiFi when you are in your room, check your emails or map out locations. Otherwise, you can get free WiFi at many cafe's and the like. If you don't already have a list of the hotels you will be staying in ask for one. Google their websites and check whether they have free WiFi. If their website doesn't specify (usually they will as this is a high selling point) send them an email to inquire. If you don't want the extra fee of an unlimited data plan then opt for the free WiFi.

Thank you so much for the information! I will just rely on free wifi then.

I would say that less than half the places I have stayed in over the last five years have had WiFi (called WLAN, over there). On the trip I just finished, I spent 14 nights in 7 places. Three places (6 nights) had WLAN. In two towns, I found Internet cafes. I used one, but the other was closed for the holiday. I have a USB device called a web stick, and I buy a SIM for it at a discount grocery in Germany and can access the T-Mobile GSM data network for €1,99/day when I don't have WLAN where I am staying.

Most of the places I have stayed had, at minimum, either a free computer in the lobby or free wifi in the lobby. Some also had it for free or a small charge in the room. Some of the hotels I have used just aren't able to offer wifi in the rooms (poor reception.)

@Lee, I don't think your experiences are the same as most travelers on this board. When you stay in private homes or very small family run places they probably do not provide the same amenities as the places most other people stay in. In my experience I have had free or very cheap wifi provided, at least in the lobby. Or they have a computer available in the lobby for your use. If you know where you are staying you can ask them. There is always free wifi at McDonald's or other places too.

On my most recent trip, 3 out of 4 of the hotels had free wifi. But my neighbors just returned from Europe and they had signed up for a limited data plan through Verizon. It's $25 for a month, with a limit of 100MB. If you go over, it's $25 per 100MB (I think that's correct). They said it came in really handy when they were out and about. And the 100MB was plenty for the few times they needed use it, outside of the hotel. It's something I am going to definitely look into for my next trip, as I also have Verizon. But, I think AT&T has something similar.

Just a caution about formerly-free Internet at McDonalds. In some places, McDonalds now charges. I ran into that in Berlin last summer. Also, others have posted that in Italy, to access the still free Internet, you have to provide a local telephone number so the system can text you a sign-in code. Haven't experienced that personally, but can believe it. A local prepaid SIM and a data roaming package from the local provider might be cheaper than cellomobile. But all the plans I've seen do limit the amount of data on the plans. It hasn't been a problem for me, though. Finally, some hotels don't provide wifi, but do permit wired Internet connections. I think this is lessening as time goes by, but if a hotel says it provides free Internet, that doesn't necessarily mean it provides free wifi.