Things You Will Need

  • Ethernet cable (or simple telephone cable if hotel does not offer Internet service)

  • Dial-up information for the Internet service provider you use at home (if the hotel does not offer Internet)

If you are staying in a hotel and need Internet access but don't have a wireless card, there are a couple of other ways to get on the Internet. If your hotel offers Internet access, they often offer wired access through an Ethernet jack in your hotel room. If your hotel doesn't offer the Internet at all, you can take a few extra steps and connect with a dial-up connection using a standard telephone cable.

Locate the telephone jack in your hotel room. If it contains a separate Ethernet jack, your hotel likely offers high-speed Internet. (The Ethernet jack and the corresponding cable, will be slightly larger than a standard telephone jack.)

If the hotel room supports Ethernet, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the hotel room's Ethernet jack. (If you don't have an Ethernet cable, the front desk may have one available.) Turn on your computer; it should automatically detect the Internet connection through the Ethernet cable.

If the hotel does not offer an Ethernet connection, connect your computer to the telephone jack using a standard telephone cord. Unplug the hotel phone to do this, if necessary. In this manner, you can use a dial-up connection to connect to the Internet.

Make note of the hotel's procedure for dialing out of the room (for example, dialing "9" before the number). This should be printed on or near the telephone. Ensure your computer is set up with the dial-up information for the Internet service provider you use at home.

Open your computer's dial-up connection, and type in whatever extra numbers the hotel requires for dialing out.

Tip

Be aware of any charges you might incur before trying to access the Internet. Some hotels offer free Internet access, but some charge a fee. Also, if you use a dial-up connection, you may incur charges from the hotel, even for local calls. If possible, to save on costs, contact your Internet service provider for a toll-free number or local access number for the city where you are staying. If none of the above options works, check with your hotel to see if they have a business center with a computer. If they do, it's likely they also offer Internet access at that computer.

Warning

Do not attempt to use a dial-up connection if your hotel uses a digital telephone line. You can burn out your computer modem by connecting it to a digital telephone. Check with your hotel first.