We decided to splurge on our hotel in Rome, choosing the beautiful historic Hotel Eden, which we got at a pretty good rate from Hotels.com. We really enjoyed staying there but, like many fancy hotels, Internet access wasn’t free. Nope, it was €25 a day plus tax. We’re somewhat addicted to the Internet — and felt quite cut off abroad because our blackberries only work as phones and don’t do email — but not addicted enough to pay that kind of money. So we set off our laptop to find a cheaper — and hopefully even free — option.
We thought that we would see signs for free Wifi all over the place in Rome. But we hardly saw any. Luckily we stumbled across the Scholars Lounge, an Irish pub on Via del Plebiscito, near the Victor Emmanuel II monument (aka the Typewriter or the Wedding Cake). If you need free Wifi or a Guinness, head to this friendly Irish-owned bar that opened in 2005. We visited twice in the evening, after dinner and long strolls around the city. Both times we were the only ones with a laptop, but no one seemed to mind. I think they were there for the beer and to watch sports on one of the many flat-screen TVs.
great post! it is so hard to find free wifi. i’ve got a post on our site about free wifi in europe. looks like you got a two-fer in that you got to be in an irish pub, as well!
It seems that the southern mediterranean countries are lagging behind the northern European ones in matters of the internet – probably out in the sun enjoying themselves. 🙂
I am always amazed why fancy hotels charge so much for internet access, while cheaper hotels often offer it free. I guess it is easy for a hotel to make money off these fees. Surely it does not cost the hotel 25 euros per day to provide a guest with internet service!
Here in Barcelona, I don’t notice as many wifi signs as I do back home in California. And I never see people using laptops in cafes and bars. Actually, I have only witnessed it once.