computers at hostels?
 

Browsing some hostel booking sites, I noticed that many offer wireless internet. I'm wondering if it is common for places with wireless to also have computer/s that guests can use? or is it internet cafe for those that don't want to carry a laptop?

tia

Molly

I can't think of any hostel that didn't have internet ready computers available for guests.

I agree, everywhere I've been has had computer access. Some free, some for a small fee.

yeah most hostels have a computer or 2 for guests. I have seen some people who carry lap tops with all the obvious pros and cons of doing so.

sweet. had a feeling, wanted to be sure. thanks.

M

you gonna carry a computer while you backpack??

Generally I have seen no wireless - just those "put in a quarter and get some internet" types. The nice one will offer it for free.

Yeah, it's sort of depended on part of the world, and varies from hostel to hostel. I feel like more hostels in the US have free wireless (or expensive stations!!), but that kind of wireless stuff wasn't readily available in Central America. Some places had a free internet station or three, others had stations where you could pay, one place was by freewill donation. Either way, internet cafes are ubiquitous and highly affordable in regions like Central America and South East Asia and China.

Haven't had too many forays into European hostels yet but in Rome the Yellow (where I stayed) provided free wireless AND laptops which you could check out to use.

I guess my general opinion is that you're never far from the net even while not packing a laptop and it's usually pretty easy and affordable to get on.

I'm not going to bring a computer. It's tempting but I keep telling myself no but I do want to be able to access the net for research as I move around and maybe get some work done once in awhile.

been looking at the sony mylo as something that might work for some of my purposes on future trips, especially if wireless access is plentiful.

thanks for the responses

Molly

With something like that you have to accept the very real possibility that you won't be taking it home, you could lose it, it could be stolen, there's also the very real possibility that you'll never actually use the thing because your too busy having fun.

Try your best to use the Internet for everything, it's next to free and it'll be everywhere you go.

From my experience, internet availability in hostels is the norm, but not 100%. However, there are internet cafes all over the place, so no problemo.

yeah, man, that's why I'm not bringing anything with me this time around. the motto is 'nothing i can't leave behind' ;) I bring that up though because I might go for a different kind of travel in the future where I also work and my work requires brief but frequent internet access which something like the mylo seems to provide. I think I'd rather carry around a little gadget like that than a laptop. ultimately though, yeah, I'd rather be playing than working, as well.

When I was traveling in Ireland, some people brought Sony PSP's because they could play games and connect to the free WiFi in some hostels. This got me thinking. The iPod touches allow you to do e-mail, web-browsing, etc. if you have a WiFi connection. Not perfect, but if you're already planning on bringing an mp3 player, it would be something useful to look into. I hear some people don't like typing on them, but it also apparently gets easier the more you use it. Has anyone tried this?

Internet is super easy to find almost everywhere I've been. I definitely wouldn't worry about it all... especially (as mentioned) how easy it is to find net cafes