Technology is continually evolving and internet enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets and smartwatches are increasingly becoming a necessity in today's society. With the internet just one click away from our fingertips, we seem to now be 'connected' almost 24/7, whether that's checking Facebook to see what your friends are up to, making sure you've caught up with work emails or even looking at your favourite news sites to get the latest celebrity gossip. All of this online activity has become the norm, and we expect to be able to access the internet no matter where we are in the world, even on a relaxing holiday.
With summer here, holidaymakers will have begun or will be travelling abroad to escape the British weather and enjoy some sun. Of course they will be escaping reality and enjoying time away from the everyday hustle and bustle, however it's certain they will be re-connecting when possible to boast about the scenic hotel views and local cuisine on social media, FaceTiming family back at home or catching up on the latest TV shows. In the UK, getting online is something that requires no thought process; 3G, 4G and free WiFi is available to us from the moment we wake up until the moment we put our head on the pillow, but as soon as we touchdown in a different country, this ease of access disappears.
Tourists are now expecting free WiFi in hotels as an essential amenity for their stay, and liken it to being as necessary as being able to take a shower. Research found that 94 per cent of people cite WiFi as the most important amenity, yet found that only 64 per cent of hotels offer it free to their customers. However, it's not only the cost of connecting to be concerned about, even if the WiFi is free, it may not be reliable enough for our connected generation's standards, and some hotels still aren't stepping up to keep customers happy.
Research found that as many as 43 per cent of hospitality venues believe customers think poor or non-existent wireless access is a price worth paying for the overall experience on offer. Unfortunately this is not the case, with 75 per cent of people saying a week without WiFi would leave them grumpier than a week without coffee . If hotel WiFi is unreliable, holidaymakers are left frustrated and in turn, less willing to keep loyalty to that same hotel.
With 60 per cent of people not being able to go without WiFi for more than 1 day , it's likely some will turn to the data roaming option and unknowingly rack up mammoth data roaming bills costing more than the holiday itself. Studies found that watching an episode of Eastenders on a mobile device could cost up to £1,360 in Turkey, compared with a maximum of £32 within the EU .
However, forget worrying about poor WiFi signal and high data roaming charges when traveling abroad this summer. With affordable mobile hotspots now available with no network restrictions, tourists can enjoy a secure and super-fast internet connection anywhere in the world, so they can stream their favourite movies, play games to keep them entertained by the pool and share their holiday snaps with friends. The newer mobile hotspots also allow users to share their internet connection with up to 15 WiFi devices simultaneously, so you can guarantee there won't be any arguments between your teenagers this holiday!