[jdbob]

Anyone have any suggestions? Will be there the first of April for a couple of days. Want to keep it to NZ$130 or less per night (one person) and can use either wired (RJ45 Ethernet jack) or wireless.

I'll be in Blenheim from March 21st to 31st but have already found two motels with broadband there.

[sizzlingbadger]

We stayed in Mercure on the Terrace. Used internet the whole three days we were there, can't remember the charges though. Think it was about $100 a night.

[jdbob]

Thanks SB, booked. Also found a place in Masterton for my visit there (Masterton Motor Lodge) that claims they will have broadband by the middle of March, we'll see :roll

[jess]

Hi. Like jdbob I can use wireless or an ethernet jack. When I looked up Mercure, a hotel site said they offered a modem jack... not the same thing according to my OH, so I was wondering if that site might be mistaken.

Sizzlingbadger, (love getting to write that name!) do you know which they really have? When you were surfing did you have to dial up to the net?

Thanks very much for the help!!
Jessica

[jdbob]

I found "High speed transmission line" in the room description on the Accor website. I emailed them requesting a translation into English :) but didn't get a response. I decided to interpret that as broadband based on SB's response. It turns out I'm only going to be there 2 days so I figure I'd take the risk.

[jess]

Thanks jdbob. If I can get broadband in the room, I can still get paid and keep up with work while we are staying there. I just found this user review on TripAdvisor:All things considered, this is a fairly standard business-class hotel. However, what it does have is a truly *outstanding* pool - believe me, it's beautiful!... On a more practical level, the hotel rooms are efficient, but basic... Great views, though! Oh, and - rare for a NZ hotel - there is broadband available in the rooms. Unfortunately, it is very expensive, but the price can probably only come down with time...right?

So it's looking good. Thanks sizzlingbadger for the tip.

We'll hit Wellington after you do jdbob... going early April. Have a great trip!

Jessica

[jdbob]

there is broadband available in the rooms[/b]. Unfortunately, it is very expensive, but the price can probably only come down with time...right?

Maybe. I saw some prices for hotels (not that one) that were advertised for the ICANN conference in Wellington where they were talking NZ$30 or more or more for in-room broadband. It's possible that they just saw the ICANN attendees as "easy marks", or maybe they actually have the dellusion that it is actually worth that much.

Broadband seems to be still considered "exotic" in New Zealand.

[jess]

Just an update... the Mercure on Willis, another of the Wellington Mecure hotels, sent me an email about internet that said this:We do have internet in rooms. There is a cable which you just need to attach to laptop to get started. It is 69 cents per minute. But there is maximum cap of $33.69 per day. We have wireless hotspots on the ground floor of the hotel. You are more than welcome to use it in the bar or lobby area. Alternatively there is a business centre in the lobby. You need to buy an access card from reception. It is $5 for 30 min.
Ok I'm hopeless with math, but unless I'm on the internet for more than 3 hours, it looks like it's a lot cheaper to go downstairs and buy the $5 card for wireless than to use the connection in the room. So it pays to ask I guess. Again, this info is for Mercure on Willis not the Terrace.

J

[T-R3xx]

The Just Hotel has wireless Internet and it was not that expensive. http://www.justhotel.co.nz/

WAP's on all floors, good signals. We had a very nice stay there.