Best -- and worst -- hotels for Wi-Fi

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(MoneyWatch) How many times have you settled into a hotel room only to find that Wi-Fi access -- nearly as essential as electricity these days -- costs $15 a day above and beyond the cost of the room? Or you get free Wi-Fi, but it's as reliable as Lindsay Lohan serving as an air traffic controller?

No worries -- HotelChatter has the scoop on the best and worst hotels in the U.S. for Wi-Fi service. Here are the five best chains, based on criteria such as price and connection quality:

Kimpton Hotels
Peninsula Hotels
Ace Hotels
Fairmont Hotels
Swire Hotels

And the five worst:

Westin Hotels
W Hotels
Marriott Hotels
Hard Rock Hotels
Hilton Hotels

Looking for free Wi-Fi? Here's a short list of hotels that offer connectivity at no cost:

Hilton Garden Inn
Hampton Inn Hotels
Hyatt House
Hyatt Place Hotels
Holiday Inn
Courtyard by Marriott
Residence Inn
Wyndham Garden Hotels

For the complete list, be sure to read the HotelChatter report.

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Dave Johnson is editor of eHow Tech and author of three dozen books, including the best-selling How to Do Everything with Your Digital Camera. Dave has previously worked at Microsoft and has written about technology for a long list of magazines that include PC World and Wired.

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stinkypond says:: I am new to a laptop. Figured when I retire and move away this will be helpful in keeping in contact with my kids. Since I have been traveling, guess there have been MANY people who want to CONTACT ME! Free wi-fi in my Ramada Hotel, and I used it. I will get over 40 spams a day with the subject..."Dearest", "Good Day", "Good afternoon", and so on. Yes, I have gotten them for many years on my PC, but whenever I come back from a trip I am overwhelmed by these junk notices. Answers as to how they get to me? Thanks!
Colleen; reply