TR Snippet - Wifi

I was hesitant to travel with my computer in past years because I thought it was an advertisement for theft like fancy jewelry.  I also did not want to lose the information in the computer. 
I solved the first problem by buying the cheapest laptop and the second by keeping almost everything of value "in the cloud" as they say. 
My main word processor is Google Docs so none of my written documents are stored in my computer.
Most of my written reflections are on my blog.
My email is yahoo and hotmail.

So I lose none of this if someone takes my computer. 
I do have some photos stored that I periodically back up.  Having the computer in Vegas actually gives me a backup for any photos taken there so that everything is not stored on camera discs which can be so easily damaged.

More and more now, except in Vegas, hotels have fee wifi.  Airports are getting it as well.  Many coffee shops have it.  Even McDonald's in many places (including Vegas) may offer it.
In between wifi, I write up drafts on my computer based free word processor Open Office where I also put copies of all my Vegas notes for the trip.  That way I can access plenty of information even if I don't have wifi in my Vegas hotel room.

I used to print out pages of notes I had collected from discussion boards and sites.  Now that is just copied in the Open Office section as well.

Television is so terrible in Vegas.  When I am up unable to sleep or bored or broke for the day or just don't feel up for much, the computer offers me great entertainment.

Trip reports are so hard to write from scratch or notes after arriving home tired and with all the home routines to accomplish.  Being able each day to record adventures and reflections was very helpful.  I might write first on the computer based word processor Open Office and then just quickly cut and paste whenever I had an hour somewhere of wifi.  Many of my friends were astounded to get long detailed letters while I was in Vegas.  I just wrote them during sleepless times and cut and pasted into the yahoo during wifi times.

So here are places I tried free wifi in Vegas this past trip.

Of the six places I intended to find wifi, five worked. 

TERRIBLES did not work for me and I tried it in many locations. The host at the cafe called and asked for the name that those in rooms use and I put in Terrible's, but I could not connect there or near the gift shop or anywhere. Perhaps I needed to be in the room.

TUSCANY at Marilyn's cafe was just as I remembered it, uncrowded in the early morning and easy with even opportunity to plug into power.  Unfortunately I had both forgotten my wire and not used it to charge up my computer in my room overnight, so my walk up to Maryilyn's  was mostly a waste as my battery faded. 
However, great location for an organized person.




ORLEANS SEATTLE COFFEE


This was a great spot.  I was there again in early morning and it was uncrowded.  There are tables and there is a counter that looks out over the casino.  Were it to be crowded there are some benches as well just outside the coffee shop.  I did not buy anything.    
This was listed as an amenity attached to the $5 resort fee, so I figured I had paid for it. And later, when it was clear that the Orleans did not actually intend to charge me any resort fee, well, it was too late for coffee.  
No one bothered me.  
When I stayed at the Gold Coast I came up on the shuttle as well.  I never used it for long, just long enough to get caught up.


SUPER 8 KOVAL - next to Ellis Island
This was the best.  Works right in the room.  Also worked in the laundromat at 3 AM when I could not sleep and figured no one else would be washing clothes.


MCDONALD'S -  on way back from Red Rock.  I only rented a car for one day to hike Red Rock Canyon.  I took the Blue Diamond Highway and highly recommend that route over all others.  I can't remember exactly where but somewhere along that route, on my way home, I stopped at a McDonald's and bought a drink and had great free wifi.  The drink was in a huge plastic cup which I found very useful for the rest of my trip.  Held a good bit of home brewed iced tea in the room and was so much more convenient than those little cups they give for fee in hotels.


I loved having my computer even when I did not have wifi.  I could write up my day.  I could draft my email messages and have plenty of time to write all I wanted.  Then when I connected to wifi it was just some quick cut and pastes and I could email friends and family quickly before my battery lost power.

KRISPY KREME


I was staying at El Cortez.  I wake up before seven every morning as an old age habit.  It is a fine time to play video poker, but somedays I don't want to start using my bankroll that early in the day.
I walked down to Krispy Kreme and they were open.  Perhaps it was seven by then.  I got delicious coffee and some special doughnut that was decadent and delicious.  I set up a fine spot outside under the canopy and had an hour of free computer time. Krispy Kreme was not crowded at seven in the morning.
It was a fine setting.
However, bring a mouse pad because the tables are wire mesh and will not sustain a mouse.