I visited the USA independently in March. I stayed in 6 hotels and they all had free Wi-Fi.

I also took my smartphone and I purchased a T-Mobile sim card in the USA. The card cost me $10 and I had it on their $2/day (only on days it was used) tariff. This gave me free phone calls within the USA and free (2g) data. I used the data for internet on the phone and also to tether it to my tablet PC when I was in the road.

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/pay-by-the-day-cell-phone-plans .

I also purchased a “Calling Card” over the internet for $5 and used this in conjunction with the free call on my mobile to make calls to the UK for a few cents per minute.

If you buy a sim card in the USA make sure to choose a network that uses the GSM system, such as T-Mobile. You also need a phone that is at least Tri-band.

Hi Chemistman and Olly

I have looked at the websites of all the hotels they we will be staying in during the route 66 trip. As far as I can see they all have Wi-fi and only the Hilton in Chicago apper to charge. I'm not too sure how much they charge but I'm sure it won't be too expensive.

I will be taking my iPad with me on this trip so that's why I've looked into the hotels myself.

Hope this helps

Paul

Hi Chemistman

I haven't been to the US for a few years now but I believe that most US hotels offer a WiFi connection either free or for a fairly low cost, so you should be fine at most of the hotels you stay at.

I found this article on the internet which suggests 55% of US hotels offer a free WiFi service:

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles.aspx/3944/Hotel-guests-put-Wi-Fi-at-top-of-amenity-list 

Kind regards

Olly, your editor

Hi - I know this is a new trip for 2012 but is it your experience that US hotels provide free WiFi or does this vary from place to place? I stayed at a comfort inn in New York recently which provided free WiFi but I don't know how common this is.