I was in Hong Kong recently without any internet in my hotel room due to the exorbitant charge for internet service (HKD$280 per day for my hotel room at Regal Riverside Hotel) and I noticed that Hong Kong doesnt have many internet cafes. In fact, I only know of two- one in Mong Kok, and one is Tsim Sha Sui. Both were quite far from my hotel too.
I had quite major internet withdrawal 😉
This was quite surprising, given most cities I know, like Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, Bangkok, Phuket all have many internet cafes around.
Now I know many people get internet as part of their hotel room facilities, and many people bring laptops, or mobile phones and use wi-fi. But most people can do that worldwide.
Since Hong Kong is a major tourist city, I assume lack of internet cafes means lack of demand.
So my question to you fellow travellors is:
Do you use internet cafes often? Or do you know people who do?
😊
Reply to this I use them all the time in Thailand and the Philippines. They are pretty cheap there and there are lots of them everywhere. More and more McDonalds have free wifi in their restaurants. If you have a laptop stop in and have a coffee and a free connection.
Hong Kong is also run by communists now!
Reply to this There are hotels that offer free cable or wifi or have special rates for rooms with internet connection but they are still a minority. It pays to look around. I'd wager the main reason is that the infrastructure is old, i.e. many hotels have had to do investments to install it whereas newbuilds will come fully equipped. And nothing ever comes free in Hong Kong... 😉
Reply to this Hello Adrian 😊
I use internet cafes most days when I travel to email my boyfriend. As well as it being nice to email with him about what I am doing, I feel safer when he knows exactly where I am.
Most places have the internet. I have however been in a few places that didnt or sometimes didnt due mostly to not very good electricity or phone connection supplies.
Mel
Reply to this I live in Hong Kong but a few months ago had no Internet access while I was living temporarily in Tsim Sha Tsui, so maybe the Internet cafe (free) I had to use is the one you are thinking of (Pacific Coffee on Nathan Road?).
While traveling with friends in a slightly remote area of Mexico, one of us used an Internet cafe once, though technically not a cafe, just a store with lots of computers that they charged a few USD per half hour or something like that.
The thing about it is I hate having to check email while on vacation in a foreign country, since using email is associated with non-vacation to me. But if there's some pressing matter, then I love the convenience of Internet cafes.
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