WiFi in the City

Whether in New York for business or pleasure, the chance is you'll want to log on to the Internet. Whether you agree to pay for it or not, that's a matter of preference.
For those whose dollars are reserved for sightseeing and shopping excursions, The New York Times' Frugal Traveler, one of my personal favorite blogs, has the post for you. In it, Matt Gross dispenses priceless advice on where to log on for free.
The ubiquitous Starbucks? Actually, not free unless you're an AT&T DSL customer or T-Mobile subscriber. Neither of those? Register your Starbucks Card, your gift card, that is, to “receive two consecutive hours a day of complimentary Wi-Fi.”
How about that other omnipresent chain McDonald's? They have about 30 outfits in Manhattan and Brooklyn complete with WiFi for no charge.
You could -- and, as Gross says, should, even if WiFi isn't on the agenda -- try the New York Public Library, but remember to bring your headphones.
If you can stand the cold or the city suddenly warms up, try Bryant Park or Union Square. Not going to be around either of those, check out these sites for other city hotspots: NYC Wireless, the Downtown Alliance, Yelp and OpenWiFiSpots.com.
An iPhone user? Download a WiFi finder from iTunes’ App Store. And for those Android users out there, Frugal Traveler's Gross recommends WeFi.
Finally, don't forget the Web could be right where you sleep. Check your hotel to see if it offers free Wireless.

By Krista K. Schmidt
Special contributor to New York Insider
www.nyinsidertours.com