How important is Wi-Fi/TV in a vacation home?

[kwynn]

I've spent a week searching for a little ski condo/cabin about an hour away. It's my sister's 30th birthday and I wanted to do a little getaway for her - skiing, snowtubing, hot tubbing, drinking (well, not so much me), spa day.

I'm inviting her friends to come and we have a group of 5 so far, maybe 6 - possibly 7. I got turned down for my top choice of place (they do not rent to singles - only to families with children, not 6 adults together unless you are related).

I'm not asking anyone to chip in any money - they can come and stay for free in the condo. They just have to pay to ski if they want it, dinner out or spa day, etc.

It has been a bit hard to find all my "wants" - on property (ski in ski out even), 2 bathrooms to make getting ready faster, not super super expensive, hot tub, will book single people, not scammy/asking me to go off the website to book, etc.

I found one and while a bit smaller than what we wanted (a 2BR but sleeps 6+), it's perfect. Contacted them and dates are available.

I just realized - no TV and no WiFi when I looked at the photos closely and read the listing again. Is this bad? Lodge has WiFi, restaurants/spa have WiFi. We could bring games and I guess some DVDs on a laptop.

My sister said people aren't going to want to waste their data all weekend. I thought maybe they could just use sparingly and use more when we go out to eat, if someone needs to check work email they could go to the coffee shop?

What's weird - I LOVE internet, but never thought to check. Don't want to disappoint ppl.

[sandyapples]

For a weekend, I don't think it's a big deal. I would just use data.

[MrsDarcy]

I think if someone was paying for me to stay in a cabin with my friends I could go without WiFi, definitely TV. Honestly, I wouldn't even think of it. Though, i don't know the age of your sister, perhaps the "youngs" might feel differently (though, I'm only 34, so not far off). I think if it's perfect otherwise, go for it. You're sweet to do this.

[yentl]

For me, it depends on where I'm going. I think for a snow cabin type stay I would want wifi and TV versus if I was going on vacation somewhere where I was going to be out doing things all the time. But for a weekend, that would not be too big of a deal, especially if someone else was footing the bill.

[imojoebunny]

We do not have WiFi at our cabin on purpose, even though DH's work will pay for us to have it. We have vague net through cell service, but it is just to check email, maybe GBCN very slowly, and get text, even phone calls are suspect, and you usually have to go outside. If we rented it out, we would provide real WiFi, but we don't. I have no problem getting people to come up there. I have 7 women coming in two weeks for the weekend. We do, however, have terrific TV service, but if I have a large group of adults, no kids, it is entirely possible, we don't turn on the TV the whole time. With kids, the TV and Wii are critical.

[VillainV]

I would prefer to have both, but neither is a deal breaker. We don't watch a ton of TV on vacation, but I like having WiFi in unfamiliar areas so I can search for restaurants, book dinner reservations, check what time stores open, stuff like that. Data would be fine for that, but most ski places I've been get almost no cell signal.

[Deleted]

When I'm on vacation I never have time for tv and I wouldn't mind using data for a weekend.

[y4m]

As long as there's cellular data coverage I'd be fine for a weekend.

[flatlan]

I think in this situation you would be fine without both for the weekend. It might even make everyone a little more "connected" to each other!

[alleinesein]

Jan 6, 2016 22:23:48 GMT -5 Stan said:

I'm 31, and I'm going to the Bahamas in a couple weeks and the place I rented doesn't have Wifi. I'm actually kind of glad!

You are going to swim with pigs...thats like 1000x better than having WiFi!

[Susie]

TV - nbd.

Wifi - eh... for a weekend I could do without it. If it were business days, I'd need it (to stay up on work matters). But it's not like there aren't other places to find it nearby, so it's probably fine.

[steamboat185]

Not a big deal. People should be taking to their friends in the condo anyway and we rarely watch tv especially after skiing. Bring some cards and a board game or two.

[wannabe]

We just spent the weekend in a cabin with no cable or wifi and it was miserable beyond belief. Never again.

[aurora]

I wouldn't care about TV.

For a long weekend I'd be fine with data. For a week I'd rule out somewhere without wifi.

[alleinesein]

I barely survived 6 nights with no WiFi, spotty cell service and satellite tv that went out every multiple times an hour. I need at least one of those to stay sane if I am cooped up inside with other people!

[kwynn]

So the lady I am looking to rent from is supposed to send me a contract, but she mentioned she has other properties not on the resort website. I'm going to ask her if she has any Wifi+hot tub places just to see before I sign on to this one! I took a trip to Europe and we had a major cell problem in all of Iceland (wouldn't charge due to a fault outlet not our converter) - and it was hard to get around without it, but we managed.

[v]

That would be absolutely fine for me but I'd warn people in case it is an issue with their jobs (in which case it may just be a matter of them planning ahead to bring a Mifi device or whatever if they need to connect for long periods of time).

[Deleted]

I lived in an apartment for 8 months with no wifi or tv and now I have a tv but no cable, so it'd be fine for me.

But I'd give people a heads up. My boyfriend can travel pretty much whenever wherever but he has to have somewhat regular internet access. I just planned a vacation and had to specifically look for places that offer wifi.

[Pom]

Using data for the weekend is fine, especially since WiFi is available in the public areas. The weekend should be about the people you are with, not Cable and Internet. Take some games, booze, it's all good.

[ECB]

TV I could care less about (And I watch a LOT of TV - just not when I'm on vacation!). The Wifi - as long as there is service, I think it's fine. Obviously wifi is ideal, but really- for a short weekend away with friends, I'd hope that being attached to their phones wouldn't be necessary.

[scout8]

As long as there was service, it wouldn't be a problem for me. If there was no service AND no wifi, that would be a problem. I need to be connected for work even on the weekends.

[1yeartogo]

In my family we can't stay anywhere without wifi...but I'm also married to a computer nerd so there's that. If they are more laid back you will probably be okay.

[Deleted]

For a weekend it would be fine with me! I'd love a reason to unplug!

[shamrockshake]

they're getting lodging for free, that would cover the cost of the data for the weekend. I think it's weird that it would be a deal breaker. it's not like there is NO service. My parents vacation home doesn't have wifi and we go there most weekends in the summer, I have never really thought twice about it

[Gato]

Personally, I don't want a TV in the room when I'm on vacation.  If it's just for a weekend, I could do without WiFi too.

[keweenawlove]

No big deal. We stayed at a place with no wifi or TV this fall and it felt amazing to disconnect. I'd just let them know in advance. The lodge does have wifi if anyone really needs it and doesn't want to use their data.

[agnes]

I don't like not having TV. But if I have cell service, I can use that. My phone is broken right now and doesn't connect to wifi anyway.

Like even when I was in Europe and couldn't understand a word that was said, I still watched TV.

[brooke77]

TV doesn't matter at all.

WiFi could be an issue. I need to at least check-in for work and I find that when I use data its much slower. It is by no means a deal breaker though. Given your limitations, I think you've done the best you can to accommodate. Give everyone a heads up when you share the details of the place and they can make their own arrangements if necessary. It sounds like an awesome weekend!!

[dexteroni]

I wouldn't care about there being a TV. I would prefer wifi but would be ok without it. Anyway, it's free lodging. Just let everyone know ahead of time in case someone wants to bring a wireless access point for their own use, or was planning on bringing a wifi-only iPad or something.

[livinitup]

A weekend trip doesn't usually allow much time for TV and free wifi is still a bonus for a vacation place. Not a requirement. Lots of people LIKE to unplug.

Plus, if you invited my DH, he'd bring his hot spot with unlimited data to share. He has one for work and brings it places.