Could you live without high-speed internet at home? I know I couldn't. I don't think that I could go a week without accessing the Internet while on a vacation, either. So, when I go to search for my next vacation rental, one of my “must-have” criterions is that a property have high-speed internet, preferably a secure wireless connection.

When deciding on which amenities you should provide for your guests, it is always helpful to know what travelers are looking for when they shop for accommodations. According to a study commissioned by Intel, 40 % of people said that they (or their family members) took a laptop on their last vacation, and 53% said that they would likely take a laptop on their next vacation.

With the increased demand for internet connectivity, it is probably a good idea to provide high-speed internet at your vacation home for your guests. If you decide to forgo providing this amenity, you could be missing out on valuable bookings.

What are your options?

Dial-up (also called Analog): Cheap, but slow-- very, very slow and requires a telephone line. If you enjoying torturing your renters, this type's for you!

DSL (Also referred to as high-speed):  Runs through telephone lines, but doesn't tie them up. Much faster than dial-up access and is always on and ready to surf.

Cable (Also referred to as high-speed): Very fast and can come packaged with your cable television.

Wireless (only available for high-speed connections): Allows you to connect to the internet with no wires. If you're going to set up a wireless connection be sure to make it secure. Your internet provider should be able to walk you through it or there are several good tutorials available online. Once you have a wireless connection set up in your second home, simply give the password to your renters before they arrive.

How much will it cost?

If your homeowners' association offers high-speed internet, you can often take advantage of the group pricing plans and get connected for as little as $10-$20 per month. Phone companies charge an average $20-40 per month*. If your property is in a more remote location where your phone company does not offer high speed internet, you may have to rely on your cable TV or satellite TV company, which could run anywhere from $29-$70 per month*.

The advantages of providing wireless connection to your guests: it can be anywhere in your home and it's easy to get connected to the internet. You would not have to worry about strategically placing your Ethernet connection near a desk. Guests could sit on the sofa, at the kitchen table, on the beds, or even outside by the pool to use their computers. Also, multiple guests can be connected at the same time. Today, you can purchase a wireless router for around $50.

With a wireless router you can even set a password so that your neighbors cannot piggyback on your competitive advantage. Just provide your guests with a simple password via the rental directions.

Currently, only about 30% of the properties listed on HomeAway offer high-speed internet access. But the times, they are-a-changin'… If you want your property to stand out amongst the competition, adding high-speed internet is a good first step. And don't forget to add it to your advertisements!

*Average prices were found from a quick search on Google and Yahoo! for ISP prices.

© Copyright Christine Karpinski/HomeAway, Inc. 2007

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