Work from bed: stay in a hotel with free Wi-Fi
Why: For business travelers today, a hotel without networking is like a bed without a blanket. Even bargain-basement hotel rooms have phones with an extra port for plugging in a 56Kbps modem. In fact, the really hot deal among business traveler-savvy hotels is free wireless access. Almost all of the major chains have announced that they have implemented free Wi-Fi or they'll be offering it later this year. To understand the benefit of this phenomenon, all you need to do is picture yourself rolling into your room, booting up your laptop, and shooting out some e-mail. No extra fees to pay, no cords to carry, and no remote-access phone numbers to remember as you work in your skivvies.

How: Once you've used an online travel site to identify a hotel you want to book, head over to that hotel's Web site. If it's a fairly upstanding establishment, you're sure to find a list of amenities on its site. If you don't see Wi-Fi mentioned, give them a call. It could be the hotel just hasn't updated its Web site yet.

Even if the hotel does claim to offer free Wi-Fi, be sure to confirm that it extends to every room. One hotel we stayed in recently advertised free wireless, but it turned out the service was available in the lobby only. When faced with this or a similar situation, ask for a room close to service's wireless router. Chances are you can still glom on to the wireless signal from inside your abode.

If not free Wi-Fi, free Ethernet will do
Why: Hotels that haven't yet made the jump to wireless likely offer in-room Ethernet, which will still provide fast online access. Just make sure the hotel doesn't charge a connection fee before plugging in. (If it does, check out CNET's handy hot spot finder to locate a nearby free Internet connection.)

How: Check the hotel's Web site or call beforehand. Again, specify that you want Ethernet in your own room, or you could find yourself schlepping down to the hotel's business center to hook up.