If you want to find free wifi while traveling in Europe, stay at hostels.

In some hostels you can get a private room, breakfast, and free wifi for 20 to 40 euros. Most brand-name, 200-euro hotels are charging 15 to 20 extra for wifi, and another 30 for breakfast.

And the rooms look alike with your eyes closed.

In the US, the break point seems a bit higher. Business-traveler hotels like Hampton Inn tend to have free wifi. Move up to Hilton and you'll pay, not only for the wifi but for little extras like water.

If you have a T-Mobile US cellphone plan with Internet service, you can also use T-Mobile wifi for free ... but that doesn't apply to "shared" hubs such as you find at airports, which are the equivalent of roaming.

Hub airports all charge 7 to 10 dollars an hour for access. Small airports often are free.