[throwaway123945]

Since you're an international traveler, I'd like your thoughts on our idea.

Would you think it's a life saver if the hotel you checked into at your destination gave you a smartphone that gives you access to the Internet, Google Maps, and other travel-related apps while you can also use it to Wifi hotspot your own personal phone?

[nicpottier]

I travel a lot and to many different places and I can say no, this isn't a useful service to me. A local SIM card yes, and those are the first thing I do upon arrival at airports (I have a pouch of 30 or so I keep as momentos).

My wife was just in Accra and received an Android device like you described at her hotel. My advice to her was not to use it for anything that involved logging in, because honestly, that just sounds shady.

[tluyben2]

There is something called a Handy (I think) which is an Android phone; it works well for browsing and maps. I have gotten one for free to borrow in a number of hotels around the world. Usually I have a local SIM though.

[a13n]

No. I don't stay at hotels, I stay at airbnbs. Most hotels / airbnbs have Wi-Fi, so you don't need the separate device.

I'd rather just have a SIM card. I buy these at the airport anyway.

[throwaway123945]

Thanks for your input.

[hack_edu]

Dear Blaine/Solve-employee, we know this is you. Be honest with us and just post on the OP account. Faking it is even worse than self-promotion spam. :)

[wutbrodo]

Eh, I don't think this assumption is warranted. It could be a prospective competitor.

[karthikb]

I've had this option several times, however I never actually used it...

[peteretep]

I've had a Korean hotel offer this. It wasn't really that useful; I bought a SIM instead.

[shawnsheikh]

Definitely, not one of our Solve team members but would love feed back on this person's post!