Options are limited for free Internet access without your own laptop. AAA-rated Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas offers free Internet access for hotel guests in its business center, which is open 24/7; there's a free Internet terminal as well as a hookup for a laptop. The Rio and Harrah's offer free Internet access in their Diamond (VIP) Lounges; to enter these areas, you must have a Diamond Card, which is obtained by wagering at least $100,000 in one year or $18,000 in one day. Obviously, these options are neither practical nor cost-effective for most.
If you have a Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, there are a number of options for free wireless Internet access. McCarran Airport, all urban branches of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library, the local Panera Bread outlets, and the Five Diamond Four Seasons lobby offer free Wi-Fi hotspots. In the case of Panera and the Four Seasons, the free access is intended for paying customers only. In addition, all six Buffalo Wild Wings throughout Las Vegas have free wireless Internet access from their bar areas. Simply bring your laptop and wireless card with you when you go to eat or drink. These bars have great wings and appetizers, as well as multiple TVs tuned to every sporting event available. As an added bonus, locals who have a Station Casinos sports-wagering account with online access can bet legally (including halftime wagers) via the Net, right from the bar.
If you're willing to pay, most of the casinos offer some form of high-speed Internet access either directly in their guest rooms or in their respective business centers -- with or without your own computer. Check out our survey, Casino-Hotel High-speed Internet Access Charges, here for more info.
Finally, you can get on the Net -- with your own laptop -- in nearly every corner of the city by visiting a participating Starbucks. T-Mobile offers Wi-Fi hotspots within most Starbucks locations around the country, including Las Vegas, with plans starting at $6 for 60 minutes.
Internet cafés are another option, but the life expectancy of independent Las Vegas Internet cafés tends to be short, as confirmed by the Strip's first, Coffeemania, which opened in summer 2001 and closed less than a year later. Therefore, when business is at stake or making an Internet connection is otherwise critical, it's probably a good idea to stick with known quantities, like Fedex Kinko's. All eight of the company's local locations offer Internet workstations, as well as Wi-Fi wireless Internet access. They’re listed below with addresses and phone numbers; the ones in bold are open 24 hours a day.
Fedex Kinko's 395 Hughes Center Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89109 702/951-2400
Fedex Kinko's 4750 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89102 702/870-7011
Fedex Kinko's 671 Mall Ring Cir. Henderson, NV 89014 702/436-7370
Fedex Kinko's 830 S. 4th St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 702/383-7022
Fedex Kinko's 4440 S. Maryland Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89119 702/735-4402
Fedex Kinko's 2288 S. Nellis Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89104 702/431-5184
Fedex Kinko's 7208 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89128 702/255-7141
Fedex Kinko's 9995 S. Eastern Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89123 702/837-7315
In addition to the plentiful Internet access points plotted along the Strip (within the business centers at most casinos and the kiosks at some of them),the Strip hosts one full-service (copying, faxing, etc.) the independent Internet Café, located at 2200 Las Vegas Bldv. Sth., opposite the Stratosphere. It's open 24/7; call 702/736-4782 for more information.
