hotel-wifi
Kaspersky Labs reports business executives' electronic lives have been targeted at Asian hotels. Derek Jensen

I recently wrote about why so many expensive hotels charge for in-room Wi-Fi when cheaper ones don't, especially when travelers rank free Wi-Fi as the No. 1 in-room amenity they value in a hotel. Some luxury hotel brands, like Loews, are starting to buck the trend, but at these 10 major chains (and many others), you'll still have to fork over anywhere between $15 and $20 a day to get online in the comfort of your pajamas:

1. Marriott Hotels

2. Ritz-Carlton Hotels

3. W Hotels

4. Westin Hotels

5. Sheraton Hotels

6. Hilton Hotels

7. Waldorf Astoria Hotels

8. Hyatt Hotels

9. InterContinental Hotels

10. Wyndham Hotels

But there is one way to escape those fees: loyalty programs. Many of these tony hotels offer Wi-Fi access as a perk of being a favored guest. I've rounded up a few of the top ones below, but it's always worth asking about free Wi-Fi for loyal customers, even if your chain isn't listed here.

Kimpton Hotels

Kimpton is actually pretty straightforward: Simply sign up for the chain's (free) Karma Rewards program, and you're automatically entitled to free Wi-Fi in your room.

Carlson Rezidor Hotels

Similar to Kimpton, the Club Carlson loyalty program is free to join. Free Internet is one of the program's basic benefits.

Wyndham Hotels

Members of the chain's free ByRequest loyalty program get access to free high-speed Internet access and domestic long distance calls.

Fairmont Hotels

It's free to join the President's Club, which gets you free high-speed Internet access in your room.

Starwood Hotels

Starwood Preferred Guest Platinum members -- who reach that level through 50 nights or 25 stays -- automatically get free Internet access in their rooms, while gold members can choose Wi-Fi as one of their check-in benefits.

Marriott Hotels

If you're a Gold member of either Marriott Rewards or Ritz-Carlton Rewards (earned after 50 nights), you get free Internet. (You get free Gold status for the first year of ownership of the Ritz-Carlton Rewards credit card from Chase, so that may be one way to access status).

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Honors Gold membership -- achieved after 36 nights or 16 stays -- gets you free in-room Wi-Fi, but you may also reach that level through Hilton credit cards offered by Citi.

Hyatt Hotels

Platinum members of Hyatt's Gold Passport program get free in-room Internet. You can reach Platinum level after 15 nights or five eligible stays, or through the United Mileage Plus and Hyatt credit cards from Chase.