Traveling and WiFi: Where to Find the Best and the Worst WiFi Connections

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 3, 2015) - Where in the world will you find the best WiFi? Travelers may not be surprised to learn that the United States ranks toward the bottom in speed and availability when it comes to WiFi connections.

Anyone who has stayed at a hotel while traveling and had hopes of catching up on email and lost episodes of "House of Cards" may have another thing coming, especially if that traveler is staying at a hotel in Atlanta -- ranking 49 out of 50 in a comprehensive survey looking at WiFi connections in cities around the world.

This week's Travel-Intel, a weekly publication on all things travel that is distributed to more than 100,000 travel counselors and travel industry executives through Tours.com, tells where to find the best WiFi, the worst WiFi from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur to Denver.

Also featured this week in Travel-Intel is a look at international leisure travel's comeback for wanderers based in the U.S. That means Europe, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are proving to be top spots for American travelers as international travel numbers continue to grow by double digits.

For cruise trends, Travel-Intel examines the growing popularity of longer cruises -- those lasting two weeks to months -- as affluent travelers are booking ahead and booking longer. The publication looks at particularly popular itineraries for 2015 and 2016 by major cruise lines.

Closer to home, Travel-Intel offers a look at the Halekulani, a legend in Waikiki, rounding 108 years in hospitality -- but still at the top of the luxury list with plenty of stories to tell. Halekulani is a member of the Kurtz-Ahlers collection of exclusive hotels, resorts, and destination specialists.

In other updates, this week's Travel-Intel details the relaunch of the Dublin Pass, a money-saver and guide for those en route to Dublin, Ireland. The pass is available online and with an accompanying app, and features one- to six-day options and suggestions.

Finally, a cool winter treat or spring time wellness retreat might be found in Colorado's bountiful choice of natural hot springs. Travel-Intel looks into those secret spots, from rustic to luxury, that comes with plenty of heritage.

Travel-Intel reports from travel conferences and expos, as well as popular hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and ports, and destinations near and far with stories that feature the latest intel on travel. Current features and archives can be viewed at www.travel-intel.com.

"We get it done, whether it is reporting on the latest travel gadgets or comfort goods or on the latest tips for traveling to Cuba," said Lark Gould, content director for Travel-Intel and Tours.com. "Travel is a constantly evolving machine with lots of moving parts and we are there with depth perspective and reporting skills to keep readers informed on what is moving and changing."

As a veteran travel journalist who has been covering the travel industry for more than 20 years, Gould puts her incisive perspective into the weekly publication, with features and news updates, and also "packages" issues that detail great travel deals to be found at hotels and resort locations worldwide. Travel-Intel can be viewed as a stand-alone site on Tours.com. Gould publishes travel columns and stories in Larkslist, Barclay's Travel Community, the Washington Times, and Business Traveler USA.

About Tours.com: Tours.com Since 1995 -- The Only Worldwide Directory of Tours & Vacation -- the most comprehensive directory of tour and vacation providers searchable by company name, destination and/or activity. Find a Travel Agent Specialist search feature allows one to find travel agents with in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialty. The Travel Resource section includes all the information a travel professional may need from Passport & Visas, Travel Insurance, Accommodations ( B&B, castles, villas and more, etc.) Cruises, Barges, Boats, Yachts & Ferries, Rail & Railroad Vacations just to name a few.