Today I am in Washington, DC to attend my cousin's wedding. While checking into the hotel, there was a sign for free wifi for all hotel guests. This is great for travelers to be able to stay connected to the net while on the road. Never lose sight of the caution you should be taking when using an unfamiliar network.
You know that saying "all that glitter is not gold?" Well if you connect to an unsecured wifi, you are opened to having your information hacked. In fact, you should never check any banking or credit card information on unsecured wifi. Many people are looking at their private accounts on the road, and it is something that really should be done by phone.
Hackers are always waiting for unsuspecting people to do things without thinking. Anything can be hacked online, but if you are using an unsecured network, it is like walking up to the hacker and place the information right in their hand.
If you just cannot avoid being on a network while on the road, try to limit your internet time. Be wary of any business that does not offer a password to connect to their internet service. I just purchased mifi through my phone carrier for traveling on the road. It is encrypted with a password and I love the portability too. If you have a Blackberry, it can be used as a router as long as you sign up for the service. The bottom line, use common sense while using any network that you are not familiar with even if it is free.