How Much Trouble Can You Get in for Smoking in a Hotel Room?
There are no foolproof ways to hide evidence of smoking, but there are plenty of fines to face.
As glamorous as smoking cigarettes can seem in movies, it has become a generally harmful social practice IRL. Part of this is because of the genuine health concerns associated with smoking, and the rest of it is because cigarette smoke reeks, and it is nearly impossible to get rid of that smell.
This is why hotels have stringent policies about whether you can smoke in a hotel room. Even if someone who is smoking opens up a window in a hotel room, the smell of cigarette smoke could still linger on curtains, linens, carpets, and other cushions. If you get caught smoking in a non-smoking hotel room, you can face hefty fines from the hotel, which vary depending on where you stay. For example, during a recent stay at The W in Philadelphia, I was taking in the stunning views of the city on the 41st floor when I noticed the room's little sign indicating what could happen if smoking occurred. I could face a $500 fee.
Fortunately, I wasn't smoking, so I didn't get hit with that hefty fine. But not all hotel guests are following the rules when it comes to no smoking signs. And because this isn't just a notice posted on walls, but a part of most hotel's stay agreements with guests, they can legally fine you if they suspect that you have smoked in a non-smoking hotel room. The fees levied against you can vary at the hotel's discretion. But it can cost more than another night's stay and is definitely not an unexpected travel expense you want to deal with.
Hotels can tell if you've smoked cigarettes in a variety of ways; there are smoke sensors and detectors, nicotine stains, cigarette butts, and most simply, the smell. These aren't 100% accurate methods of detecting the presence of smoking cigarettes—but that won't stop a hotel from hitting a guest with a charge if they suspect you violated the no-smoking policy.
This can be the case even if you aren't actually smoking in the hotel room. In a recent Reddit post on r/AskHotels, one person detailed how they got charged the hotel's $400 smoking fee, even though they claimed they had not smoked in their hotel room.
Advice on the thread detailed what you should do if you get hit with that sort of charge and you aren't guilty of smoking, you can dispute the charge with your credit card. Another tip? If you get to the hotel room and there is a smell of smoke, report it ASAP. If you had just checked in, the smoke smell couldn't have been from you, which should get you off the hook for any potential charges. You may also be able to switch rooms if the smell bothers you.
And if you are a smoker, don't try to pull a fast one with advice you find on the internet to disguise the evidence of smoking. As the r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk subreddit details, hotel employees can almost always detect the smell of smoke—from cigarettes or other things. Turning the bathroom fan on while the shower is running is definitely not a foolproof smoking hack.
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