I'm not a heavy smoker. I've never smoked more than half a pack a day (unless I'm partying), but it seems more and more hotels are going totally 100% smoke free but, still about 20% of the US population smokes. They usually include like a $200 fine if they accuse you of smoking. Seems like a cash cow for the hotels I think. If you go strictly by the statistics, that means that 1 out of 5 hotel rooms, they could charge a $200 premium for. I smoke all the time in the the non-smoking rooms if I can't get a smoking room, but because I'm a rather light smoker, I guess they don't notice anything and  I've never been accused/charged a fine for it. Just wondering what you other smokers out there take is on this is and have you ever been charged a fee and tried to fight it?

Simple. I only stay at hotels which aren't smoke free.  One Marriott I stayed at in NYC had smoking rooms but they don't allow it in Chicago. So I stay away.

The better hotels have better exhaust systems in the bathrooms, which is where I usually smoke pot.  The cheaper under the window units don't clean the air very well, which has implications for more than smoke.  Never been an issue for me.

I try to find a place with a balcony that they can go out on.

Balconies were pretty popular in hotels built in the 60's and 70's.

......I stay in a 'smoke free' room and it still stinks like an ashtray and then I ask to change rooms because to my non smokey nose, it stinks!!  A big pain in the ass. I've never smoked and I'm pretty sure most other non smokers can smell your old stale ciggie smoke the minute we walk in the room. No offense, but I think it is rather rude of you to not bother yourself to walk outside to puff your ciggie when staying in a non smoking room.  Get off your lazy arse and step on either the balcony or walk a few yards to the outside!!  Sheeesh.

..And to me it reminds me of an old Steve Martin Joke:

"Do you mind if I smoke?"

"No, do you mind if I fart?"

To me if I walk into a non-smoking room and smell cigarette smoke, I immediately ask for another room, and mention to the front desk that they need to find out who stayed in the room before and charge them.

I am all for non-smoking hotels.  

It is the same as smoking in cars.  The smoke gets into the headliner, and the rest of the car stinks for months.  

People who smoke simply do not smell smoke  anymore.  Their noses are so used to the stench, that they cannot smell just how badly they stink.   I always walk by people and can always pick out the smokers just by their smell.

I've gone from 2 packs a day, down to nothing at all, quit for over a year and a half, back to a pack a day, down to a few a day. I'm finally at the point where I can't seem to give up my two or three cigars a week. Even when I smoked heavily, I always got a non smoking room when I was going to be entertaining a lady. I also would not smoke for that entire day. And yes, I too can smell the smoke in what are supposed to be non smoking rooms.

I can still smell smoke in a room, even after air freshener. I think it is polite if you're a smoker to smoke outside on the patio. Some people are allergic to smoke. I have tried a few myself from time to time -- even shared a cigar once for fun -- but find that I just get sick afterward so why bother with it?  

I have a few friends who smoke and that's fine if it's outside, but my allergies always tell me if it's too much for me to handle. I get bloody noses, cannot breathe, etc. The older I get, my system just cannot handle it.

Hugs,
Ciara

-- Modified on 6/4/2009 8:48:54 AM

don't kid yourself, smoke permeates everything in a room.  the hotel companies have to use chemical bombs after you leave to rid the room materials of the smell.

as a non-smoker, I will change rooms if my non-smoking room has smoker residue.

If i stay in a hotel as a smoker i reserve a smoking room,  I wont stay in a hotel that does not allow smoking.  Upon ckeck-in many hotels tell me they have no more smoking rooms left because they were all given out but will bring me an ash tray in a minute.  Not lazy they just gave my room away after all if i did not show up they would have charged my cc for a smoking king.  Many hotels do this embassy suites, holiday inn, Marriot, double tree, and many others.  the only way to be assured a non smoking room is to go to a non smoking hotel

One of the main  points I was trying to make, but didn't make it clear: if 20% of the population smokes, then there shouldn't be so many 100% smoke free hotels. They should accomodate everybody. I don't wish to offend my non-smoking friends by smoking in a non-smoking room. My point was that 100% smoke free isn't fair, and it should be more like 85 to 90% smoke free. They are using the polical correct position of the militant anti-smoking crowd as an excuse to gain extra money by charging what they know will happen: 10 to 20% of the rooms, people are going to be smoking. My point is, PROVIDE 10 to 20% of your rooms to accomodate smokers. Then, everyone is happy.

This is a pet peeve of mine.  If I enter a non-smoking hotel room, and if even a hint of the smell of smoke is present in the room, I immediately go to the front desk and ask them to put me into another room.  No excuses there and no ifs or buts about it.

And I will definitely want the rat who smoked in the non-smoking room, to be charged a high enough amount, so that he/she will be encouraged to refrain from smoking, ever again, in a room that is clearly designated as a non-smoking room.

If the smoker wants to indulge in his dirty and unhealthy habit, better do it where he/she does not impact anyone else.

Recently, I saw both the parents, smoking in their car, with the windows barely rolled down, and 2 little children in the car.  I was pretty livid, thinking about those little ones who are being subjected to their parents' dirty habit.

I agree and I also do the same.

FWIW I agree with you 100%. I refuse to stay in a room with a lingering odor of nastyass cigarette smoke too.

Because I smoke. Yes, I know it's a filthy habit. And my house and car and work vehicle I'm sure stink to high-hell because of it.

But be assured when you and I meet, I won't smoke in your presence. I'll most definitely light one up AFTER, though, and go through my mind what the hell you did to me!