How can I make sure a hotel or vacation rental is smokefree?

The Short Answer:

Thirdhand smoke is the chemicals left behind when someone smokes tobacco. Thirdhand smoke is unhealthy for people and pets. It can stick around for a long time in homes and cars. It gets into your body if you inhale, swallow, or touch the chemicals. Getting rid of it is really hard and can cost a lot of money.

You may be able to look online to see if a hotel, Airbnb, or other short-term stay spot is smokefree. However, it is often unclear what that exactly means.

We recommend that you ask these follow-up questions:

Where is smoking allowed (rooms, common areas, patio, balcony, outside)?
What is the penalty for smoking where it is not allowed?
How are guests informed of the nonsmoking/smoking policy?

If smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property, guests are adequately informed of the policy, and there is a hefty penalty for violators, you can feel comfortable making a reservation. If not, consider a different hotel.

The Long Answer:

Thirdhand smoke is the chemical residue from tobacco smoke. It is also called “tobacco smoke residue” or “stale tobacco smoke.” The chemicals in thirdhand smoke are toxic to humans, especially children. Thirdhand smoke can linger for years in dust and on household surfaces. It can also become embedded in carpets, furniture, clothes, and building materials. It is difficult and expensive to remove.

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, some research and a few simple steps will maximize your chances of finding smokefree accommodations in hotels, short-term rentals, bed & breakfasts, or Airbnbs.

The Internet is a great source for information, but you will learn more about the smokefree status of a place from a phone call with an employee.

When you call, ask if smoking or vaping is allowed anywhere on the property. The ideal answer to this question is: “No, we are a 100% smokefree property inside and out.” Great! Go ahead, make your reservation.

More likely, the answer will be: “Yes, we allow smoking in some places.” If that’s the case, you need to find out exactly where smoking is allowed. Because smoke can travel easily through windows, air ducts, hallways, and other indoor environments, it is likely that tobacco smoke residue could broadly contaminate the property, even if there are dedicated smokefree rooms.

If smoking is allowed in some areas, ask these follow-up questions:

Is smoking allowed in any of the rooms?
What is the penalty for violating the non-smoking policy?
Are there signs posted in each room about the non-smoking policy, including the penalty for violating?

If smoking is not allowed in any room or nearby, there are posted no-smoking signs, guests are adequately informed of the policy, and there is a hefty penalty for violators, you can feel comfortable making a reservation. If smoking is allowed in or near any of the rooms, including indoor and outdoor common areas, look for another establishment.

Do you have more questions about the toxic legacy of tobacco smoke, how it affects human health, and what we can do about it? Learn more here.

Updated: November 2024

Sources:

DeCarlo PF, Avery AM, Waring MS. Thirdhand smoke uptake to aerosol particles in the indoor environment. Sci Adv. 2018;9: 4(5): eaap8368. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aap8368.

Kennedy, H. R., Egan, C., & Welding, K., (2020). Assessing potential public health concerns in Airbnb venues in four Canadian cities. Journal of Environmental Health, 83(3), 8-12.

Matt GE, Quintana PJ, Fortmann AL, Zakarian JM, Galaviz VE, Chatfield DA, Hoh E, Hovell MF, Winston C. Thirdhand smoke and exposure in California hotels: non-smoking rooms fail to protect non-smoking hotel guests from tobacco smoke exposure. Tob Control. 2014 May;23(3):264-72. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050824. Epub 2013 May 13. PMID: 23669058.

McDaniel PA, Malone RE. You Want Your Guests to Be Happy in This Business: Hoteliers’ Decisions to Adopt Voluntary Smoke-Free Guest-Room Policies. Am J Health Promot. 2018 Nov;32(8):1740-1746. doi: 10.1177/0890117118763742.

Quintana PJE, Matt GE, Chatfield D, Zakarian JM, Fortmann AL, Hoh E. Wipe sampling for nicotine as a marker of thirdhand tobacco smoke contamination on surfaces in homes, cars, and hotels. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 Sep;15(9):1555–63.

Weigel EA, Matt GE. When Hotel Guests Complain About Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes, and Cannabis: Lessons for Implementing Smoking Bans. Tobacco Use Insights. 2022;15. doi:10.1177/1179173X221124900

Zakarian JM, Quintana PJE, Winston CH, Matt GE. Hotel smoking policies and their implementation: a survey of California hotel managers. Tob Induced Diseases. 2017 Oct 30;15:40. doi: 10.1186/s12971-017-0147-6.