Even though E-cigarettes are a highly popular alternative to smoking nowadays, particularly among the young, many places forbid their use inside. For instance, hotels have a strict policy about smoking and provide smoking and non-smoking areas. Others, especially luxury ones, entirely banned smoking inside.

These restrictions sometimes don’t include e-cigarettes, but the problem is smoke because it triggers some alarm types. Most vapers want to enjoy their activity inside the hotel room but are unaware of the hotel’s policy. So, can hotels tell if you vape when deciding to break the rules. Let’s see.

How Do Hotels Know If You Vape in Your Room?

Vaping is a popular replacement for smoking, but many hotels equate these two activities and stick to their old policies. In other words, all the prohibitions that applied to smoking for decades often stayed the same for vaping.

The ban can be general for all hotel areas or refer only to the rooms. Therefore, your best shot is to check the hotel policy regarding this issue before booking.

On the other hand, it is more challenging to detect vaping as smoking, so vapers often choose to vape in hotel rooms despite the hotel policy against it. Unfortunately, hotel staff can know whether you vape in your room in a few ways.

1. Based on the smell

Despite using odorless vapes and the fact that fragrant vapor dissipates within two hours, it is possible to detect vape use hours after vaping. In other words, hotel staff can feel the smell, although you do your best to avoid leaving visible traces of smoke.

For instance, the vape flavoring from the clouds you exhale stays on towels, bed linen, carpets, and curtains. So, the staff can effortlessly sniff this specific aroma when changing towels and linen.

On the other hand, a lot depends on the device you prefer using. For instance, taking a few puffs on a disposable vape is almost undetectable. On the other hand, it is impossible to hide the smell if you use a large sub-OHM device.

Besides, vape cannabis products containing THC or CBD have a recognizable and pretty distinctive smell. That can put you in trouble, particularly in countries where marijuana is still illegal.

There is one more thing! Some luxurious hotels use air quality monitoring systems. Such devices quickly identify the air composition and can precisely determine the presence of chemicals in vape smoke.

Their goal is to protect their guests since low air quality and smoke may cause issues for sensitive people, particularly children or those with allergies. Since some modern vapes are odorless, hotel staff always include a few other parameters to detect smoking.

2. Visually (vape residue)

Another way the hotel staff can detect vaping in the room is to find visual traces of this activity. E-cigarettes exclude signs of traditional smoking, like ash, cigarette butts, and possible burned spots on furniture. However, inspection of mattresses and bedding can prove using a vape.

Staff can also sniff your clothes or even hair before accusing you of breaking hotel rules. Besides this weird way of checking, they can also spot the sticky residue left by vaping. For instance, propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin from vape juice settle on mirrors, bedside tables, or window glass.

3. Video surveillance

You can expect that many hotels use video surveillance systems installed in public areas. In rare cases, cameras can exist inside rooms. Their primary function is to enhance security, but they offer evidence of guest behavior, including potential vaping in prohibited places.

4. Vape (smoke) detector in the hotel

In many countries, smoke detectors are required in hotel rooms, and their activation means someone smokes or vapes inside. Be aware that one of the common misconceptions is that smoke alarms can’t detect vaping vapor.

On the contrary, new technologies include vape detectors. These devices can quickly detect vapor in the room and even inside the air vents. Hotels can choose between two smoke detector types, such as:

Particulate detectors – These devices detect smoke particles that cause ionized air appearance after combusting. They are primarily effective for discovering smoking.

Sensor detectors – These devices detect smoke by using light beams. They are equally helpful in catching a cloud of vapor and cigarette smoke.

Nowadays, hotels can install sophisticated smoke detectors that include both systems. In any case, you can’t determine the alarm type and its sensitivity level.

Ways to Avoid the Risk of Getting Caught While Vaping

Checking and sticking to the officially set rules are the most efficient ways to avoid getting caught in the hotel while vaping. If you still want to take a risk by breaking them, you should be aware of the consequences of such behavior.

1. Check the hotel’s no-smoking policy on time

This step is the most effortless way to prevent being caught. It means checking the particular hotel’s rules about vaping before booking. Pick out the accommodation that allows vaping and enjoy your vacation without fear and possible penalties.

If the hotel you like forbids vaping, it is because of two crucial reasons, including the following:

• Health considerations

Hotels, particularly luxurious ones, tend to protect their reputation by considering their guests’ well-being. Despite conventional belief, second-hand smoke is harmful, regardless of whether it comes from traditional cigarettes or vape.

Besides, e-cigarettes produce aerosols, affecting the human respiratory system by releasing potentially harmful and toxic chemicals. Therefore, the hotel officials forbid vaping, providing a fresh and healthy environment for all their guests.

• Maintenance costs

The other reason vaping is undesirable in hotels is the increased cleaning and maintenance costs. Both e-cigarettes and vaping devices produce an aerosol or vapor residue that leaves a difficult-to-remove sticky film on furniture and glass surfaces.

Their removal requires particular techniques and specialized products, making cleaning more expensive. It is unrealistic to expect the hotel officials to compromise their profit and reputation because of your enjoyment.

2. Use non-smoke vape products

One of the most effective ways to avoid being caught while vaping in the hotel room is to use e-cigarettes and vapes without excess vapor or smoke. You can find low-powered vape kits that produce a low cloud level, like SPIRITBAR Katana. Besides, choosing models with a high PG e-liquid helps produce lower vapor.

3. Get rid of the smoke alarm

If you believe that your pleasure is above the hotel restrictions, you can choose one of a few methods to avoid it. However, be aware that such behavior implies punishment if you are caught, and some of the methods can endanger the health and life of all hotel guests.

• Turning off the smoke alarm 

Doing such a thing is a bad idea because it can compromise hotel guests and staff’s security. Besides, sophisticated modern systems quickly detect any changes on these devices.

So, you can cunt on a fine of about $150 to $300 after being caught. You can also face jail time in some regions because of public safety endangerment.

• Covering the smoke alarm 

Attaching a shower cap or stretching a sock over the smoke detector can disable it from detecting your vape. However, these methods can be dangerous and prevent the device from working in the case of a real fire.

In other words, you can try one of these methods at your own risk, but be aware of the fire possibility. Are you prepared to be responsible for injuries and possible deaths of other guests in the hotel because of your instant enjoyment?

Other methods

There are a few other systems to cheat the alarm, but no one is perfect, and it is definitely not advisable. Anyway, you can do the following:

4. Open a window

Even though this method looks obvious and wise, be aware that the breeze can bring the vapor back inside and activate the alarm.

5. Vape on the balcony

Be aware that you shouldn’t vape on the balcony if you use a smoke-free hotel room. However, vaping outside is always a better idea than doing it inside the room. In this case, the chances of getting caught are low, and there are no ways to endanger other people.

6. Vape in the bathroom

Some vapers choose to vape in the bathroom because they often don’t have smoke detectors. If you close the door, there is a chance to prevent the vapor from entering the hotel room and activate the sensors. On the other hand, the staff can detect the smell on towels and shower curtains.

7. Try the shower steam method

The other option in the bathroom includes having the hot shower running to disguise the smell with bathroom steam. Always close the door and turn on the ventilation during vaping. Unfortunately, this method is not eco-friendly and implies significant water and energy waste.

FAQ

1. Is Vaping Allowed in Hotels?

You can smoke in the hotel only if there is a smoking allowed sign or a designated smoking room. If the room or hotel has a rule about not smoking tobacco, it usually extends to vaping as well. However, you should check with the management.

In addition, many hotels, in order to deal with illegal vaping and smoking, have smoking policies and fines to discourage vape users. So, before your check out, if you got caught, expect to pay a fine, which can range from $150-250, or even more, depending on the hotel.

2. What Are the Consequences of Illegal Vaping and Tampering with Fire Protection Equipment?

Besides the fine and a very unpleasant experience with the hotel management, you can also end up in jail for tampering with the fire protection equipment. The Penal Codes are different for certain states in the U.S., as you know, so the fines and punishment can slightly differ.

Smoking in a non-smoking area is considered a misdemeanor, and in Las Vegas, it can earn you six months in jail and a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000.

However, if you tamper with the smoke alarms in the hotel and cause them to stop working, you can go to jail because that offense is considered a felony and is taken very seriously.

In addition, you will be liable for any person sustaining an injury or even passing away due to your tampering.

Summary

Even though you are not a smoker and prefer vaping, some hotels have a policy against this activity and treat vaping like smoking. Therefore, you should always check the rules before booking and avoid breaking them.

Believe it or not, hotel staff can detect vaping, which can spoil your vacation. Since it can be a costly experience because the fines are high, your best options are to look for a vape-friendly room or vape only in areas provided for that purpose.

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