Smoking and non-smoking rooms on island resorts
Smoke bothers you, or you smoke, and you want a room that suits everyone in your group.
A non-smoking room is a rule about the inside of one room, not a promise about the air around it. Terraces, shared walls and open windows can all carry smoke. If this matters to you, ask where smoking is allowed on the property and which rooms are furthest from it.
For choosing a resort overall, read how to choose an island resort. For related comfort questions, see the quiet seekers checklist for island rooms.
What does a non-smoking room actually cover?
It usually means the guest should not smoke inside the room. It does not always cover the terrace or balcony, the corridor or the garden outside the window. Some resorts have a smoke-free building and some have a mix.
We have not confirmed any resort’s policy, so we do not describe one. The useful question is where smoking is allowed, not whether the room carries the label.
What affects whether smoke reaches you?
Think about the paths smoke can take.
- a neighbour’s terrace next to your own
- open windows and doors on a breezy night
- gaps under doors or in thin walls
- an air-conditioning system that shares air
- a smoking area near the restaurant or the path
Our guide on soundproofing and thin walls covers some of the same weaknesses, since gaps carry smoke as well as sound.
What if you are the one who smokes?
Most resorts have a place for it. Ask where it is, how far it is from your room and whether it is covered from rain. Plan to use it, and keep your room and terrace to the resort’s rule.
Ask also about any cleaning fee for smoking in a non-smoking room. It is kinder to your group, and to your wallet, to know the rule before you arrive. If vaping applies, ask that too.
How do the room choices compare?
| Non-smoking room | Smoking-permitted room | Smoke-free building | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside the room | No smoking | Smoking allowed | No smoking anywhere indoors |
| Terrace | Ask | Ask | Ask |
| Smell from earlier guests | Lower, ask | Higher | Lower |
| Availability | Common, ask | May be limited | Ask |
| Best for | Most guests | Smokers who prefer it | Guests sensitive to smoke |
The terrace row matters most on an island, since people spend evenings outdoors.
A better fit if…
A non-smoking room away from smoking areas may be a better fit if:
- you or someone with you is sensitive to smoke, including a baby or someone with a breathing condition.
- you want clean air at night with the windows open.
A smoking-permitted room may be a better fit if:
- you smoke and have checked that the resort offers such rooms.
- your whole group agrees and nobody is sensitive.
What should you ask the resort in writing?
- Is my room non-smoking, and is the building?
- Where is smoking allowed on the property?
- Does the rule cover the terrace and balcony?
- Does it include vaping?
- Which rooms are furthest from smoking areas?
- Is there a cleaning fee for breaking the rule, and what is it?
Keep the replies with your booking. If there is a problem on the night, you will know what was agreed.
Common questions
Are all island rooms non-smoking?
Not necessarily. Policies differ between resorts and room types, and we cannot state any resort's rule. Ask whether your room is non-smoking, whether the whole building is, and where smoking is allowed on the property.
Can smoke from a neighbour still reach my room?
It can, through shared air, doors, gaps, terraces and open windows. A non-smoking room is not always a smoke-free space around it. Ask about the neighbours, the terrace and the ventilation.
Is vaping the same as smoking?
Resorts treat it differently, and some include it in the smoking policy and some do not. Ask directly how the resort defines smoking and whether it covers vaping, indoors and on terraces.
What if I smoke and travel with non-smokers?
Ask where smoking is allowed, such as a designated area, and plan to use it. Keep your room smoke-free to be fair to your group, and ask about any cleaning fee. Telling the resort in advance avoids a difficult conversation later.