I would stay in another hotel.

True story.

Years ago, don't recall exactly when or where I stayed at a hotel, non-smoking room reserved. Very late night arrival, not a lot of alternatives. Non-smoking room verified at checkin. Got the room, and it was obviously NOT a non-smoking room. Ash trays on the table, haze in the room, etc. (I exaggerate).

Called the front desk to switch to a real non-smoking room. They sent a maid, and she removed the ash trays. Problem solved. It's now a non-smoking room!

We were stuck staying in a smoking room at the Toronto Holiday Inn on King St and THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DIE DIE DIE. We left a day early. I had to air out my suitcase for a week. Yuk.

Even some smokers prefer non-smoking rooms and are willing to step outside as needed. That's how bad the rooms can be.

They can be TERRIBLE. Just think. You will be taking the smoke-laden luggage, clothes, etc. into your friend's/ family members home.

One option. Double check the cancellation policy and hold 2 rooms. Book a non-smoking room elsewhere. When it gets closer to the stay, if a non-smoking room is not available at the first hotel, well, then you've tried.

Don't stay in a smoking room. They are truly nasty!

Even though it is a smoking room it may not smell. They de-smoke these pretty well in some cases.

ok. Problem solved. I'm not going to stay there. I'm going to stay at the Hilton where we have a block of rooms for my son's wedding in May.
SIL and her daughter won't like this development, either.

I didn't even tell ya'll that originally she had said that the four of us would stay in the same room. Four women! I squelched that idea immediately -- didn't even need the support of the Fodors board to do that.

Vicki

Hey vicki,

You're a quick learner :-D

You REALLY do need to research the Hilton, it's the perfect excuse/reason - but don't tell SIL where you will be staying or before you know it she'll be cramping your style.

Have a wonderful trip just don't forget to come back and let us know how it went.

We always book non-smoking rms in the States, and so far we have been lucky to get them. I had no idea smoking rms were that terrible. Definitely, this board has taught me that I should not compromise if a non-smoking rm is not available. I will coninue to look elsewhere for a non-smoking room and not settle. Thanks everyone for the alerts. In Europe, we often don't get a choice of smoking and non-smoking rooms, although there are lots more non-smoking rms available than formerly. (I have an acute sense of smell, too, like you, Vicki. It gets better as my hearing gets worse, too.) I wonder why the smell is not that bad in Europe, perhaps, we have just been lucky and there were no smokers in the room the night before or maybe since the rooms are not used exclusively by smokers, they tend to be less smelly. Also we travel in the summer, so perhaps the rooms are aired out more. Here in California, the smoking rooms must be overused, since there's not too many places that smokers can smoke in public anymore! And that's good news for locals and tourists alike.

One answer is to stay in places that DO offer non-smoking rooms no matter where you travel. You get what you pay for and what you aren't willing to pay for sometimes.

Vickib2- All 4 sharing the same room? If you weren't such a nice person, I'd think you were making this stuff up!!

You're doing great, keep up the good work. We're cheering for you.

Good advice, Intrepid. But I'm guessing you didn't read my response. Sometimes it's not a matter of what you're willing for pay for, but of where you have to be.

Sometimes, even money does not buy you a smoke-free room, nor will you find one in the new three towms over. They just don't exist is some places. Like CAPH52 says, it's a matter of where you have to be or in my words, where you choose to be.

Quit smoking..it's gonna kill you

Quit smoking is not the issue. The OP doesn't smoke. The issue is staying in a smoking room. ((b))

Try reading (the thread). It's amazing what one may learn.

The OP is a non-smoker.