good for you SAnParis2. Exactly what I was thinking.

The tourist areas of NOLA clearly draw a population of people looking to party and these people clearly like to smoke a lot - probably even more than usual because they're drinking.

It's not a personal beliefs thing - I just don't want to be exposed to that much smoke. Frankly there are other places to go. I hold out hope that Louisiana will fix this issue in the future. Right outside of Harrah's there was a huge anti-smoking billboard depiciting a grimacing casino worker relaying the message that it's an employee health issue.

From what I understand smoking is illegal in most public places (including bars) in Paris and Amsterdam.

I would actually be interested in seeing examples of the "several studies debunking the "second hand smoke" dangers" cited by one-shot poster iamriversong.

And while I'm certainly not willing to defend the "segment of the population" comment poster Brian_in_Charlotte made above, I definitely can understand Brian's frustration with encountering a next door neighbor at a non-smoking hotel who lights up anyway -- twice, no less, including after being told not to do so by security -- sending smoke into their room via the connecting door. Going into a bar or casino where smoking is allowed is one thing (that's just the way it is in NOLA, Vegas, some parts of Europe, and various other places, so just don't go in if it's that big an issue), but the smoke under the door thing is different.

Some people do have allergies to tobacco smoke, breathing problems which are aggravated by tobacco smoke, or other good reasons not to want to be around it. I well respect that.

Brian - come on out to San Francisco. Smoking is banned almost everywhere.

Stu Dudley

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Somehow - I don't think this is a big loss for the city.

Frankly, the smoking laws of a locale never even come into play when I am choosing vacation destinations. I am going to be there a short period of time, most probably w/a limited amount of my time indoors. It hardly ranks in the top 100 of things I would concern myself w/whilst going on vacation.

Frankly, the smoking laws of a locale play a big part when we choose a destination. Before smoking was banned in restaurants in France, we dined on the earlier side - which usually avoided the heavy smokers. However, I noticed that fewer & fewer people in France smoked during dinner.

Based on Brian's report - I'll take a pass on New Orleans because of the smoking (been there 3 times before - all longer than 25 years ago).

For what it is worth, when smoking was banned in bars in San Francisco many years ago, business dropped a bit immediatly. Then it increased beyond what it was before the ban became effective - many people (like me) returned to the bars after a long absence. San Francisco now bans smoking outside at entrances to buildings, bus stops, small parks, places where people congregate (ATMs). Hotels may be 100% non-smoking too (not sure).

Stu Dudley

So you're willing to miss out on many of the wonders of the world because someone may have a cigarette lit ? As a person who loves travel, that seems a bit short-sighted too me.

I'm taking chances this Sept when we're going to Eastern Europe where I understand more people smoke. As a direct answer to your question, if we walk into a restaurant for dinner and there are many smokers - we'll turn around & walk out. If it is difficult to avoid the smokers at many places in Eastern Europe - this will probably be our last trip there - we'll stick to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, & England where there are fewer people smoking in restaurants, museums, & other enclosed buildings.

Stu Dudley

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We have done this many times - all over the world. None of us "like" smoky restaurants and my younger son is particularly sensitive to cigarette smoke. We even bought a round of drinks for 2 couples sitting next to us at a restaurant in Austria many years ago when they put out their cigarettes upon seeing my young son's reaction.

But we have never - and would never - "not go" to a country or city because of it.

>>But we have never - and would never - "not go" to a country or city because of it.

As I said, we don't like smoke. My mother and brother smoke and it makes me crazy. But my mother does not smoke in the house, so my younger son has few problems there. Visiting my brother is another issue............

We have traveled extensively, and we have walked out of many places because of the smoke, but we have always found someplace else that was acceptable.

Living in the Middle East and Central Asia - where EVERYONE smokes - it was sometimes difficult, but we managed. When visiting places like Turkey and Dubai, we often opted for outdoor cafes or places with open patios or balconies. Wintertime in Europe (prior to smoking bans) was difficult, but we managed.

In short, we always enjoyed wonderful food (and DH is a big food and wine nut), saw all the sights and museums we wanted, stayed in lovely hotels, relaxed over many glasses of wine....and thoroughly enjoyed every place we visited. Okay - we didn't like Sicily - but that's a whole other story.............

I don't like smoke either, but I am not nearly as sensitive as some. Being a Californian though, it is very strange to go someplace where smoking is allowed inside. In those places, we usually eat outside as much as possible - the smoke is still around, but not as concentrated. I have also noticed that smoking in Europe doesn't bother me as much as in the US - it smells different. My husband, who is a vacation smoker, says that the cigarettes there don't have as much crap in them as they do in the US. Japan is really the only place where smoking was so prevalent that it was a problem for me though.

I have asthma and very much notice smoke smells, but thank God I didn't read the OP and never go to New Orleans because of it. We return to the city year after year and, although I notice the smell occasionally, it never was so offensive that we wouldn't return. As a matter of fact, in 6 weeks we'll be there for probably the 15th time and I can hardly wait - AGAIN!

Grcxx3 - Exactly, I agree.

I'm not surprised that smokers would react hostilely to my post, and I'm not surprised by people defending New Orleans. A few years ago, I likely would have been one of them.

On this recent trip, though, we found the smoking so pervasive and so excessive that it was enough to significantly dim the city's unquestionable charm.

There was such a high concentration of smokers that we wondered whether the fact that many other destinations have more restrictive anti-smoking laws has made New Orleans to some degree a smokers' Mecca - attracting a higher percentage of smokers.

If this is the case, then the problem will only get worse until the residents of New Orleans and Louisiana decide they've had enough and pass more restrictive laws. I believe it's not a matter of if, but when.

If anything, this thread has reinforced my own notion that everyone travels for different reasons. Implying that the OP in this case is somehow deficient because they "couldn't manage" or "weren't as flexible" etc., etc., does absolutely nothing except to say "I'm a better traveler than YOU are."

Be a lot simpler if you just SAID that and been done with it.

I didn't mean to sound condescending, but did want to emphasize that one person's view shouldn't make or break a trip and hope people will use all our suggestions with an open mind.

Also didn't mean to be condescending, and I am very sorry for the situation the OP had with the hotel. That was inexcusable.

But the OP has evidently been to New Orleans before and also went KNOWING that there weren't any smoking laws for bars. So what exactly did he expect???