Can You Vape In A Hotel Room? Things You Need To Be Aware Of

Thinking of vaping in your hotel room? Not so fast! The permission of vaping in hotel rooms is a grey area, and you need to know everything in detail before you take the first puff. No doubt, plenty of the savvy travellers are vapers, and knowing the rules of using e-cigarettes in the hotel is worth it to avoid any unwanted situation. So, can you vape in a hotel room?

The answer to whether you can vape in a hotel room in the UK is both YES and NO, depending entirely on the hotel’s rules and policies. UK law doesn’t specifically regulate indoor vaping, so some hotels are flexible while some others enforce strict policies. To avoid surprises, always check the hotel’s vaping rules before booking.

Here in this blog post, you’ll learn everything you need to know if you are a passionate vaper and a traveller. Let’s dive in.

What are the laws for vaping in the UK?

From June 1st, 2025, the Govt। ban on selling single-use or disposable vapes across the UK came into force. But, still, it’s not illegal for individual users who already have it. On the other hand, reusable vapes are not yet regulated.

However, that’s the latest updated legislation regarding Vape. Before we jump into more detail, let’s take a look at a few key legal points that every vaper should be aware of.

• Regardless of settings, locations, or types of vapes, selling and purchasing them under the age of 18 is strictly prohibited in the UK.

• The maximum nicotine concentration should not exceed 20mg/ml or 2%.

• The refill container size cannot exceed 10 mg/ml.

• Proxy purchasing is prohibited. That means any adult on behalf of any minor cannot buy vape products.

• There is no UK-wide law that bans vaping in public places, unlike smoking, which is strictly prohibited.

Vaping indoors laws UK

Is it legal to vape indoors in the UK? The UK national law doesn’t ban vaping indoors, but it does ban smoking. According to the Healthcare Act 2006, smoking in public, either indoors or outdoors, was banned by the Govt. However, there is no universal restriction on using e-cigarettes inside buildings, including restaurants, pubs, offices, or hotel rooms, according to the law.

The UK indoor smoking ban that came into force in 2007 doesn’t include vaping, so hotels, restaurants, and pubs are free to set their own vaping policies, and they can even ban it if they want.

Can You Vape In A Hotel Room: Real Rules You Should Know

Can you vape in hotel rooms UK? Although vaping and smoking are two different things, many hotels in the UK consider them as equal acts when imposing rules. You’ll see signs mentioning no vaping and smoking in many hotels. Even if you don’t see any sign, it’s better to check out the hotel’s vaping policy before you vape.

It’s quite a common practice in many UK hotels to forbid vaping in rooms, guestrooms, hallways, lobbies, and other indoor areas. However, some hotels may offer designated smoking areas where vaping is also permitted. For example, Hotel Premier Inn or Travelodge has vaping spots. Not to mention, the major hotel chains in the UK, like Holiday Inn, Marriott, and Hilton, don't allow vaping. 

To know about the vaping policy of the hotel you are staying at or thinking of staying at, you can either check their website or ask the hotel’s front desk.

Why is vaping not allowed in hotels?

The main reasons behind forbidding vaping in hotel rooms are to maintain indoor air quality, prevent fire alarms from being triggered, and ensure a comfortable environment for all guests. 

In addition to these, health concerns and strict cleaning policies also play a significant role. Vapour residue from e-cigarettes can settle on mirrors, furniture, curtains, and other surfaces, requiring extensive room cleaning after checkout.

Moreover, vape clouds can easily trigger sensitive smoke detectors, leading to false fire alarms that may disturb other guests. To avoid such disruptions and additional maintenance, most hotels enforce a strict no-vaping policy, especially inside rooms.

What happens if you vape in a hotel?

As said earlier, hotels are free to set their vaping policies and so penalties. In the UK, usually hotels that prohibit vaping set penalty fines if they catch anyone vaping in their hotel.

There are no universal penalties for vaping in the UK as it’s still not illegal. But if you are caught vaping in an area where it’s not allowed, you may be asked to stop vaping. The hotel staff or manager can even request you to leave the premises as a consequence of breaking their rules. 

In a worst-case scenario, the hotel authority may call law enforcement agencies like the police to tackle the issue. If you are convicted, you may be charged with a fine.

Common Hotel Penalties UK

Generally, hotels charge cleaning or damage fees if the hotel detects vape residues or odor inside the room you are staying in. 

What is the fine for vaping in a hotel? The cleaning or damage fees commonly range from £100 to £250 or even higher.

In some hotels, hotel authorities can eject you and refuse refunds if they find you breaching their vaping law.

Contrarily, if you trigger a fire alarm, you could face charges for the fire service call-out. 

Will a vape set off a smoke detector in a hotel room?

Many think it’s only smoke that triggers a fire alarm. But, in reality, hucking thick vapour can set off the fire alarm. The flavoured e-liquids produce large particles, increasing the chance of setting off the fire alarm.

The chance of triggering an Ionisation smoke detector is occasional. It’s because the vape aerosols are not thick enough to be identified. Yet, dense vape clouds can potentially cause the alarm to be activated.

When it comes to Photoelectric (optical) alarms, it’s highly likely to be triggered by vape clouds. These smoke detectors are sensitive to larger particles like vapour clouds. Most of the modern hotels use photoelectric smoke detectors these days.

On the other hand, it’s less likely for heat alarms to trigger, because vapes don't significantly raise the room temperature.

How does a hotel know if you're vaping?

Can hotels actually detect vaping? Yes, hotel rooms can identify you if you vape in your hotel room. Similar to smoking, vaping also leaves traces like flavoured juice smells or particles. And if your vaping cloud triggers the fire alarm, the hotel emergency service will definitely be able to know if you have vaped or not. Overall, the following signs can help a hotel identify whether you have vaped or not:

• The sensitive smoke detectors are very likely to be triggered if you vape. Vaping near these can trigger the alarm, even with small clouds.

• Vaping juice can create a lingering odor. If a hotel staff member visits your room after you vape, it’s highly likely that they’ll identify it.

• Vapor can leave oily or sticky residue on mirrors, windows, furniture, or other surfaces over time, especially with heavy use. The housekeeping staff are trained to identify these traces.

• All hotels have surveillance cameras, mostly in the hallways or shared areas. If you smoke around and if someone reports the smell or sees vapor near your room, the hotel authority may investigate.

• If a hotel guest around your room complains, like reporting odors or seeing clouds or even vaping noise from devices, this can get you caught.
  

Can I vape in a hotel room bathroom?

Hotel vaping policies typically apply to the entire room, including the bathroom. While you might think vaping discreetly in the bathroom will go unnoticed, that’s a common misconception.

Most modern hotels use advanced smoke or vape detectors that also cover bathroom areas. So even if you vape there, you still risk getting caught.

Additionally, when housekeeping enters the bathroom after you’ve vaped, they may notice the lingering scent of flavoured vape juice, which can easily give you away.

Conclusion

So, can you vape in a hotel room? The answer completely relies on the individual hotel vaping policies in which you are living. Most of the hotels these days don’t allow vaping and smoking either. 

Checking if the hotel has any designated vaping areas is a good idea. But the best advice would be to check out the hotel’s vaping policies before you vape in your hotel room.

Adhering to the hotel’s vaping policies will protect you from getting fined or potentially more serious consequences.