Two women staying at a New York City hotel claim they were wrongly accused of smoking in their room and hit with a $500 fee despite insisting they never smoked. The travelers say the charge was made without proof, leading them to accuse the hotel of running a “smoking scam.” Their story has since gone viral, sparking debate about hotel smoking fees and guest disputes.
The video was uploaded by TikTok user Alismithhhh, who regularly shares content about her travels and visits to different destinations. Her latest post quickly gained attention, with many viewers expressing surprise at the alleged incident and sharing their own experiences with hotel fees and policies.
In the video, the creator begins by saying, “We just got scammed by our hotel in New York City,” before warning others against staying at the property. She explains that she and her friend had originally enjoyed their stay but changed their opinion after being accused of smoking in their room. According to the women, the hotel claimed they smoked on the Fourth of July, something they strongly denied. They said the only activity that could have caused confusion was using a hair dryer.
The women also questioned how the New York hotel reached its conclusion. They claimed there was no inspection of the room, no photographs, and no evidence showing they had violated the hotel’s no-smoking policy. They further alleged that the charge appeared on their account at around 3 a.m., two days after the date the hotel claimed the smoking occurred. Because of those circumstances, they said they plan to dispute the $500 charge with their bank.
The creator added that she was especially disappointed because the New York hotel had high ratings, making the experience even more unexpected. She said the incident completely changed her opinion of the property.
Viewers Slam New York Hotel’s Alleged Charge
Reactions to the video were largely critical of the New York hotel, with many commenters saying the allegations made them reconsider staying there. Several users claimed they had heard of similar smoking fee disputes before, while others shared mixed experiences from previous visits to the same hotel.
“I stayed at Row about a month ago and had a great experience, but I did come home one night and my room smelled like cigarettes. I can only assume that in those older buildings, the smell travels through the vents when neighboring rooms are smoking,” one user wrote.
Other commenters encouraged the women to challenge the charge by contacting their bank, filing complaints with consumer agencies, reaching out to the booking platform they used, and leaving public reviews. Some also recommended checking review sites before booking hotels, while others said the allegations had made them think twice about staying at the property.
Whether the charge is ultimately upheld or reversed, one thing is certain: no one expects a hotel checkout to come with a $500 surprise.
