A newlywed Australian couple's honeymoon in New York City was disrupted by a $700 smoking fine, which they believe was erroneously issued. Stephanie Caligari and her husband arrived in the city for their honeymoon earlier this month and were subsequently charged an additional US$500 (approximately A$700).
The hotel informed the couple via letter that they had violated the establishment's no-smoking policy. Ms. Caligari shared her experience on social media, suggesting that her Shark FlexStyle hair tool might have triggered the room's smoke detector, leading to the fine.
"Once we saw the letter, I immediately went down to the reception to speak with the manager and also brought my hair tool to show him," Ms. Caligari told Yahoo Lifestyle. She stated she asked the manager to inspect the room with her to demonstrate how the device could produce smoke and to check for any residual odors of cigarettes or cannabis.
Despite Ms. Caligari's explanations and her assertion that products like hair curlers, dry shampoo, and hairspray can activate smoke sensors, the hotel maintained its decision was final. "Honestly, this whole experience has made me feel like I don't even want to travel anymore," she said, adding that being dismissed on what should have been a dream trip left a negative impression, particularly in contrast to experiences in Australia.
Ms. Caligari has filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, a non-governmental organization that handles consumer complaints in the United States and Canada. She also mentioned that other individuals have reported similar incidents at the same or other New York hotels.
Travel expert Angus Kidman advised tourists who believe they have been wrongly charged to request evidence from the hotel, such as timestamps from detection systems. "Many hotels rely on automated detectors, and these should have logged data," Kidman noted. He also suggested that travelers contact their bank to dispute the charge if the hotel remains uncooperative, especially if payment was made by credit card.
The Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the New York hotel and SharkNinja for comment. Approximately half a million Australians visit New York City annually.