Non-smoking rooms?

[Jamietrish]

Where did all the stuff about no smoking on balconies, no smoking at the beach, restaurants, etc. come from? Randy only asked what everyone thought about designating rooms as no smoking. Just the rooms. Now all of a sudden everyone can't breathe, they have migraines, they can't eat, sit at the beach, the smell of smoke is overwhelming! Did it bother you before? Did you go instead to a non-smoking resort so you didn't have to be annihilated by the forest fire like smoke lurking all over the resort? Obviously you enjoyed your vacations enough to book over and over again.

[Scoop]

GRRRRRRRRRR ok I'm going to go "there". Yes - I'm a smoker - we've already blazed that path. Unhealthy? Indeed - I'd be a true idiot to deny that. However............ I read these threads - FAITHFULLY - so I happen to know that MANY, MANY of the posters here suffer from obesity and numerous other "self-inflicted" health problems. Honestly - let's ban the "all you can eat" concept, as well, if you have a BMI over a certain percentage. All you can drink? My life has been threatened (and too many of my friends and family GONE) due to someone else's having a bit too much to drink - so let's ban the alcohol past a certain point as well???? C'mon people. Again - the line has to be drawn somewhere. Tolerance is key, and I know that my hub and I try our darndest to be tolerant and not blast smoke around others. As another poster has faithfully said - we spent the same money you did - and smoking is LEGAL. Don't EVEN go down the health road. Ugh - everyone that smokes KNOWS it is not healthy. That doesn't magically cure the addiction. And my addiction stems from my father, who as a young soldier in the US Army (served 2 tours in Vietnam and is a 23 year veteran) was GIVEN cigarettes as part of his daily rations. Thus creating an addiction within him - and later a learned habit/addiction to me (and my two siblings as well). Perhaps I should sue the US Army for starting this whole thing??? I know there's many Vets out there who know from where I'm coming. Yes indeed we NOW know the dangers....... 30 years ago? Not quite so much, or the Army wouldn't have passed them out like lollipops to our soldiers. Absolutely FREE. Sigh............. ok I'm out of this one now - but to say the least, our money will go elsewhere should the resort-wide ban take place - inside the room ban? We'll be back, as always. Peace and Love (and Health!) to all!

[Umberto]

Been 3 times.
Stayed in different levels of suites each time.
Never smelled stale smoke in rooms. Tribute to the cleaning crew, and the make up of rooms.
One love. Fairness to all.
Kindness would dictate, smokers smoke whatever they smoke on the balconies.
I would rather see uptight, rude folks be banned.

[AGldnGrl]

Sure I'm gonna offend many...but we all have freedom of speech and this is OMP...

I am a smoker, have tried MANY times to quit. I'm sure the non-smokers, [the ones that were never "weak" enough to begin this "awful habit"] are clueless as to just how hard it is to stop. Unfortunately, we do so, being TOTALLY aware of the health consequences and how it may affect those around us. Yes, some may say we are stupid...sorry, I am NOT stupid...just addicted and unfortunately for me, actually enjoy most of my cigs. I would like to think I'm a thoughtful person. When I do partake of my "awful habit", I do so outside, away from those that do not. Do not smoke in my house, my car, my friends houses or their cars or in restarants. When I am on the beach, I will get up and go to a secluded area to "get my fix". Never leave butts on the ground. I would not smoke in the room at CSA, however, I would indeed smoke on the balcony. We all have rights and should be thoughtful of one other. We're all human and have faults, I can understand the issue about the smoke traveling into the non-smokers lungs over the balconies...This is never an easy decision and will always offend someone. If the smoke of someone is bothering you, politely ask if they would mind not doing so in YOUR space...but if it's a shared space...don't know what to tell you. I don't even understand why it would be an issue there! It's Jamaica Mon, don't worry..be happy! Whatever happened to tolerance? We all can't live in a bubble! JMO

[Ron & Rosa 25]

I had to vote with my heart, and that vote went to "We don't care one way or the other". Not because we're fans of smoking, to the contrary, I was mildly shocked when we first learned that Couples doesn't offer at least a certain amount of rooms or sections of rooms that are exclusively for non-smokers. I'm not sure you can even find such an establishment in the U.S. at all these days, and certainly not in California, where many are exclusively non-smoking, both in the rooms and anywhere else on the properties.

But we also hang in Vegas a bunch, and I can assure you that city still features a whole bunch of smokers, both vistors and citizens alike. So we're kinda use to it. I'd hate to see Couples lose some of their loyal customers who happen to smoke.

Make no mistake about it, my sympathies lie with the non-smoking side of the equation, especially for those who get physically ill from being around the stuff. If Couples decides to go forward with this and designate all rooms as non-smoking, that will be fine with us from a purely personal standpoint. I guess I just see a happy compromise here by offering a certain percentage of rooms dedicated to being smoke free.

[katycox]

I would love for the entire resort to be non-smoking. Banning it to the outdoors would be great.

[Renee]

Randymon ~ Did you need some entertainement today? You know that the smoking issue is a hot button topic !! LOL!! Just curious as to why you are considering making the rooms non-smoking? It seems to me that the posters on this MB overwhelmingly agree that smoke smells in the rooms is a non-issue.

Everyone please stop being so snarly to each other. There are very strong opinions on both side of this argument. Maybe we just all have to agree to disagree ?

All of that having been said, I AM a smoker this month, who knows about next month.... I have tried to quit several times, and have been told by my Dr. that sometimes you have to practice quitting, just don't give up !! I have been to Couples 9 times, and on those trips when I was a non smoker, the smoke never bothered me. And trust me, when I am a non-smoker the smoke does bother me!! On those trips when I have been a smoker, I have tried to be a considerate smoker. I never smoke inside anywhere. I do not mind smoking outside, but now people want smoke free beaches and smoke free resorts. Whats next?

I just hope a decision is made quickly, as we are headed to CSS in July, and would like to know our options before we book for 2011. Please make a decision befoe the current 2011 special offer expires. Thank you.

[ElaineChick]

I think this just reaffirms that if people can't smoke in their rooms, they'll smoke on their balconies, which will make the balconies unpleasant for non-smokers. If that's the result, I'd rather people be allowed to smoke indoors so I can enjoy my balcony smoke-free.

[melody]

I wish it would let me change my vote. I voted after reading the wording above the poll, not in the posts. Then I read the posts and realized I voted to have smoking allowed on the balconies and that is NOT what we want. We consider the balcony as part of the room. Although I am not a smoker I would like to vote with the one that says I would have a serious problem with it just because it forces the smoke outside and right into the faces of the other people on thier balconies.

[lacmsa]

A brilliant way of putting it, actually.

We're the courteous type. Heck, I'd put out a freshly lit smoke if it were bothering you, but the incessant creation of "rules to protect people" is a very slippery slope at home. Let's leave it at home and just be decent people about it.

we, as well are courteous-

Randymon-

I am making an assumption here and assuming most replying are americans...as am I. As you can see this topic is polarizing as our country has unfortuntaely become.

In reply to some of the posts that states the smokers can find another resort, I could reply, why don't the nonsmokers find a nonsmoking resort? But I would never do that as I accept all people the way the are, smokers/nonsmokers, color, religion, people who drink too much, I think you get the point. Why is it so much easier to become prohibitive rather than courteous?

[cinmik]

Is this New York with all the rules? I come to Couples to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere not to be told where and what we can do. This is not the Jamaica that I have come to love. I have been to other islands that have the New York attitude and rules and let's just say they will not be visited by me and mine again.

[Chris]

Wow... Randymon, you are a VERY brave mon, mon!

Interesting discussion, and quite predictable responses from both sides. Perhaps if you were to give us a hint about the "several very good reasons", we could expand on the discussion a bit, instead of reading the usual "talking points".

[ElainePoole]

We both smoke and like the fact that we can smoke in the open air restaurants (if someone is still eating nearby we don't)but to start non smoking rules is getting like the UK and the US and we come on holiday to relax and are always curtious to other people when we light up.

[Jimnmariann]

Don't you think that most people who smoke do so outside the room anyway?

[denkim]

We are non smokers generally, but occasionally my husband likes a good cigar. He always smokes on the balcony.
Yes as long as there are factories, cars and smog etc, the air wil never be totally clean, but discrimination, really?
It's discrimination to force me to breath your smoke. Yes really!!!
We vote outside smoking only.

[jamaican_junkie]

I don't drink in excess and have been more annoyed by loud drunks at Couples, but I'm not going to suggest that alcohol not be served !!

Sometimes the topics and analogies can get a little off-course. I've never heard of second-hand alcohol or second-hand obesity being involuntarily infused into another person's body. BIG difference!

Randymon is simply inquiring about how important the smoking health issue is to us. It's not just an American issue. It's not a question of judgment or decency or morality or legality. I don't think anyone is making judgements about the choice of guests to smoke, but some people do care if smoking by the previous guests in their rooms will cause an unknowingly unsafe environment for them.

[Happy_in_the_sun]

WE are non-smokers, but would prefer a portion of the resort being designated for smokers (eg. certain room blocks) rather than making all rooms non-smoking , forcing people out onto the balcony. Smoke on the balcony blows quite easily onto the balconies of other guests, who might be trying to enjoy a romantic breakfast or after dinner drink. In restaurants too, we'd prefer the smoking area be defined and enforced (rather than having the outside perimeter close to fresh air used for smoking. Thanks!