A newlywed Australian couple was shocked after being charged a $700 smoking fine at a New York hotel, despite insisting neither smokes.
Stephanie Caligari and her husband jetted off to New York for their honeymoon earlier this month, only to receive an additional charge of US$500 (about A$700).
In a letter from the hotel, they were informed that they had breached its no-smoking rules.
Ms Caligari shared her experience in a video on social media, claiming she believed her Shark FlexStyle hair tool may have triggered the hotel’s smoke detector.
‘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.
‘I asked him to come to my room (so) I can show him how it can cause smoke and to inspect the room for any odours of cigarettes or cannabis.’
Despite several attempts to explain the situation, including evidence that products such as hair curlers, dry shampoo and hairspray can trigger sensors, Ms Caligari said the hotel told the couple its decision was final.
‘Honestly, this whole experience has made me feel like I don’t even want to travel anymore,’ she said.
The honeymoon of an Australian couple (pictured, Stephanie Caligari and her husband) was marred by a smoking fine they claim was a scam
Ms Caligari says her Shark FlexStyle hair tool is to blame for triggering the sensor
Around half a million Aussies visit New York City each year
‘It’s a stark contrast to back home, and being dismissed like that on what should have been a dream trip left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth.’
Ms Caligari said she has lodged a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, a non-government organisation handling consumer complaints in the US and Canada.
She also said several people had reached out to her claiming they had experienced similar issues at the same or other New York hotels.
The Daily Mail Australia has contacted the New York hotel and SharkNinja for comment.
Travel expert Angus Kidman has urged tourists who believe they have been wrongly charged to immediately ask the hotel for evidence supporting the alleged incident.
This can include timestamps from detection systems in cases like that of Ms Caligari.
‘Many hotels rely on automated detectors, and these should have logged data,’ he said.
Mr Kidman also advised travellers to contact their bank if they encounter an uncooperative hotel.
‘If you’ve paid by credit card, you can potentially dispute the charge and get a refund via your bank, which may be a more viable option if the hotel is being obstinate,’ he said.
