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Hookah in a Hostel

The Ideal Hostel

Jaggedsblade started this discussion 12 years 9 months ago

So I'm planning on starting a hostel in North Carolina, and my business partners and I are going to try to market the place as a hostel to travelers and a hookah lounge for locals. I've heard the warnings of smoking inside a hostel, but the lounge area will be separate from the hostel area, and hookah smoke isn't as thick as other types of smoke.

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Rucksack Brian

12 years

A surprising number of avid non-smokers jump at the chance to puff away on a hookah (shisha/narghile/waterpipe). The flavored smoke is less offensive than cigarette smoke, and it doesn't carry this same stigma.

Does your area have laws that prevent anyone from smoking indoors? If it does, do those laws include hookah or just tobacco products? Would the hot coals be considered a fire hazard?

If it is separated from the rest of the hostel area, then it might even be a selling point and contribute to your atmosphere. Combine it with low tables, pillows on the floor, and a nice pot of tea and you could have a cozy tranquil winner.

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Josh Hostels

12 years

I think that as long as it's separated from the regular common area and none of the smoke drifts in, it might be okay. I wouldn't underestimate the anti-smoking feelings of some guests. Some of them might have chronic respiratory problems or just not like the smell of the smoke, but I don't think that any non-smokers would complain if it were separated from the actual hostel.

If the smoke is going to drift into the hostel, I would clearly feature on your listings that there is hookah smoking, and the people who don't like smoke will be less likely to show up. :)

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Jaggedsblade

12 years

There are a couple other hookah lounges nearby so I'm sure that indoor smoking will be allowed. Also we're planning on using steam stones and electric coal to try to minimize the number of number of permits and such. The plan is to use the downstairs as a lounge, with a door to the actual hostel area requiring a key. The hostel part would be upstairs and a kitchen inside the downstairs door. This hostel is still in the building stages though, so nothing is quite set in stone. We'll probably have Hookah or something alluding to it in the title though.

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