Smoking

Question

Does anyone know if there are any hotels or resorts on the island that allow smoking on the balconies?

Answer

Amelia Island, like most of coastal Florida, has moved strongly toward smoke-free hotel policies in recent years. Almost all major resorts and hotels on the island — including the Ritz-Carlton, Omni Amelia Island Resort, Seaside Amelia Inn, and most beachfront condos — are officially 100% non-smoking, which includes guest room balconies.

Most properties have designated outdoor smoking areas on the grounds, but they do not allow smoking on balconies because smoke can drift into neighboring rooms and trigger cleaning fees.

That said, you still have a few possibilities if balcony smoking is important:

Independently owned vacation rentals or condos – Some condo owners on platforms like Vrbo or Airbnb may allow smoking on balconies, but you must check the individual listing. Many still prohibit it, but some are flexible when privately managed.
Older small motels or inns – A couple of non-branded, smaller inns on or near Fletcher Avenue sometimes allow balcony or outdoor-corridor smoking. These policies change often, so you’d need to call each property directly.
Properties with “smoking rooms” (rare) – A very small number of budget hotels on the mainland in Yulee (about 15–20 minutes from the island) still have designated smoking rooms or allow balcony smoking.

If you want to stay on Amelia Island itself, your best approach is to:

Look at privately managed condos where the owner sets the rules.
Contact smaller inns directly rather than relying on booking site descriptions.
Avoid major resorts, as their no-smoking policies are strictly enforced with fines.

In summary, most hotels and resorts on Amelia Island do *not* allow smoking on balconies, but you can still find options through private condo rentals or smaller independent properties. A quick phone call to confirm the policy is essential, since smoking rules can vary even within the same complex.