CCP Tourist Fined SGD200 for Eating Durian Inside SG Hotel Room

[disconsolate]

Chinese Tourist Fined SGD200 for Eating Durian Inside SG Hotel Room​

She claimed she was unaware of the rules.

Ying Ren TanMay 28, 2025

A Chinese tourist was hit with a (S$200) cleaning fee after she unknowingly ate durian inside her hotel room during a trip to Singapore.

The woman, who goes by the username “幽蓝桑” on Xiaohongshu, shared her experience in a video to warn others not to make the same mistake.

Receive letter informing her penalty the next day​

She said she had been exploring the city with a friend when they came across a roadside durian stall. Since there was no place to sit and enjoy the fruit, they decided to pack it back to their hotel.

While we were in the taxi, the smell started to leak out. My friend even commented that the durian was really strong, so I tightened the container, worried the driver might not like it. But he didn’t say anything,” she said.

The next day, after returning from a day out, she was shocked to find a letter from the hotel informing her that durian had been detected in her room—and that she would be charged S$200 for professional cleaning.

“I only spent S$13 on the durian, but now I have to pay S$200 in cleaning fees. It’s so expensive!” she said in disbelief.

Found out most hotels banned durian​

She later searched online and realised many other tourists were also unaware that durians were banned in most hotels due to their strong smell.

She called the hotel to apologise, explaining that she genuinely didn’t know. The staff informed her that some hotels charge up to S$500 for similar violations.

“They explained that a professional cleaning service had to be called in, and the room couldn’t be used for several days because of the smell, so they couldn’t offer any discount,” she added.

She also mentioned that the durian was sealed in a food container, wrapped in plastic wrap, and placed inside a bag—so hotel staff didn’t notice it when she entered.

To other durian lovers, she had one key takeaway:

No matter how good it smells, don’t bring durian back to your hotel. It’s not worth the fine!”

 

[disconsolate]

Her xiaohongshu video here...(sorry can't embed this)

https://www.xiaohongshu.com/discove...615&share_id=2a4e3a3ca77741ed8f21d7d5b8dabcbe

 

[WangChuk]

she rich ATB ... can afford one .... if she needs to earn, anytime just 1 shot and she can eat durian 2 times in the room again ...

 

[shittypore]

So if your fart smells Durian also must pay 500?

 

[Leongsam]

That's not a FINE it's payment for a service rendered.

 

[True Believer]

So she gets fined $200 for eating durians inside her hotel room, but won't be in trouble if she brings back a man who eats her in that same room.

 

[congo9]

China Chinese are a bunch of special people.
Unreasonable ...



When the 1st wave of owner bought their property at 30k+ per metre, then come the 2nd wave 20k+ per square metre. Reason is because the developer can't sell of the rest of the ex stock at such high price.

 

[bobby]

Hotels should also “fine” occupants with very strong body odour especially CECAs

 

[True Believer]

Hotels should also “fine” occupants with very strong body odour especially CECAs

The stench of CECAs is entrenched inside Mustafa Centre. I no longer patronise that store because of the overpowering odour.

 

[sbfuncle]

That's not a FINE it's payment for a service rendered.

I would have told the hotel mgt I will clean it myself.
What kind of professional service you need? Just spray something and let the durian smell slowly dispersed from the room by opening the door or windows.

Professionala cleaner can do magic with the smell? By sucking?

 

[Leongsam]

I would have told the hotel mgt I will clean it myself.
What kind of professional service you need? Just spray something and let the durian smell slowly dispersed from the room by opening the door or windows.

Professionala cleaner can do magic with the smell? By sucking?

https://www.anitashousekeeping.com/blog/how-to-deodorize-a-room/

 

[Leongsam]

Hotels should also “fine” occupants with very strong body odour especially CECAs

Chinks smell like the pigs they eat which can be just as bad.

 

[sbfuncle]

https://www.anitashousekeeping.com/blog/how-to-deodorize-a-room/

By doing this they are cleaning the whole room and not just targeting the durian smell. In this case the atb should not be paying the extras cleaning for them.

 

[sbfuncle]

That's not a FINE it's payment for a service rendered.

If I was there likely the polis needs to be called in as I'm not the type that can easily get con.
Or maybe the hotel mgr will become a puppy when I tells him you want to charge your cleaning of the whole room with dirt into my account is it?
Sometimes is not about the money but the moral behind it.

 

[Leongsam]

By doing this they are cleaning the whole room and not just targeting the durian smell. In this case the atb should not be paying the extras cleaning for them.

In Singapore, hotels, as private entities, cannot impose fines in the legal sense, as fining authority is generally reserved for government bodies under Singapore law. However, hotels can enforce their internal policies, such as prohibiting durians due to their strong smell, through other measures. For example, they may:

• Charge a fee: Hotels can include a clause in their terms and conditions (agreed upon at booking or check-in) allowing them to charge a cleaning or penalty fee for violating rules like bringing durians into rooms. This is not a "fine" in the legal sense but a contractual charge. For instance, many Singapore hotels explicitly state such fees in their policies, often ranging from SGD 100–500 for odor-related cleaning.
• Evict or ban guests: Hotels can ask guests to leave or ban them from future stays for breaching rules.
• Seek damages: If the durian causes significant damage (e.g., requiring extensive cleaning or room downtime), the hotel could pursue civil action for compensation, though this is rare for minor infractions.

Under Singapore’s Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, any fees or penalties must be clearly disclosed to guests beforehand (e.g., via signage, booking terms, or check-in agreements). If a hotel attempts to impose an undisclosed charge, it could be challenged as an unfair practice. The Hotel Licensing Regulations in Singapore also allow hotels to set house rules, but these do not grant fining powers—only the ability to enforce policies through refusal of service or contractual terms.
In practice, many Singapore hotels post clear notices about durian bans and associated cleaning fees, which guests implicitly agree to upon booking or staying. If a guest refuses to pay, the hotel might deduct the fee from a credit card deposit (if authorized) or pursue small claims, but they cannot enforce a fine like a government authority.
If you have a specific hotel or incident in mind, let me know, and I can look into it further. Always check the hotel’s terms and conditions before booking.

 

[sbfuncle]

In Singapore, hotels, as private entities, cannot impose fines in the legal sense, as fining authority is generally reserved for government bodies under Singapore law. However, hotels can enforce their internal policies, such as prohibiting durians due to their strong smell, through other measures. For example, they may:

• Charge a fee: Hotels can include a clause in their terms and conditions (agreed upon at booking or check-in) allowing them to charge a cleaning or penalty fee for violating rules like bringing durians into rooms. This is not a "fine" in the legal sense but a contractual charge. For instance, many Singapore hotels explicitly state such fees in their policies, often ranging from SGD 100–500 for odor-related cleaning.
• Evict or ban guests: Hotels can ask guests to leave or ban them from future stays for breaching rules.
• Seek damages: If the durian causes significant damage (e.g., requiring extensive cleaning or room downtime), the hotel could pursue civil action for compensation, though this is rare for minor infractions.

Under Singapore’s Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, any fees or penalties must be clearly disclosed to guests beforehand (e.g., via signage, booking terms, or check-in agreements). If a hotel attempts to impose an undisclosed charge, it could be challenged as an unfair practice. The Hotel Licensing Regulations in Singapore also allow hotels to set house rules, but these do not grant fining powers—only the ability to enforce policies through refusal of service or contractual terms.
In practice, many Singapore hotels post clear notices about durian bans and associated cleaning fees, which guests implicitly agree to upon booking or staying. If a guest refuses to pay, the hotel might deduct the fee from a credit card deposit (if authorized) or pursue small claims, but they cannot enforce a fine like a government authority.
If you have a specific hotel or incident in mind, let me know, and I can look into it further. Always check the hotel’s terms and conditions before booking.

Thanks for the rules.
But I believe they are there to phua hung only.
In this particular case I think I should be able to nego it to a much lower fee by telling them I will pay portion of it for the durian smell, the rest not my business.