The Halachot of Candle Lighting for Travelers

If a person travels during Chanukah and is not home on one or several of the nights of the holiday, must he light Chanukah candles in his current location? The Halacha in such a case depends on whether the individual travels alone or with his family. If he travels alone, such as on a business trip, and his wife remains at home, then she lights at home and he fulfills his obligation through her lighting. If the traveler’s wife lights at home, then he does not have to light candles where he is, since his Mitzvah is fulfilled through his wife’s lighting. If he nevertheless wants to light candles, he may, though he should certainly not recite the Brachot. If a person travels with his family during Chanukah, and they are staying in a hotel, then he is obligated to light Chanukah candles in the hotel. Ideally, he should light the candles in his hotel room, but obviously he must ask for the hotel’s permission to do so. If the hotel does not allow lighting fire in the rooms, then he should light in the area designated for this purpose, such as in the lobby, and recite the Brachot. If a person travels with his family during Chanukah and they stay with friends in their home, and not in a hotel, then he fulfills the Mitzvah by becoming a "partner" with the host. This is done by giving a few cents, or a nickel, to the host, whereby he acquires a share in the oil or candles. Through this partnership, the visiting family fulfills the Mitzvah of Chanukah candle lighting through the host’s lighting. Chacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that once the guest becomes a partner, the host may invite him to light the Chanukah candles in his place, with the Brachot. If a couple spends Shabbat with their parents/in-laws, then they fulfill the Mitzvah through the parents’ lighting even without purchasing a share in the oil or candles. Nevertheless, it is preferable in such a case for the father to have in mind to grant his son or son-in-law a share in the materials, so he becomes a "partner" in the lighting.

Summary: If person travels alone during Chanukah without his wife, he does not have to light Chanukah candles, as he fulfills the Mitzvah through his wife’s lighting at home. If the family travels together and stays in a hotel, they must light in the hotel, wherever the hotel permits, with the Brachot. If they are hosted in somebody’s house, the guest should give the host a few cents to purchase a share in the oil or candles, and he fulfills his obligation through the host’s lighting. This purchasing of a share in the candles is not required when a couple stays with their parents/in-laws. 

By Rabbi Eli Mansour