Eating out on holiday: how to avoid being ripped off
A British family recently forked (or should that be 'spooned') out £54 for four ice creams in Rome. Have you ever felt the sting of ‘tourist tax’?
Should have had a Cornetto
The group of four Brits were holidaying in Rome when they bought the ice creams from Antica Roma ice cream parlour, close to the famous Spanish steps. Each cone had three scoops and, knowing that most Italian cities charge more if you sit down, the group intended to take them away.
In an interview with Sky News, 58-year-old Roger Bannister, who was one of the party, said that he was staggered when the vendor presented him with a bill for 64 euro. “They didn’t even say thank you when we paid… it’s incredible. How can they get away with charging that much? It’s just not normal. It’s left a really bad taste to what was up until then a lovely holiday.”
But apparently the ice cream parlour in question was unrepentant. An anonymous staff member said: “They got 16 euro worth of ice cream each – almost a kilo. What more did they want? The prices are clearly on display.”
Italian consumer group Codacons has lodged a complaint asking for an immediate investigation into the incident. Mr Bannister and his family, who are from the West Midlands, also received an official apology from the Mayor of Rome, and were told that they would be treated to an ice cream if they ever returned.
The British way
Hmmm. Good on Mr Bannister and his family for taking it to the press… but if they were so offended by the bill, then why didn’t one of them challenge the ice cream vendor at the time? Surely the shock of a £54 charge should have stopped Mr Bannister from putting his hand in his wallet?
But then again, we are talking about British people, who are renowned for their unfaltering politeness. How many times have you apologised when somebody runs your foot over with a supermarket trolley? Or stood in furious silence when a chancer skips the queue in front of you? It’s the British way, and it leaves us very vulnerable to exploitation.
I remember a similar incident on one of my family holidays, when Dad was charged £8.50 for an ice cream in a busy Rome parlour. He didn’t utter a word of outrage when paying, but the family spent the rest of the day obsessing over the injustice, and fantasising about cutting remarks we should have said at the time.
How to be a ‘tourist tax’ dodger
I used to live in Venice, and over there it’s practically the law to charge tourists more than locals. It’s just how it goes, and they’ll carry on doing it because not enough holidaymakers complain officially. In fact, it’s part of the whole holiday experience to pay £10 for a cappuccino in Piazza San Marco and then show your amazed friends the receipt back home.
Miraculously, after living in Venice for a month my bills at bakeries, ice cream parlours, coffee shops and even food markets started to fall – almost by half in some cases. Not because I was recognised, but because I realised that to be accepted, and therefore charged less, I had to cast off my tourist veneer, and act cool instead. Here are my top tips for guaranteeing a cheaper day…
Speak the language
Learn how to order food (“I would like that one please” works in all scenarios) and the very basics, such as ‘hello’, ‘please’, and ‘thank you’. Barking at a foreigner in English when you’re on their territory is a sure-fire way to get a big bill.
Never sit down
Italy’s not the only European country which charges you extra for taking a pew. And if you’re sat down near the in-house musician, you’ll have to pay even more. Just do as the locals do, and stand up.
Don’t automatically eat the bread
Most restaurants will plonk a basket of bread on the table as soon as you’re sat down. It’s very rarely free, and you’ll be charged a fixed price, regardless of how much of it you eat.
Be cool
There’s no hiding the fact that you’re a tourist, but try and be subtle about it. Getting a map out, taking lots of pictures, or just getting in the way will automatically put you in the ‘tourist tax’ bracket.
Don’t be afraid to argue (politely)
You could have a go at bartering. If you think you’ve been over-charged, then say so (preferably in their language) and try and negotiate a lower price. I even managed to do this at Venice’s Café Florian (perhaps the most expensive coffee shop in Europe), by politely asserting that we were too far away from the violinist to pay the extra ‘music charge’.
Do you have any top tips for avoiding hefty tourist bills? Or have you had a similar experience to the West Midlands family? Talk to us in the comments box below.
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