$2 to cut a sandwich in half: The outrageous rip-offs targeting tourists in Italy
$2 to cut a sandwich in half: The outrageous rip-offs targeting tourists in Italy
Getting gouged is all part of the experience in tourist hot spots, but some Italy seems to be taking it to audacious new levels amid complaints Italians can no longer afford vacations at home.
An Italian holiday may be a priceless experience for those who have enjoyed all this country has to offer. But the summer of 2023 will go down as one of the priciest in history after a slew of price gouging scandals at cafes and restaurants that have affected foreign tourists and Italians alike.
“In August, high-end tourism continues to grow, unlike normal tourism,” Antonio Coviello, a researcher with Italy’s National Research Center wrote in a report on luxury travel issued this week, adding that the risk of over-tourism in the luxury sector is a concern because it could drive up prices in the mid-range travel sector to accommodate the bigger spenders.
Says a lot, doesn't it? Specifically: The peasants can get fucked.
"Get back to work!"
I've travelled to Italy quite a bit. In every case yes, prices on the main tourist thoroughfares are high. Sometimes eye-wateringly high.
But invariably you do not need to go very far to get off the beaten track and find much better deals. Explore and profit.
But invariably you do not need to go very far to get off the beaten track and find much better deals. Explore and profit.
Pro tip: that's true absolutely everywhere in the world. It's crazy how much cheaper and better the food is a mere three blocks on foot from tourist attractions. Can't read the menu? Look at what people are eating, and point at what looks good.
Never failed me.
When I visited Florence last year, the food prices were insanely good (visiting as an American where food prices have gotten outrageous) when you get away from major tourist spots. And the food was better too.
When we visited Florence, it would have been maybe 10 years ago now though. We were staying right off the main square. I think the only thing we did in that square was breakfast. Otherwise, it was always places off the main roads. Great city, not sure I could climb the dome 10 years later though!
Lovely city to visit though, for anyone reading.
Admittedly a long time ago, but in the 90s most places, even near tourist attractions, were inexpensive in Italy. $1-2 for 0.5l wine, $3-8 for most pasta. The best pasta we had was $3 and was about 1 block from the main train station.
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Where have you seen restaurants charge for an empty plate in the USA?
Many restaurants charge a “split plate fee”. If you order something and want to share it with your partner they’ll bring you an extra plate but charge a fee. Have a link: https://frugalreality.com/split-plate-charge/
At least you mustn’t give tips to have the waiter reach the minimum wage.
I took a date out the other night for a drink and some food. We split a turkey sandwich and each ordered one basic cocktail. $41 + $9 tip. Could've made all that at home for less than $10. The US restaurant system as a whole is mental. Not even 5 years ago I had dozens of options during lunch to get a lunch special which included a whole bunch of stuff for less than $10. None of those options exist anymore, they're all gone.
* needn't
If this is a jab at the US all servers make minimum wage. If they don't make enough in tips, which is rare, they have to be paid at least minimum by their employer. If you're gonna unnecessarily bring up the US and gripe about it randomly at least know your stuff. Or... Just take criticism instead of constantly allowing yourself to be distracted by another country. Just some food for thought but don't worry it doesn't cost extra
You're technically correct, but most people, including workers, don't know this. The companies often don't pay then for the missed wages. This is called wage theft, which is the most common kind of theft, by far, in the US. Yes, it's technically illegal, but it won't matter unless they're held accountable, and what service worker has the time or money to sue them over a little missed money?
You make minimum wage over the course of a whole pay period. Because tips vary, some nights you may work nearly for free as long as later in the pay period you make enough tips to get you to minimum wage for that whole week/two weeks. People have the impression that you get minimum wage as a baseline that you can't fall below on a given day. It does actually work that way on the West Coast of the US and a few other states, but not the majority.
Coming from a country where we at least give servers minimum wages* and then they can keep their tip tax-free** on top; this still doesn't sound right.
I at least know that all** of my tips go to the server on top of what he would've get in the first place. Otherwise I'm essentially not gifting money for good service but paying part of the wage for normal service as well. And that's something that should be priced into the products, not tips.
*unless they were unemployed for years, then minimum wages don't apply for the first six months, and i guess there are some other loopholes; but in general minimum wage is the minimum
**unless its a "throw everything in a pot and then share it at the end of the month" arrangement; or if the tips is required; it must be a voluntary gift from the customer directly towards the server to not count as income
I normally go off the beaten path when I visit a country. Tourist attractions are always, always more expensive. Whether it's Marrakech, Venise or Rome.
Mate, even the Italian prime minister, who has a farmhouse in Puglia, has gone abroad for her vacation.
The problem there is risk of crime, in my experience. However, it was always better food, but can get sketchy.
Hey, any quick recommendations you'd have for Marrakesh? Going there in a couple of weeks and I only managed to find out about the most popular spots so far.
Same.
How many fucking photos of the Mona Lisa or Eiffel Towers are these basic bitch tourists going to take?
Have to say this is typical anywhere tourists are. Some are more hidden than others. Ever been to a sporting event, concert, or ski mountain? Same shit.
I'm in Cancun and my hotel charges $35 for sunscreen. Extortion happens in tourist spots, everywhere, always.
@BrainisfineIthink @nothing well you’re in Cancun..go to the corner store or a supermarket. Too scary to leave the resort?
Overcharging at tourist traps is hardly a new phenomenon. I went to Italy in the late 90s and they were charging $4 for a 12oz can of Coke I could get for 25-50¢ at home.
I'm sure it was warm too
We just told them we aren't paying the crazy prices. Shouted a bit and they let it go.
$2 to cut a sandwich in half
What a bunch of Gorlami.
they deserve it to be honest
Because you can't afford to go to Italy?
Is it really gouging if people are willing to pay it to be fancy?
Yes. Gouging doesn't stop being gouging if people are still willing to pay, it just means the gouging has successfully exploited people instead of driving them away entirely.
For luxury spending and no emergency conditions, that just sounds like normal supply and demand.
Tourism is cancer...
What is over lap between people bitching about climate change and going to 2 annual vacations with air travel?
You got downvoted but it is a fair question. I hope sustainability is started to be talked about more in the travel sector
They got downvoted because "tourism is cancer" is a dumb short sighted statement. No one is expected to stay in their little town and never visit anywhere else. It's nice to travel and experience the culture of other nations and towns and to know that there are other people besides the ones you interact with in your little bubble.
Because we learned during covid that the airlines literally flew planes empty because "ThEy HaVe To"
If that means I get to travel to a remote corner of Peru to climb some mountains, imma do it.
I'm with you. I know it's unpopular but fuck. I know so many people that espouse a green philosophy but won't bat an eyelash at multiple intercontinental flights a year. And especially with the rise of air bnb tourism is just wreaking these places. Where I king, you'd get one travel pass in you twenties and another in your sixties.
Im on the fence with this. If i were king i feel like 1 a year could be fine. But that would mean rich people would also have to follow that. If you cut down on those ridiculous daily 5 minute private jet flights it wouldnt be the massive problem it is now.
Airbnb is a different subject. Shouldnt exist imo
