Tourist traps can be found all over the world and it’s frustrating to feel like you’ve been ripped off. Here’s how to avoid falling into the same traps time and time again
It’s always a bitter pill to swallow when you feel like you’ve been taken for a ride. Tourist traps are notorious for charging inflated prices for subpar food or services.
Whether it’s restaurants, attractions or shops, these tourist traps can be a real challenge to dodge in bustling holiday hotspots. I fell victim to a tourist trap in Athens, where I was stung with an exorbitant bill for some truly dreadful grub at a local eatery, writes Express.co.uk’s Esther Marshall.
Despite ordering a simple Greek feta cheese and tomato sandwich, we were billed for a platter and the quality of the food left much to be desired. So where did I go wrong when I got caught up in this scam?
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Location
Fresh off the plane in Athens, we found ourselves wandering into Plaka, the city’s most tourist-heavy district.
Exhausted and famished from our journey, we made the mistake of settling for one of the first eateries we stumbled upon.
Tourist trap restaurants are often conveniently located around the city centre or near major attractions, while the real gems are usually tucked away down a side street.
Staff and setting
The restaurant staff were overly assertive and keen to usher us inside. The absence of a menu outside meant we couldn’t check the prices before entering.
Once inside, we noticed the menu was in English. These are all red flags that you’re about to walk into a tourist trap restaurant.
Pushy staff often try to lure tourists inside without showing them a menu. Restaurants favoured by locals typically have menus in the local language, although in top tourist destinations, there’s usually an English menu too.
As soon as we’d placed our order, we noticed that the food at the surrounding tables wasn’t up to scratch, but it was too late to make a swift exit.
The food
Once the unwanted platter arrived, we wished it could be whisked away again. The waiter had ‘misunderstood’ our order and brought a pricier dish to the table.
The food was of poor quality, with some of it tasting like it had been zapped in the microwave. Despite our complaints about receiving the wrong order, they refused to offer us a refund or let us leave until we’d coughed up the cash.
If you’re unsure about a restaurant, try to sneak a peek at the food on another customer’s table and if it looks dodgy – give it a wide berth.
Reviews
As soon as we made our escape, we checked the reviews and discovered that loads of customers had endured a similar experience to ours. If we’d done our homework before sitting down, we’d never have picked that restaurant.
Dodging tourist traps can be tricky, but taking recommendations from locals is a good starting point. If you’re set on dining in the city centre with views of landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or the Trevi Fountain, you’ll probably have to accept that you’ll be paying over the odds.