Restaurant Ripoffs – Learn how to minimize your dining bill on your vacation by following the tips below.Restaurant ripoffs are more common than you might think while you are traveling. While there are many honest restaurateurs, there are also “the others”. These are the ones that pray on Sunday and then prey on everyone else during the week. Essentially touristy restaurants have no incentive to provide you with quality meals and service because the owner does not care if you come back or not. He/she wants to get as much money out of you as possible in one visit. How can you spot a touristy restaurant? When the menu is in multiple languages you will end of paying for that. How can you avoid being cheated when you visit a restaurant? You can be forewarned and forearmed.
• In Portugal the waiter automatically brings bread and appetizers to your table as soon as you sit down. These are not free. If you do not want them, ask that they be removed. • other
• Mineral water waiting for you at your table or brought to you when you asked for tap water. • A credit card fee is automatically added to your bill. • An “Optional” service charges that is not really optional. • A seating charge • A cover charges
• Eat where the locals eat. • Review and compare the menus posted outside of several restaurants then choose the best deal. This may take longer but you could save a lot of money by doing so. • If the menu is not written in your own language, use a language phrase book and translate the menu. • If something on the menu is unexpectedly cheap, there is usually a good reason behind it i.e. quality, portion size. • Check the menu for any service charges, cover charges, add-ons, explanations etc. Hint look for any fine print that might be hidden on any page. Ask any lawyer and he/she will tell you that “the large print giveth and the small print taketh away”. • Ask to look around the restaurant before you request a table in order to see what waits for you at a table. Mineral water, breadsticks etc. are not free. Ask that they be removed before you accept a table. • Learn how to order tap water in the language of the country you are visiting. • If nothing appeals to you on any menu, purchase something at a grocery store instead. • Carry a bottle of water in your daypack just in case your waiter does not provide tap water upon request (be sure to remove the labels beforehand so they don’t try to charge you for the bottled water). • If you want a soft drink, ask for it without ice. If it is too warm, ask for a glass of ice after. • When you order your meal, write down the individual prices of each item and then add them up. This way you will not be surprised by the magnitude of the bill before any additional charges are tacked on. You can also compare prices as itemized on the final bill and dispute any discrepancies. • Do not order alcohol in a restaurant as it has one of the highest mark-ups. • Don’t let the waiter try to upsell you to a more expensive item or suggest that you order additional items and drinks. • Some waiters push specials. Always find out the price of the special before you order. • To avoid a credit card fee ask that the charge be removed and then pay your bill in cash. • Always check your bill and request an explanation for anything that you do not understand. • If the amount of the service charge or cover charge is acceptable to you then don’t leave a tip. • Check to see if “Optional Tips” have been added to your bill. Ask that these be removed and tip the amount you feel has been earned instead. If the waiter refuses, speak to the manager about making the correction. If the manager refuses, make a scene and be prepared to call the police.
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