With the new holiday season comes a warning to tourists travelling abroad to beware of rip-off traders.
Failing to acquaint themselves with the price that they are about to be charged for typical holiday extras that are generally expected to be inexpensive, could result in tourists staring down the barrel of an eye-watering bill once the deal is done.
The Daily Telegraph has highlighted one particular case where not confirming the price of a holiday ice cream prior to ordering left four British tourists stunned at the expense that they had incurred. Brothers Roger and Steven Bannister were visiting Rome with their wives when they decided to purchase four ice cream cones to take away from ice cream bar, Antica Roma, near the Piazza di Spagna. No doubt expecting to pay a small premium for purchasing the treat in the capital city’s tourist area, they were still stunned to receive a bill for €64, approximately £54.00.
Roger Bannister told the Telegraph that the server at the bar had not even thanked him for his payment. However, a local councillor, Matteo Costantini, happened to be passing at the time and engaged with the group to hear their complaint. He told Sky News, ‘They were justifiably outraged at what they had been asked to pay. It’s scandalous and should not be allowed to happen. This is not the first time tourists have been caught out like this and it sadly won’t be the last. There needs to be a clamp down on places like this that charge extortionate prices to unsuspecting tourists.’
Commenting to the Telegraph, the bar’s managers justified the price charged by saying that it was for large portions and cheaper options were available with prices clearly labelled.
