How to Avoid Being Overcharged at Restaurants While Traveling

Tactics Used by Tourist-Trap Restaurants

The Menu Without Prices Any restaurant that shows you a menu without prices, or a laminated photo menu with no prices listed, is a warning sign. In most countries, restaurants are legally required to display prices. Ask for a written menu with prices (in any language — use Google Translate on your phone) before ordering.

Verbal Specials With No Price A waiter describes the catch of the day or chef's special without mentioning the price. When the bill arrives, the special is listed at a premium. Always ask "how much is that?" before ordering anything described verbally.

Portions Priced by Weight Seafood and some meat dishes in tourist-area restaurants are sometimes listed as price-per-100g. A reasonable-sounding €12 dish becomes €48 when the actual weight is calculated. Ask for the total price before ordering.

Unauthorized Extras Bread, olives, or other items placed on your table without being ordered. In tourist areas these are sometimes charged at €3–5 per item. In legitimate restaurants these are either free or described upfront.

How to Protect Yourself

• •Always get a written menu with prices before ordering
• •Ask the price of any special or unlisted item before ordering it
• •Review every line of your bill before paying — errors benefit the restaurant, not you
• •In many countries, you can ask for the bill in your local language using Google Translate
• •Walk one or two streets away from major tourist attractions to find restaurants serving local customers at local prices