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.
On a micro level for Americans… Never pay for gas nearest to a highway exit. Drive a mile and immediately it’s .50-$1.00 less per gallon.
What region is this? Here in the South you’re just as likely to pay more by going further out.
Not sure where in the South you’re in.
But I verified that theory on East Coast, West coast, texas, Florida, California. The ones nearest out of the highway are typically catered towards Truckers or business travelers.
The ones away from the highway can charge less because of less visitors and conveniences.
That’s getting less and less true on the west coast. It’s pretty much $5.50 anywhere now that I can find
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/
This is a minor quibble, but I’ve never been charged a fee for an extra plate. They usually only charge when you request to “split the order”, meaning the kitchen splits the entree onto two plates for you.
Might depends on the restaurant. My family frequents a German restaurant for family holiday meals. The extent of the service they provide is strictly bringing an extra plate and silverware. And it’s an $8 split plate fee.
Neither have I and I live in Italy.
Let’s not forget these are isolated cases.
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Another reason to prefer takeaway. Or cooking yourself I guess
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
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?
You seem like one of those people that talks just to hear themselves talk.
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
$2 to cut a sandwich in half
What a bunch of Gorlami.
We just told them we aren’t paying the crazy prices. Shouted a bit and they let it go.
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?
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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.
We only have one life and we need to be allowed to live it well. It’s completely unfair to expect the lower and middle classes to stick to their small towns in the name of sustainability when the rich are doing as they want with absolutely zero regard for the environment.
At least tourism actually supports local economies and the people living in those destinations.
Billionaires are out here flying around to avoid traffic (ie Elon Musk) and people are out here shitting on me for my 1 trip a year to visit my family
If y’all wanna buy me a house out there and pay my moving costs so I don’t have to fly anymore to see them then I welcome the opportunity
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
Short-term house/apartment rentals are great. AirBNB specifically is shit.
If your issue is that the housing could be used to house locals, that’s an issue with a shortage of housing, not AirBNB.
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More or less, yeah. But we can do the other things if we make sure to do them sustainably.
List?
A list of things idiots say?
Why not, you know, looked up a survey or something that tells you what it’s really like instead of what heavily downvotes people say on social media?
Do you think there’d be no difference?
