Tourist Scams

[jashermd]

Hello,

Funnily enough, there was a letter to the editor in one of the London papers today about the double-tipping scam (in reference to restaurants in London).

I also feel guilty when I leave the 'tip' line blank, even when there's already a service charge applied. I wonder how many people actually do put something there, either because they don't realise they are being scammed or because they feel guilty.

Nothing, however, makes you feel as guilty as asking them to take the 'optional' service charge off the cheque when you've had really poor service. I hate making a fuss so I've only done this once or twice when the situation really merited it. However, it does certainly get the manager's attention, which can be very helpful and also points up the problem you've had, so overall I think it was worth it.

Cheers,
Julian




Message Edited by jashermd on 11-27-2007 11:15 PM

[jsattapr2]

Every airportfacitity I have visited,in the world, has taxi scams. I just hate taking a taxi from any airport. I always look for alternative methods of transportantion. Does this bother any of the rest of you?

[funtimes]

Hello everyone Yes LH I promise to be careful in Paris!! Our hotel last weekend in the states - a major chain had a "facility charge" of six dollars per day on our bill The charge was located amongst the many taxes we see on hotel bills We inquired about the "facility charge" and were told it was a charge since the hotel was an airport hotel We requested removal and were denied This seems to be a scam where a large hotel chain can offer you one nightly rate when actually the rate is, in this case $6 higher per night. Check your hotel receipts!!!

Other scams I'm familiar with are purse stealing - fortunately never happened to me but...when we used to live in Chicago my friend came on frequent business trips She was in the habit of hanging her purse on her chair - 3 times her wallet was stolen amazing but old habits are hard to break evidently. This same friend also had clothing stolen right out of her hotel room I guess she must have exquisite taste. Stay safe ...Funtimes

[no-backpacker]

I can remember when we went to an Indian restaurant in London, some years ago. The service charge was added at our bill, still the waitor asked us for money, not once but he begged for more money, he even asked us if we weren't satisfied, if the food wasn't good etc... I felt really stingy, but on the other hand, I also got angry when the waitor begged us for more money. It was a strange situation.... The food was good, but I will never go back to the place.

C.

[no-backpacker]

While we were in India we decided to take a rickshaw to the shoppingcenter. There were always lots of rickshaws outside the hotel so we went into one. We asked for the price to the shoppingcenter, but he never answered. We ended up in lots of other shops (I guess the drivers aunt, friend, uncle...) and in the end, an hour later, at the shoppingcenter. He then asked us for... I don't remember the price, it wasn't much for us, but I guess it was much for him. When we took a new rickshaw back to the hotel, we asked the driver to use the meter. It came out that the shoppingcenter was about 2 min. drive from the hotel and that the meter price was about 5% of what we payed the first driver...

C.

[jashermd]

Ah yes...the notorious tour of the side streets by way of 'my friend's carpet shop' and 'my uncle's jewellery shop.' Brings back fond (well, at least amusing) memories of Egypt.

Cheers,
Julian

[lhbrown]

Hi,

In regard to tipping, a funny thing happend to us last June when we returned to Sarasota, FL. Being so used to the tip being included in the bill in Paris and elsewhere in Europe, my husband just signed the credit card bill after we had dinner with our friends in a posh restaurant around Saint Armands Circle in Sarasota. Before we left, the waitress came over and asked if everything was ok. He said everything was just fine, no problem. Then the waitress asked him why he had left no tip on the bill. He was rather embarrassed and left the girl her tip in cash, explaining to our friends, that no tipping is required on bills in Paris since it is included in the bill.

[andybigs]

a pet peeve of mine as well. I've also heard a lot of "horror" stories from other tourists where the taxi driver doesn't help them with their luggage, and even worse, there were even instances where the taxi driver runs of with their luggages... now that I don't want to happen to any of LL's customers so careful with those bags

[no-backpacker]

Speaking of using meters when taking a taxi... Why is it so difficult for the drivers to use the meter? When we were in Rome we jumped into a "registrered" taxi. We asked the driver to use the meter and so he did. The problem was that he switched it off and on all the way... I don't know WHAT he did, but it looked stange for me... I live in Norway, I am used to pay a fortune for everything. I will happily pay what it cost to take a taxi, I just hate to be fooled!



And what about the drivers who take an extra round just to let the meter go? It happend to us at Hawaii. I know he drove us an extra round because we rented a car and drove the "shorter" rout without problems....

C.

[christian07]

Fortunately have only came close to being scammed. I was in China and a middle-aged man, probably in his 30's approached me in the middle of Tiananmen square and offered me and my cousin a silver coin that he was selling to us equaling $5 (if converted). Said it was for good luck. The coin had chinese characters and it was shining and gleaming. My cousin was almost thrilled back then to take it for she was thinking of what to bring home as souvenir. We didn't bought it anyway, later I found out from the concierge that it was a common thing there in the square and what the man was selling was a chinese coin corresponding to a dime. My cousin still insisted we should have bought it.