
Popular Greek tourist resort labelled 'the ultimate rip-off' for drinks
The first sundowner of the evening is always a holiday highlight - but not if you're paying through the nose for it.
One of Greece 's prettiest spots, the ancient Old Town of Rhodes, has been highlighted as a hotspot for overcharging tourists, according to reviews on Google and TripAdvisor.
The area's narrow network streets are filled with places to imbibe everything from local Dodecanese beer to shots of ouzo, but according to some disgruntled tourists, the Old Town also leaves visitors vulnerable to inflated prices.
Reviews of the Chevalier Shisha & Cocktail Lounge Bar, which is in the main square of Rhodes' Old Town and enjoys the attention of tourist crowds all summer long, has been on the receiving end of some particularly scathing reviews.
One person, who visited in April, criticised the 'very poor service' and 'shocking attitude', as well as claiming they were given a second menu when they paid their bill at the bar - with different prices.
While there are plenty of positive reviews, another unhappy customer claimed the bar charged them 32 euros for two small cocktails, despite advertising the price at 20 euros.
A similar post from last summer also flagged the lack of clear pricing, saying: 'There are no menus and they don't tell you prices of drinks until you're paying the bill.
'They don't tell you that if you order a large cocktail you will get a fish bowl, which is £35 and a large beer is a 2 litre boot, which cost £18.'
It seems to be a similar story at The Gate, another venue in Rhodes' Old Town, where drinkers also reported being unhappy at the lack of transparency when it comes to prices.
Just two weeks ago, four tourists said they paid 60 euros for a medium beer, cider, and two medium frozen daiquiris, and called the cocktails 'the worst I have ever come across', claiming they 'didn't taste any alcohol'.
Another declared the venue a 'tourist trap', writing: 'There is a reason why the drinks menu has no prices. I thought it was safe enough to order a sparkling water. It cost 5€.'
The bar earned just two stars out of five from 154 reviews on Google - with the food described as 'standard' but the drink prices never clear.
Elsewhere, a bar named Rendez View currently has just 1.9 stars on TripAdvisor, with ambiguous prices again behind the low score.
One holidaymaker on the island just two weeks ago said Rendez Vous had 'horrible prices' and urged people to 'ask or check them before ordering anything'.
Another revealed they'd paid 15 euros for two soft drinks, writing: 'A shame. The staff was cold and unpleasant, and the prices are a real scam. Two Coke charged at 15 euros?'
Some of the reviews on Google and TripAdvisor don't hold back when it comes to naming and shaming venues in Rhodes Old Town that they claim inflate prices
Over in Italy, tourists were warned this week about a potential scam involving one of the country's most famous foods - gelato.
Tourists have been urged to take care when ordering ice cream in Italian destinations this summer as they could be being duped.
Italian gelato is world famous for its creamy texture with tourists often flocking to purchase iconic flavours such as pistachio and stracciatella.
But they might not be getting the real thing. The Express reports that many tourists are actually buying a cheap copy of gelato with the cheeky scam particularly prevalent in Rome.
Foodies at TheKitchn.com explain that classic gelato is 'churned at a much slower rate, incorporating less air and leaving the gelato denser than ice cream'.
And there's also an easier way for tourists to spot inauthentic gelato. If the ice cream colours are particularly bright, it's generally a sign that you're not buying a real gelato.
Classic gelato is usually pale in colour as makers don't use artificial food colouring during the process.
Tourists can also check reviews on Google and Tripadvisor to find gelato cafes with particularly high ratings.
One popular spot is Vivoli, a historic ice cream shop in Florence which is home to an iconic new treat.
A €6 coffee dessert has become the latest Tuscan viral sensation, drawing crowds of tourists and creating hour-long lines outside the city's oldest gelateria.

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BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
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For the Delhi-based couple enjoying hot sugary tea near the Dal Lake, coming to Srinagar was "a spur of the moment decision"."It took us just three hours from Katra. We'll spend the night here and take the train back to Katra tomorrow and travel on to Delhi," Mr Bharadwaj said."I ask him if he was worried travelling to the valley so soon after the Pahalgam attack?"There's nothing to be afraid of. This is my country," he Minister Abdullah says the fact that the pilgrims are choosing to come to the valley is a good start."Now those who are coming for a few hours, I'd like to see them come for a few days. Those who are coming for a few days, I'd like to see them having the confidence to stay for a week."But at least it's a beginning, and that's what helps."Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.


The Independent
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Daily Mail
6 hours ago
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