Travel scamsFood and drink
Restaurant scams
58 reported in 41 countries. How each works and how to avoid it.
- FranceOccasionalDrink-spikingSomeone tampers with a drink without the drinker's knowledge. This can leave the person unable to protect themselves or their belongings.Bordeaux
- SpainCommonRestaurant and bar bill paddingStaff add food or drinks you did not order or charge more than the menu price. Small extra charges can be easy to miss.
- SpainOccasionalRestaurant tip pressureAn English-only note saying that the tip is not included can make visitors feel they must add a large tip. Tipping is optional in Spain. The note alone does not prove fraud.
- SpainOccasionalRestaurants aimed mainly at touristsSome restaurants target visitors unfamiliar with local meal customs. Very early meal times or paella offered for dinner can signal a tourist trap. These signs alone do not prove overcharging or fraud.
- MexicoOccasionalAn offered tequila shot with an unagreed priceSomeone encourages you to take a tequila shot as if it is a casual invitation. You have not agreed on a price, so you may face a charge afterward.Cancún
- GreeceOccasionalCheap imitation imported spiritsCheap locally distilled alcohol with flavourings, called bomba, may be sold as imported whisky, gin or other spirits. Genuine imported alcohol is often expensive, so a very cheap imported drink can be a warning.
- ThailandOccasionalUnderfilled bottled waterSome shops sell water bottles that are not completely full. The reason is not explained.Ayutthaya
- ThailandOccasionalInflated train food pricesRoaming vendors sell snacks, drinks and meals at inflated prices. This is a pricing issue rather than a described fraud.Bangkok, Chiang Mai
- JapanOccasionalSlow service on timed unlimited food or drink dealsYou pay for a fixed period, but staff control how quickly orders arrive. Slow service can limit how much you receive before time runs out. This can make the deal poor value; it does not always mean deliberate fraud.Tokyo
- PortugalOccasionalUnexpectedly expensive fado mealsFood and drinks at fado bars cost more than at normal restaurants. Their quality may not match the price because you are also paying for the music experience. A higher price alone does not mean fraud.Lisbon
- ChinaCommonTea-tasting and teahouse invitationsA friendly stranger encourages you to visit a particular teahouse or tea tasting. The visit can lead to inflated charges or pressure to make expensive purchases. A high tea price alone does not prove a scam.Beijing, Shanghai
- VietnamCommonRestaurant two-menu pricingSome restaurants use a two-menu system as a pricing scam. No further details about the menu switch are given.
- VietnamOccasionalVery high airport food pricesFood in the international terminal can be very expensive. This is a price warning; no hidden charge or deception is described.Da Nang
- MoroccoCommonFood-stall blocking and false friendshipTouts push menus towards you, block your path, grab your hand or call you an old friend. A friendly conversation becomes pressure to eat at their stall.Marrakech
- MoroccoCommonWatered-down juiceVendors dilute juice with tap water. You receive less juice, and the water may upset your stomach.Marrakech
- MoroccoOccasionalComplimentary food added to the billStaff bring small plates of fries, salad or other food as though they are complimentary. Each plate later appears on the bill.Marrakech
- MoroccoOccasionalOrange juice price switchA seller charges more after you drink. Different prices for ordinary and blood orange juice can also be used to create confusion.Marrakech
- MoroccoOccasionalRefilled bottled waterVendors refill plastic bottles with tap water and sell them as bottled water.Marrakech
- IndonesiaOccasionalDrugged drinks from strangersA stranger offers a drink that may contain drugs, leaving you unable to protect yourself or your belongings.
- IndonesiaOccasionalRefilled bottled water sold as sealed waterA vendor may refill an empty drinking-water bottle with tap water and sell it. Jakarta's tap water is not safe to drink without treatment.Jakarta
- Czech RepublicOccasionalTourist-area drink overpricingVenues in prime tourist spots charge much more for drinks than nearby alternatives. A small serving can also make a price look better than it is.Prague, Karlovy Vary
- HungaryCommonExpensive food and inflated billsTourist-facing restaurants and bars charge very high prices, sometimes for mediocre food. Price and bill cheating is also a reported concern.Budapest
- DenmarkOccasionalHigh-priced drinks in NyhavnNyhavn draws many visitors, and its high drink prices make it a tourist trap. The risk is paying more than expected for the location. High prices alone do not mean the bill is fraudulent.Copenhagen
- MaldivesCommonHigh resort drink pricesBottled water can be very expensive at resorts. Alcohol at licensed venues also usually carries a steep markup. These are pricing risks, rather than evidence of a dishonest charge.
- UzbekistanOccasionalCounterfeit bottled waterWater sold in a bottle may be counterfeit. Deposits at the bottom are a warning sign.Khiva
- KazakhstanOccasionalAlcohol of doubtful originSome small shops sell alcohol of doubtful origin. A cheap bottle may be unsafe to drink.
- CubaCommonFriendly invitations that lead to an inflated billA friendly stranger invites you for food or drinks. The venue charges you two to three times the normal price and shares the extra money with them. In Central Havana, a person or couple may offer to practise English and suggest drinks while waiting for a supposed Buena Vista Social Club performance. Some also demand payment for their company.Havana
- CubaCommonRefilled and resealed drinking waterA seller refills a bottle with local tap water and reseals it to look like bottled water. The tampering may be visible, but not always.
- CubaOccasionalHigher tourist menu revealed after eatingA restaurant reveals a special tourist price menu only after you have consumed food or drinks. You then face prices you did not agree to beforehand.Havana
- Costa RicaOccasionalAirport food price gougingAirport food outlets can charge very high prices. This is a price concern rather than a described hidden-charge scam.Alajuela
- KenyaOccasionalLamu restaurant scamA restaurant scam is mentioned in connection with local touts. Its exact method is not described.Lamu
- NepalOccasionalWatered-down two-for-one drinksA two-for-one cocktail offer may provide watered-down drinks. The apparent saving can be poor value.Kathmandu, Pokhara
- NepalOccasionalExpensive highway meal stopsRestaurants at bus meal stops can be very expensive. A scheduled stop may leave you with limited choices. High prices alone do not establish a scam.Kathmandu, Janakpur
- CambodiaOccasionalIncorrect restaurant billsA restaurant bill may be added up incorrectly, leaving you paying more than the listed items total.
- LaosOccasionalInstant coffee sold at an inflated priceYou may receive overpriced Nescafé instead of the Lao coffee you expected.
- LaosOccasionalUnsafe or contaminated spiritsRice-spirit quality and distilling standards vary widely. Six backpackers died from methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng in 2024. This is a serious drink-safety risk; deliberate fraud is not established.
Reviewed by @snuck