An American tourist couple ordered two ice creams with side dishes. However, the fat bill spoiled the holiday mood for Nicole Ann and her partner. They paid a total of 44 euros!
As reported by the German daily, the couple wanted to quickly grab two ice creams, each with two scoops, at an ice cream parlor near the popular Piazza Navona square in Rome. In the end, they got two ice creams, each with three scoops for the price of twelve euros – that’s four euros per scoop. In addition, whipped cream (two euros), small macaroons (three euros) and a small cannola (five euros), which is a type of Sicilian tube. It was 22 euros for one ice cream – a total of 44 euros!
In a Facebook group for vacationers in Italy, a Florida woman not only took umbrage at this “tourist trap” scam, but also admitted it was the worst ice cream she’s ever had.
The American tourist paid the bill anyway. According to her own words, she thought that two ice creams would cost 14 US dollars. That’s a little over twelve euros at the moment. “I only realized it when I looked at the receipt,” she explained. She complained that the ice cream parlor gave the impression that side dishes were free.
In the comments on Facebook, many tourists shared similar experiences and also expressed their anger. “This is a scam, but it seems to be very common in tourist areas,” wrote one user. “Yeah, I’ve been there too and it was awful” another person wrote. “You should always go a few streets away from very touristy places,” advised one woman.
In Rome, scams on tourists occur more often. Even for pizza, they were already asking outrageous prices. In some ice cream parlors, an extra serving of whipped cream is really free. It is also common in Italy that – like an espresso or a cappuccino – you pay in advance in ice cream parlors before you get the ice cream. No statement has yet been received from the affected ice cream parlor.
