Venice’s 2-tier pricing

In Venice, Italy, every bar, restaurant, café and hotel is required by law to post a price list, but many do not, and some charge tourists more than locals, adding small surcharges to the bill. The Guardia di Finanza has investigated hundreds of complaints. According to The London Sunday Times, one couple was charged $720 for lunch in St. Mark’s Square.

Those who feel they have been overcharged should request a copy of the bill or a printed receipt (say, “Mi proti il conto”), which provides evidence to submit with a complaint.

Overcharging is common in water transport as well. Some gondoliers admit to charging whatever they think the tourist can pay. The other boats that ply the canals as “water taxis” each can offer service as a “taxi” (with a legal, set rate schedule) or can be hired as a “private charter.” If visitors do not specify that they want the “taxi” service, then the operator can charge whatever rate he wants.

Some merchants decry the enormous influx of day-trippers from cruise ships and tour buses who visit for a day but spend little because they dine on the ship and sleep elsewhere. The permanent population of Venice has dropped from 140,000 to 60,000 in the last 20 years, while the number of visitors has increased to as many as 60,000 a day.