A Le Parisien report suggests that American tourists are being targeted with higher prices than locals in some Paris restaurants. Is this a widespread problem…or a problem at all?
How To Avoid Tourist Traps In Paris Restaurants
Two French reporters experimented to see if Parisian restaurants were actually charging Americans more for food and drinks, as many had alleged in online forums like TripAdvisor.
Here’s a video report of what happened:
In short, the “American” was charged the same for food, but charged extra for bread and water.
How To Avoid Being Treated Like A Stupid American Tourist
One Mile At A Time says, “I think it’s actually not totally unreasonable for establishments in areas popular with tourists to have different pricing for locals than tourists.”
Call it a hot take, but I think that’s a bad take.
The issue is not that discounts for locals are inherently bad, but that is not what seems to be going on here. Rather, the issue here is that clueless Americans are being deliberately preyed upon with bottled water or larger cans they do not need…plus a more aggressive push to tip.
Furthermore, the issue is that under French law, restaurants are legally required to offer free tap water “carafe d’eau“ and free bread “pain“ to customers who are having a meal. Just ask for it.
Then when the bill comes, you’ll be asked to tip. Europe doesn’t need the pathetic American tipping culture, especially when its workers are all paid a living wage and given six weeks of paid vacation each year.
A Rant About Germany…
Regular readers know I married a German and travel to Germany three times per year for family visits. !
CONCLUSION
I quite understand and can sympathize with the outrage over American tourists in Paris being pushed into bottled water over tap, larger cans of soda than the French receive, and being steered away from bread, even though it must be offered statutorily.
