• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Fury as popular UK long-weekend hotspot has 'secret code' where tourists are 'charged more' than locals

Home> Lifestyle> Travel

Published 10:25 27 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Fury as popular UK long-weekend hotspot has 'secret code' where tourists are 'charged more' than locals

A popular tourist hotspot has been called for its 'completely illegal' behaviour

Mia Williams

Mia Williams

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Travel, Food And Drink, Europe, Holiday

Mia Williams
Mia Williams

Mia is a freelance writer for LADBible, and an award-winning trainee journalist at the UK’s No.1 journalism school, News Associates.

X

@mia_francessca

Advert

Advert

Advert

Tourists have been left furious after finding that a popular holiday hotspot has a menu that is priced differently for locals.

The European country has come under fire after it was revealed that a restaurant in a popular long-weekend destination for Brits had been hiking their prices up for tourists.

Portugal welcomes an average of 26.5 million non-resident tourists per year, and it seems as though some small businesses are really getting their moneys worth.

It has emerged that a restaurant in a popular holiday hotspot was charging tourists more than locals. (Getty Stock Image)
It has emerged that a restaurant in a popular holiday hotspot was charging tourists more than locals. (Getty Stock Image)

Advert

The restaurant in the Baixa neighbourhood in Lisbon had allegedly been giving locals a much cheaper menu than the one they'd been giving to tourists.

According to locals there who figured out what was going on, the code for cheaper meals was reportedly communicated 'verbally, in whispers, or indicated on menus placed in inconspicuous or even hidden areas'.

Portuguese paper Expresso reports that a steak at the restaurant costs €15 (£12), but Portuguese people pay just €9.90 (£8.38) for a full meal, including a drink, dessert and coffee.

Elisabete, a frequent customer and Lisbon local who works at a nearby jewellery shop, said: "They don’t give tourists this menu.

The restaurant is in the Baixa neighbourhood in Lisbon. (Getty stock images)
The restaurant is in the Baixa neighbourhood in Lisbon. (Getty stock images)

Advert

"The waiters give them the normal list, which has prices that we cannot afford."

Reporters received information from industry insiders which states that this kind of behaviour is 'completely illegal'.

Speaking to the Portuguese paper, Lawyer Marcelino Abreu said: "Restaurants cannot discriminate against people based on their nationality, charging different prices to Portuguese and foreign tourists.”

The Portuguese Hotel, Restaurant and Similar Association (AHRESP) told the paper that it had no idea of the situation that had been ongoing.

They reiterated their policies, which states that prices in restaurants must be the same for everyone, and be displayed with 'complete transparency'.

Advert

The restaurant's behaviour has been branded 'completely illegal'. (Getty stock images)
The restaurant's behaviour has been branded 'completely illegal'. (Getty stock images)

Ironically, Lisbon has adopted a policy to raise the overnight stay fee for tourists visiting the city, but the measures won't be in place until September 1.

The claims of overcharging tourists don't necessarily come as a shock, as some European countries seem to have had enough of over-tourism, with demonstrations happening this summer - particularly in Spain and Portugal.

Residents in the Portuguese capital are also annoyed about the impact that tourists are having on their housing situation.

It's not uncommon for Brits to have holiday homes elsewhere in Europe, but people in Lisbon are calling for a referendum, to decide what becomes of tourist homes in their city.

Advert

And the movement has now gathered enough signatures to present their case to the council.

Choose your content:

a day ago
  • a day ago

    Therapist of 45 years explains main reason why people cheat on their partners

    There are often multiple reasons why a person will cheat in a relationship

    Lifestyle
  • a day ago

    Five Guys customer shares receipt from 14 years ago and people are ‘outraged’ at the difference

    Looking for evidence that food prices have skyrocketed? You're in the right place

    Lifestyle
  • a day ago

    Couple who live full time on cruise ship share 'true' amount it costs them in total

    More and more people are seeking a life away from land

    Lifestyle
  • a day ago

    Swingers explain why they wear black ring that is a major sign someone is one

    The subtle accessory says a lot

    Lifestyle
  • Europe's 'most underrated' destination costs less than £200 for everything on long weekend
  • Spanish tourism hotspot begs UK tourists to return after 'go home' protests lead to massive drop in arrivals
  • British tourists must obey Spain's six-drink rule enforced across popular all inclusive resorts
  • Man ordered a vodka coke in British tourist hotspot and was 'mindblown' at the bill