British tourists visiting Gran Canaria are reportedly being subjected to a range of deceptive practices by some local restaurants and bars, according to an undercover investigation by the Daily Mail.
Unsuspecting visitors have encountered menus without prices, unexpected "tourist taxes" added to bills, and items added that were never ordered. Some establishments have allegedly charged inflated prices for essential items, such as €3 for bottled water presented as tap water. Similar issues have previously been reported in Greek tourist destinations.
Gran Canaria, a popular destination for hundreds of thousands of British holidaymakers annually, is known for its beaches and scenery. However, the investigation highlights instances where dining experiences have been marred by alleged underhanded tactics aimed at maximizing profits.
Pricing and Billing Deceptions
At one restaurant, Bombon Cafe in Puerto Rico, a drinks menu lacking prices led to a bill of €24.40 for a ham baguette, iced coffee, and smoothie. An ice cream sundae was priced at €13.95. The coffee and smoothie, despite appearing to be priced at €7.95 each, were presented as a surprise cost due to the menu's ambiguity. Another establishment, Restaurante Venecio, advertised roast chicken, chips, and salad for €7.95, but the menu presented to seated diners showed the price as €10.95.
Misleading Water Charges
Charges for water have also been a point of contention. At one location, a reporter was charged €2.50 for a bottle of water after being assured it was tap water. When questioned, staff claimed tap water was not drinkable due to salt content, a claim contradicted by EU safety regulations which deem Gran Canaria's tap water safe. Other restaurants in Playa del Ingles reportedly charged €3 for bottled water when tap water was requested. A diner at That's Amore was charged €2.10 for bottled water, despite seeing a staff member drinking tap water.
Additional Fees and Added Items
At El Molino steakhouse in Puerto Rico's Mogan Mall, a seven percent IGIC tax was added to the bill, amounting to €2.47, despite Spanish law requiring such taxes to be included in advertised prices. Confusion over orders also led to unexpected charges, such as €2.50 for garlic bread that was brought out as a starter.
Tourists have also reported being charged for drinks they did not order, with one instance involving a bill for €55 for two beers and an unrequested bottle of wine. In a separate incident, a couple reportedly had the police called after refusing to pay for a chicken kebab they claimed was raw.
Misleading Smoothie Pricing
Restaurante Bahía Playa presented menus where numbers next to euro signs on a smoothie menu were explained as drink names rather than prices. A smoothie advertised with a price of €1 or €2 ultimately cost €5.50, with staff stating the numbers were merely identifiers for the drinks.
These alleged practices come amidst reports of similar issues in other popular European tourist destinations and highlight potential financial pitfalls for visitors to Gran Canaria.