A Romanian tourist got a huge surprise after he asked for the bill for a kebab bought in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. He later shared his experience on a Facebook page dedicated to Turkish tourism.
Grand Bazaar in Istanbul Turkey Photo Shutterstock
It is not the first time that Romanians talk about the less pleasant experiences lived in an otherwise extremely popular country when it comes to tourism. Among those who particularly praise the services, the conditions, the landscapes or the tourist attractions, there are also tourists who consider that they were “stung”.
This is also the case of a man who said that the pleasure of eating in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul cost him approximately 55 euros: “Brothers, I ate a kebab with my girlfriend in the Bazaar (much below expectations) and paid 1900 pounds. Thief on the face… I hope my stupidity helps someone”. The payment did not come on a tax receipt, but on a handwritten piece of paper.
And in a comment on the same post, he also mentioned that: “They even ripped me off at Uber. At the end of the race they also asked me for cash, because the traffic was very congested”.
Similar experiences
The Romanian tourist then told that he went through this experience on the very first day of his trip through Istanbul and did not realize at the time how much he had to pay for the two portions: “It was the first day, I couldn't really quickly calculate how much it was in lei… and what was I supposed to do? Shall I fight with them?”.
Some of the netizens did not understand the motivation of his gesture, others were amused by the prank, or they told that they too had experienced similar incidents.
“We paid at a restaurant under the Galata Bridge 12,000 pounds for two or three appetizers, six shrimps, a sea bream and a small bottle of wine. He brought us the menu, “steamed” us that they were coming to show the fish, but they also took our menus at the same time. Afterwards I ate very well in clean restaurants for 500-600 lire”, another tricked tourist told about a similar incident, admitting that after all the culinary experience and the inflated bill, he also had an episode of enterocolitis. And he was not the only tourist in Istanbul who admitted that he had the same experience in the restaurants under the Galata Bridge.
“We, until we realized who we were dealing with, paid 2,500 pounds for a bitter dinner (salad, main course, a cappuccino and a cocktail). For the road from the Old Center to the aquarium, which should be a maximum of 400 letters, I paid 800. They literally steal you from your face, even smiling! It was the first and last time I set foot on the lands of Istanbul”called another tourist experience suffered.
Others told that they paid 750 pounds for two pieces of shit, also on the first day, and 600 pounds for two ice creams: “That's until I woke up, it's worthless, don't buy, I won't tell you the price in advance, you better leave!” .
But not only in Istanbul, Romanians have such adventures: “We had a prank like this in Prague. He rushed us, the menu looked good, we ate and it cost us… Since then, only once have I eaten without seeing the price and calculating. And in 10 days of Turkey, visiting many cities, I only did this in Gaziantep. The price was very slightly inflated, but I did not like the food. So, in short, for me, goods without a price do not want to be sold”.
Where it goes wrong
There are some golden rules, written and unwritten, that you should keep in mind not only in Istanbul or Turkey, but all over the world. Among them is the fact that it is recommended not to buy / consume from places where there are no displayed prices, and when this is not possible it is best to ask in advance. Not to mention the culture of the Turks, according to which everything is negotiable, if the price seems too high.
Netizens also mentioned these aspects by mentioning: “They're legally required to display prices everywhere in restaurants, bars… You weren't supposed to sit down and eat if you hadn't seen the prices before. And from the old center to the Florya Aquarium there is a fast, air-conditioned train for 40 lira per trip/person, but you preferred a taxi… Know that there is no shame in asking for the menu and seeing if it has written prices. If it doesn't have them written on the menu or displayed in plain sight, don't order! Same with the taxi, we ask how much it costs to where we want to go and only then get into the taxi. And keep in mind that wherever you go in this world, no one is an angel on earth and nowhere does milk and honey flow!”.
Others also mentioned that: “In Istanbul it's an unwritten rule – you don't buy anything until you're told the price. You don't go on the premise of “how much can it cost?” – because it can! And for taxis and other things, which don't have prices displayed, for everything, ask the price first!”.
The Romanians also recommend that victims contact the Tourist Police in such situations: Turizm Polisi!
Useful advice
Tourists accustomed to the mentality, culture and behavior of the Turks, advise everyone who arrives in this part of the world or anywhere else to install currency conversion apps on their phones. Also for public transport – tram, subway or train, apps like Moovit are recommended which can save you a lot of nerves and unnecessary stress.
Internet users also mentioned the huge area of the city that spans two continents: “Brothers, Istanbul is 5461 km2! And to understand how big it is, know that Bucharest has 240 square kilometers. So explore, go everywhere! There are 88 malls, thousands of shops and restaurants… Go beyond the 5 kmp. I've been going to Istanbul for 34 years and I've never bought from the bazaar or eaten there.”
When it comes to shopping, eating or drinking, many recommend doing it on the Asian side of Istanbul, where prices are much lower. In fact, as everywhere in the world, the rates in the Historical Center of Istanbul, like those on the banks of the Bosphorus, are much higher than the rest, due to the location.
Some even believe that nothing should be bought from the Grand Bazaar, taking into account that the same goods can be purchased in places with much more advantageous prices: “Basic rule in Istanbul: don't buy anything in the Bazaar, not even a bottle of water. They only take pictures and leave… The bazaar is for taking pictures for memories, never for shopping or papa. There are thousands of great and very accessible places at more than decent prices”.
