When traveling, be sure to read the fine print, especially if you're going to Venice. A group of tourists were shocked when they received a bill at a cafe which cost $148 for seven people.
A group of seven tourists from Rome decided to stop by the famed Caffe Lavena in St. Mark's Square. The group ordered four coffees and three liqueurs, so they were shocked to find that their bill cam out to 100 euros, or $148, AFP reports.
The Roman tourists took to Facebook to share a photo of the receipt. What they happened to miss was the fine print on the menu which said that they would be billed a "music surcharge" of six euros per person. The surcharge added up to 42 euros to their bill, which was nearly half of the total.
The Caffe Lavena opened in 1750. Guests are served by white-jacketed waiters as a chamber orchestra plays. It is also where 19th century German composer Richard Wagner sat with his morning coffee every day when he lived in Venice.
The owners of the famous cafe defended themselves against the deceptive price. They said that all of the prices, including the six euros for a coffee, 10 euros for a liqueur and the music surcharge are printed on the menus.
"If they found the prices too high, they could have got up and gone somewhere else, like many people do, or have the coffee standing at the bar inside, where it costs one euro," Lavena's manager, Massimo Milanese, told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
This outrageous bill comes after four British tourists were shocked when they were charged 64 euros of $82 for four ice creams that they bought at the Antica Roma bar and gelateria close to the Spanish Steps in Rome. The ice cream parlor argued that they charge so much because they give very large servings.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
