The bill falls, the lights of Mykonos are still reflected in the glasses… and the amount cuts the music: more than $700 for three orange juices, a Spritz and a few shrimps. In Mykonos, Ibiza or Saint-Tropez, these crazy notes are repeated every summer. The party remains, and so does the bitter taste.
Between hefty bills, “free” deckchairs that aren’t free and fake festival tickets, scams are now sticking to certain star spots of the summer. Mykonos crystallizes the “Mykonos restaurant scam” search, but Ibiza, Saint-Tropez or French festivals see the same mechanisms deployed, with sometimes dizzying amounts.
Mykonos, showcase of exploding additions
On the Greek island, a beach restaurant like the DK Oyster has become a symbol: a family there paid around $836.20 for three Caesar salads, a few calamari, six beers and a tomato juice, another bill climbed to $680 for a cocktail, three orange juices and a seafood appetizer. Other customers say $1,000 for three courses or more than $700 for a single aperitif, while the deckchairs advertised as “free if you consume” end up being billed at full price and the prices per kilo turn into a trap at the checkout.
The guides, however, remind us that, in Greece, the price indicated on the menu given to the customer – VAT included – must be the one that appears on the final invoice. With nearly 32 million tourists for 10 million inhabitants, certain beaches of Mykonos concentrate the excesses: menus without legible prices, fees added at the end of the meal, deckchair packages that can approach $1,000 per day or VIP tables at $6,000 per person. Hence a vital reflex: photograph the menu, read each line of the note and dispute any discrepancy.
Ibiza and Saint-Tropez, hidden fees and minimum spending
In Ibiza, travel guides list fourteen types of party-related scams, several of which are considered serious: drink spiking in the West End of San Antonio, fake tickets or “VIP packages” for Pacha or Ushuaïa, but also beach clubs in Playa d’en Bossa where the prices displayed are only part of the story. Service or reservation fees, sometimes increased margins on bottles, literally double the bill compared to the prices initially announced.
Saint‑Tropez is rather distinguished by the game of minimums: on Pampelonne beach, certain well-known establishments impose a minimum spending of $1,500 per person, or even $5,000 per table, with deckchairs between $35 and $50. The service is legally “included”, but the card terminal is sometimes pre‑set to 20% tip, in a context where customer files can classify diners according to their level of spending. The mayor has already spoken of racketeering to describe these practices. Asking the question of the minimum when booking and adjusting the tip yourself when paying becomes almost a survival strategy.
Festivals, fake tickets and reflexes to keep your hands on the bill
The excesses don’t stop at the tables. In Brive, the Lovely Brive Festival is facing an explosion of counterfeit notes. Her deputy director, Elise Dunaud, alerted: , she tells La Montagne. She adds: . When warning buyers, it also slips to be wary.
To avoid these pitfalls, a few simple reflexes help you keep control of the bill, in restaurants, clubs or festivals:
- Ask for a written card with all the prices, including per 100 g, and have the total amount calculated before ordering a fish, a platter or a “package”.
- Check for service charges, reservations, music or deckchairs, and refuse any obscure lines on the bill.
- Photograph the menu and keep the bill, so that you can dispute it with the establishment, the tourist police or the bank.
- Only buy festival or club tickets via official ticket offices or secure platforms such as Reelax, without ever publishing a photo of a ticket showing the QR code.
- In Saint‑Tropez or Mykonos, ask the question of spending minimums in black and white, to know where exactly the party begins… and where your budget can end.
How to avoid a restaurant scam in Mykonos?
Ask for a card with legible prices, check if dishes are priced by weight and have the total estimated before ordering. Keep a photo of the menu, check each line of the bill and refuse any price different from that advertised.
What are the common pitfalls in Ibiza beach clubs?
Deckchair + bottle packs may hide service or reservation fees that double the price. Always ask for a written overall price, with all fees included, and avoid street vendors offering tickets or “VIP packages”.
What to do if the bill in Saint‑Tropez is higher than expected?
Remind the minimum amount announced, refuse unexplained lines and indicate that the service is already included. Manually adjust the tip on the terminal and, in case of obvious abuse, request a detailed invoice so you can dispute it.
How to buy festival tickets without risking fake tickets?
Favor official ticketing and, for resale, secure platforms that check QR codes and cap prices. Avoid classified ads between individuals and never share the photo of your ticket on networks.
