Hidden restaurant fees shock Russian tourists in Sochi and Turkey
Russian holidaymakers are facing unexpected costs at restaurants in popular tourist spots. Hidden fees and extra charges for basic services are pushing travellers away from destinations like Sochi, Anapa, and Yalta. Many are now encountering surprise bills for items they assumed were included in the price. In Sochi and Crimea, restaurants have begun adding a mandatory 10–15% 'service fee' to bills, often buried in the small print. Diners only notice the extra cost when the final bill arrives. Local eateries defend the practice as standard, but tourists see it as deceptive.
Across the Black Sea in Bodrum and Çeşme, Turkey, visitors face a 'couvert' fee of 500 lira (around 1,500 rubles) just for having a table set with plates and cutlery. If a group of three orders one pizza and requests separate plates, the bill rises by 20%. The extra charge applies even if no additional food is served. European destinations follow similar rules, though more openly. A café in Vienna, for example, adds 140 rubles to a dessert if served in a glass dish instead of a waffle cone. Official guidelines in some countries allow restaurants to charge up to €11 for extra plates. Tourists are now being warned to check menus for terms like 'entry fee' or 'dishwashing charge' before sitting down. Travel advisers recommend leaving immediately if menus list unclear fees for basic tableware. The trend has spread quickly, with many restaurants in Turkey and Sochi now charging separately for plates, cutlery, and even cleaning.
The growing number of hidden fees is changing how Russians choose holiday destinations. Popular resorts risk losing visitors if the practice continues. For now, travellers are being urged to read menus carefully and question any unexpected charges before ordering.
