Urgent warning issued over new Paris scam - as tourists are paying THREE times more than they need to
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Tourists visiting popular landmarks and attractions across Europe this summer are being warned against purchasing 'rip-off' on online marketplaces.
Millions of visitors flock to European destinations each year to tick off must-see bucket list landmarks, such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Acropolis in Athens and the Louvre in Paris.
But access to some of the world's most iconic and preserved sites often involves admission costs or extra fees, with many requiring pre-paid tickets for entry.
However, tourists are advised to be cautious of overpriced tickets for attractions sold be third-party vendors, especially online.
These tickets can be significantly more expensive than official tickets bought directly from the source, leaving visitors out of pocket before they've entered the attraction.
Prominent online sites such as Viator have been accused of selling overpriced tickets for tours, attractions and activities - some costing almost three times more than those available to purchase on official sites.
Viator, a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, is an online marketplace where travellers can find and book over 300,000 tours, activities, and experiences across the globe.
Travellers can browse and book directly with tour operators who list the products and services on the site.
Tourists visiting popular landmarks and attractions across Europe this summer are being warned against purchasing 'rip-off' on online marketplaces
It boasts flexibility, free cancellation options, and 24/7 customer support - but some are now demanding clarity on the prices listed for in-demand experiences.
According to researchers at Which?, the site is offering tourists the opportunity to be escorted to a lift by a guide to ascend the Eiffel Tower in Paris - all for the cool price of £93.
But according to Which?, the 'representative' simply waits with visitors in a timed ticket queue, accompanies to a lift, and exits on the second floor - leaving them to reach the summit themselves.
Meanwhile, a ticket purchased directly from La Tour Eiffel, which grants visitors lift access to the top, is a third of the cost at £31.
Global Tours and Tickets, the vendor selling the experience on Viator, is based in Turkey.
Which? also reported finding a company based in Slovakia selling tickets to the Louvre in Paris for £40 on Viator, while tickets are available to purchase for £19 directly on the museum's website.
Researches also warned that some 'skip-the-line' tickets sold on Viator may not actually grant faster access, and that customers may still face queues.
Viator has received a number of poor reviews from customers in recent years, with many citing cancellations and inflated prices as causes for concern.
Which? reported finding a company based in Slovakia selling tickets to the Louvre in Paris for £40 on Viator, while tickets are available to purchase for £19 directly on the museum's website
On its website, one person wrote: 'Do not use this website. Total scam. Confirmed several items, received tickets. Then 2 days before event, they cancelled.
'Had to wait a week for my money to be put back into my account. Do not relay on them in any way to book an event.'
One visitor to Rome recalled: 'Do not do this. It’s a scam. You are better off booking through the website official website. We were charged 150 Euro and our friends bought the same ticket for 50 Euro and we all went in together.'
Another said: 'Vatican and Sistine Chapel was great a little long in general and hot in the summer days but definitely recommended.
Viator has received a number of poor reviews from customers in recent years, with many citing cancellations and inflated prices as causes for concern
'For this to be just a ticket to "skip the line" it cost double the original price of 25 euro per person. You can also buy the tickets with the original website instead of this ticket.'
Meanwhile, a contributor who claimed to be a private tour operator, revealed: 'We have two tours listed on Viator and I can tell you that they take a 22% commission so to make it worthwhile we had to increase our prices for tours booked through them.
'I'd rather you book through me directly but Viator can put my new business in front of people we'd never otherwise reach so the pricing is the compromise. We're also not allowed to include photos with our logo anywhere on our listing because they want to make it harder to find the original supplier.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to Viator for further comment.
Daily Mail
