Driver suggesting Matale spice garden detour scam alert
On my way Kandy to Sigiriya today My private driver insists we stop at a free spice garden tour in Matale It is on the route and free so I said maybe Friends warned me about 100 USD hair growth oil and aphrodisiac sales pressure What is the polite way to say no without offending the driver who clearly expects commission and is there any spice garden in Matale that is actually legit
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4 Answers from travellers
Polite refusal Tell driver firmly We do not want to stop at any shop today please continue direct to Sigiriya He still gets paid you do not lose 100 USD on fake aphrodisiacs Almost all roadside Matale gardens pay 20 to 30 percent commission to drivers The free tour ends with extreme pressure overpriced hair oil cinnamon at 10x retail If you genuinely want to learn spices Ranweli Spice Garden in Kandy is research grade and product prices fair Or book a cooking class in Ella where you use the spices in food
Drivers always have these stops gem shops batik factories wood carvings same model Politely decline all and stick to your itinerary
Buy spices at Good Market Colombo on Saturday or directly from estate shops same cinnamon cardamom curry leaves at fair price
I gave in last year bought a 90 USD bottle of king coconut hair oil at one of these places turned out to be regular coconut oil with food colouring Worthless
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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