RoM Macedonians are dummies and Greeks bite the hand that feeds them

[United MKD]

Ohrid prices were really quite high this summer. For example at one restaurant I paid 800 denari for a 200g steak, which is roughly just under $20 AUD. Now that for me is borderline expensive let alone a local Macedonian. Generally most meals were about the 300-400 denari mark. At the clubs a vodka juice or a bourbon and coke cost 350 denari which is about $8 AUD. Very pricey. As a local you'd need a minimum of 1000 denari to come out to Ohrid, most locals can't afford spending that kind of money.

[George S.]

Umkd i found that there can be two sets of prices one for the locals & one for the tourists.
Found that on the buses.No wonder they charge so much in the summer seasons because of tourists.Like you say restaurant meals can be expensive,by the time you add drinks they virtually are the same in oz.If you go to letnica in ohrid its cheaper probably $8 to $10.
I ordered a steak & potatoes meal at the metropole in bitola.It came to $28 with drinks.They are charging international rates.If your after value for money go to the markets buy the stuff yourself & cook it at home.Otherwise be ready to get ripped off.
In 2008 when i went to bitola to ohrid i purchased a return ticket on the bus then half way down some village the conductor said everybody out & they wanted us to pay again regardless if you got a return ticket.When we complained to the driver he said don't worry just ignore him he is just trying to make money on the side.Why come to macedonia to see this?

[Gocka]

Where have you been going? You must really stick out as a tourist or your Macedonian is not so good so its a dead give away. 350 for a vodka juice is robbery, and I can assure you that isn't the regular price. 120-150 depending on the place. Four of us ate at a restaurant on the water for 900. No wonder so many people are thinking prices are high, they are getting totally screwed. A cheeseburger the size of my head, and a side of french fries is 70-90, a beer 70-100 depending where. A quarter of burek is 45, a bottle of fanta 2l is 70. Its honestly not a lot for anything, especially on Australian and american pay standards. That pisses me off that they would rip you off to that degree.

Ohrid prices were really quite high this summer. For example at one restaurant I paid 800 denari for a 200g steak, which is roughly just under $20 AUD. Now that for me is borderline expensive let alone a local Macedonian. Generally most meals were about the 300-400 denari mark. At the clubs a vodka juice or a bourbon and coke cost 350 denari which is about $8 AUD. Very pricey. As a local you'd need a minimum of 1000 denari to come out to Ohrid, most locals can't afford spending that kind of money.

[Gocka]

I didn't realize so many of you have these kinds of problems. I more or less blend in, and my Macedonian is almost flawless, so most of the time if I dont say I'm from america, people dont really know. Maybe that's why I've never had these kind of encounters, I'm in shock.

[julie]

I don't understand people "holidaying" in Greece - only reason we went over the border couple of years ago was to see mum's selo and where she was born, not for any other reason, left 6am , with our driver, spent an hour at the village all up, drove to Salonica, and back through Voden and over the border in one day , only money left there was for water and ice creams was stinking hot....why Macedonians going on coastal holidays to a place known for their destruction of vehicles is beyond me.....if I was "holidaying" and this is where I dont understand the lamentations from the people in the republic of poverty, yet "holiday" ( our one holiday was the overseas trip, partner to see his homeland Ireland and Scotland just once, and me to pay homage to all my grandparents graves and see my first cousins.....partner asked me how to order his pivo and did it in macedonian, we were undertstated not flashing we were tourists wherever we went, but we still stand out like a sore thumb - we have more etiquette and manners in waiting in line etc and that comment was passed - you need to push in and be arrogant to be seen as a local, not my style......as for prices, I found the meals very cheap, ordered off menus, drinks were cheap as, and both Bitola and Ohrid were comparable - unless you ordered the fish in Ohrid, I refused to fork out what I thought was far too much money for a main. I was not going to announce I am from Australia to anyone, last thing I wanted was to be accosted by more of the beggars, which I found really hard to swallow...spoke macedonian, partner learnt basic greetings and knew numbers, and I did most of the talking ( as usual lol ). if you to any country, dont be stupid and state i am a tourist I am from ---- of course you will get ripped off - same as in Turkey - partner was regarded with suspicion, they dont like the English there, moment said am macedonian and australian, we were accepted. The thievery from the beggars was awful - on one side you gt "blessings" and literally next to you they rummage for your wallet or bag, its about having your wits about you wherever you are. Do as they locals do and blend in, dont ego trip grandiose superioritym you are on their soil, you deserve to be ripped off if you do...I dont understand how there are different sets prices for locals and tourists, when we grabbed menus, and prices are listed the same for everyone

[George S.]

you know unsuspecting travellers get ripped off all the time because they don't understand local prices.BUt to go to grrece & get your car scratched etc is an exercise in stupidity.Why go,the greeks will get your money.Also we seem to be the most who visit greece,why can't we keep our money in macedonia.I think its the fault of the rom govt & the stupid ordinary people who are too selfish for words.

[United MKD]

Where have you been going? You must really stick out as a tourist or your Macedonian is not so good so its a dead give away. 350 for a vodka juice is robbery, and I can assure you that isn't the regular price. 120-150 depending on the place. Four of us ate at a restaurant on the water for 900. No wonder so many people are thinking prices are high, they are getting totally screwed. A cheeseburger the size of my head, and a side of french fries is 70-90, a beer 70-100 depending where. A quarter of burek is 45, a bottle of fanta 2l is 70. Its honestly not a lot for anything, especially on Australian and american pay standards. That pisses me off that they would rip you off to that degree.

Not really, my Macedonian is quite good some people even said I spoke the most pure of any western tourist they've heard Generally you know when you're being ripped off - if I paid that much in Struga I would of known they're taking me for a ride. 300-350 was standard price for a vodka juice or a bourbon and coke. Kadmo bar, kadmo beach, liquid, cuba libre, park, havana etc all those touristy places for young people had those prices. Beach party in Gradishte I also paid 350 for a jack daniels and coke - they can't lie to you when they have the prices written down. You definitely will not find a foreign beer such as Heineken or Amstel for under 100 denari in Ohrid, guaranteed.

But generally, the food pricing isn't too bad for except a couple of places.

[Gocka]

Been to Cuba, liquid, Havana, not Kadmo though.When you order a vodka juice, are you asking for some expensive Vodka or something? A gin tonic, vodka juice were 120-150, a mojito was about 180-200. Went to dinner with the in laws and the wife, paid 900 denars. Me and the father in law both had steak, and a beer, while the girls had chicken and ravioli with a soda. My wife is from Struga, and the prices in Ohrid and Struga are pretty close, Struga is usually 10-20 denars less, but that's it really. If every drink was 350 denars, I dont think anyone in my family over there could even afford to go out, they would spend half their monthly pay in one night. A Skopsko,at most places is 140 max. I remember being at Park, which is one of the most pricey places, and even there a vodka juice or gin tonic was around 150-170. A drink at an NYC night club is like 10USD or 400 denars. I didn't go this summer I went last summer, but I doubt the prices have tippled since then, at least I hope they haven't my goodness.

Not really, my Macedonian is quite good some people even said I spoke the most pure of any western tourist they've heard Generally you know when you're being ripped off - if I paid that much in Struga I would of known they're taking me for a ride. 300-350 was standard price for a vodka juice or a bourbon and coke. Kadmo bar, kadmo beach, liquid, cuba libre, park, havana etc all those touristy places for young people had those prices. Beach party in Gradishte I also paid 350 for a jack daniels and coke - they can't lie to you when they have the prices written down. You definitely will not find a foreign beer such as Heineken or Amstel for under 100 denari in Ohrid, guaranteed.

But generally, the food pricing isn't too bad for except a couple of places.

[George S.]

where is the honesty in macedonia all we see is greed & to ripp everbody off.I don't begrudge anyone of making money my point is don't be greedy at the same time.Who can afford those prices.A normal man makes $ 4 dollars a day equate that to the prices they are charging.

[Tomche Makedonche]

Re: RoM Macedonians are dummies...

I find this generalisation insultive and everyone who is backing this stand an idiot.

Indeed, in my opinion it would appear that “Macedonians are dummies...” would have been the more accurate generalisation, still insulting, but more accurate

[George S.]

agreed they are dummies where they have surrendered their sovereignity with the albanians.

[George S.]

i don't mean it in a deragotary way.I beleive yes you are a dummy but you have learned or are learning from your experience.So i beleive in a positive constructive way.