5 Money-Saving Tips While Staying in Gold Coast

As a tourist, you may realise that you must stretch your every dollar, especially with all the beautiful and amazing things to buy. These are our 5 tips to take good care of your budget when you're in the amazing city of Gold Coast.

1. Currency Exchange – It is better to exchange your currency from your country of origin if your country’s exchange rate is lower than the Australian Dollar (AUD). An example is the Singapore Dollar (SGD). If you’re coming from Singapore, it is better to change your currency from there.

2. Aussie SIM Card – There are a few mobile phone operators, such as Telstra, Optus, Virgin and Vodafone. Once you have the local 3G network, you can call back home at a cheaper rate than using your original SIM card. If you want to save more, use free communication apps to send messages and call. An example is Viber. If you don’t have Viber, you can download it from the app store. Viber is free to download and you can make calls and messages all for free with the app. It’s better to download it using Wi-Fi as it may cost extra for you to download it via 3G.
 
3. News – Hotels may provide newspapers, but if they don’t, there are a couple of free ways to find out about news. You can use free Wi-Fi from places which offer them and read the news online. Another way is to grab a copy of the local free newspaper, where one of the stands is at the information booth in Cavill Avenue. You can also head down to Hungry Jack’s to read the newspapers which they provide, however, they are not free and you have to return them after reading. There is also a flat screen TV in the restaurant which airs Sky News.

 

4. Coupons – Coupons are readily available in Gold Coast. Most of them are printed on tourism brochures and other brochures about local events and businesses. There are coupons on local maps as well. Places where you can get the brochures are Coolangatta Airport upon arrival and the Information counter in Cavill Avenue. If you shop at Coles Supermarket, keep the receipts as there are coupons printed behind them. Some examples of these type of brochures are Hello Gold Coast, Gold Coast Guide and Gold Coast Tourist Magazine.

Behind a Coles Supermarket receipt

5. Gifts and Souvenirs – The most precious and cost-free souvenirs to share with your loved ones is seashells from the beaches in Gold Coast. There are plenty of beautiful seashells and sea rocks around. These souvenirs are really special as they are one-of-a-kind. They are more meaningful as gifts for your loved ones and souvenirs for yourself, as a reminder of your amazing memories in Gold Coast.

Seashells and sea rocks in Surfers Paradise Beach

Now that you have acquainted yourself to these tips, you need to remember that there’s one golden tip which is budgeting your expenses daily. It helps a lot as there are so many beautiful things to buy and exciting places to visit.