How to Find a Better Exchange Rate at Gold Coast Airport
If you are heading overseas and want to buy currency at the Gold Coast Airport, this guide is for you.
This article looks at the different ways you can get a better currency exchange at the Gold Coast airport and give you some practical tips to get more out of your money.
Where you can buy holiday money at Gold Coast Airport for an overseas trip
There are two ways of getting travel money at Gold Coast Airport:
1. Buy online and pick it up at the gate
Even though there are heaps of options at the airport, it is still a lot cheaper to order it ahead of time and just pick it up at Gold Coast airport before you fly.
It's really easy:
- Order your currency online and choose a pick up location as Gold Coast Airport
- Pay for it using BPAY (and avoid the card fee!)
- Pick up your ordered currency
Please keep in mind, you'll avoid the card fee if you choose BPAY. The rate is locked in on the day you book the transaction. You can choose your pick up date but if you use BPAY, you'll need to allow at least 3 business days. Also, they offer a better rate for amounts above $2000 but have a maximum transaction size of $5000.
Order Currency
2. From Travelex at Gold Coast airport
There are 2 stores in the international terminal, one in arrivals and the other in departures. There is also an outlet in the domestic departures area.
Along with the outlets, you'll find a number of ATM's in both the domestic and international sections.
Pre Order Currency & Pick Up at the Airport
Currency Exchange Tips to Save Money
A little bit of planning pays off
If you are prepared, you can compare exchange rates online or over the phone, find the best deal and arrange to either buy it in person or online (picking it up later). This will save you money because the exchange rates online or outside of Gold Coast airport are a lot better.
Fees and charges you can avoid
Travelex don't charge commission over the counter however their exchange rates are considerably worse than outside Gold Coast airport. Online, they have a 0.8% card fee that Travelex apply to online transactions.
If you are buying currency online, choose to pay through BPAY to avoid the card fee. Please note that if you are going to use this option you need to allow 3-4 business days before your trip to allow time to pick it up in time.
Consider buying your currency abroad
In some cases, it is cheaper to buy your currency in the country you are going to rather than converting it before you leave. Good examples are Bali, Singapore and New Zealand (depending on where you go). Of course, it is a lot harder to find the best exchange rate when you are outside of Australia and you are running a higher risk of being scammed.
As a rule of thumb, the further away you are travelling, the less likely you'll find better exchange rates overseas. This is because the further away from Australia you go, the less common Australian notes and coins are. As a result, they are also less likely to give you a good exchange rate.
