Gold Coast Tourist Trap Tips by goldcoaster Top 5 Page for this destination

If you come into the Gold Coast on a package tour, be aware that the guides are not paid very well and top up their income by taking tourists to highly overpriced stores that pay a commission. Many will take your passports and tell you the local shopping centres are unsafe. They are really just trying to get you into the shops that pay.

Jump into a cab and go to any of the three big shopping malls on the Gold Coast, Pacific Fair, Harbourtown or Robina Town Centre, and save yourselves alot of money.

Unique Suggestions: Don't buy anything!!! I have seen a 12 pack of Tim-Tams, an Australian chocolate biscuit, sell for over $40. The are less than that in the supermarket. The only way this will stop is if you don't buy at the shops you are taken too.

Fun Alternatives: Go where the locals go. Harbourtown is a large factory outlet mall and has a Nike store, many fashion labels as well as homewares.