Gold Coast Accommodation Tips

Air Conditioning
Most hotels have airconditioning, but what about resort apartments. Things to look out for.

Beachfront
My definition of beachfront sometimes appears different to the marketing materials about some accommodation. See if you agree with my definition!

Best Deals
Where to look for great deals for Gold Coast accommodation.

Car Parking
Driving to the Gold Coast or hiring a car within the Gold Coast did you know some accommodation charges for car parking.

Extra Bedding
Such a simple thing can make a big difference.

Location
Location, location, location! Ways to check out where you accommodation really is.

Room Rates
Trying to compare apples to apples with room rates is often exactly what the marketers are banking on.

Room Servicing
In hotels you usually get room servicing and room service! If you opt for an often cheaper apartment resort, room servicing isn't daily, unless you pay for it.

Swimming Pools
Not all swimming pools are equal, even on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Do I Need Air Conditioning?

Air conditioning or aircon is in most hotels, but what about apartments and other types of accommodation?

Don't assume all accommodation in the Gold Coast has air conditioning. Generally, if it doesn't say prominently in the accommodation details, it means there isn't any. Another telltale sign is when they prominantly state they have fans. This usually means ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are a good second option, but they don't take the humidity out of the air. If you are not used to humidity, this is the bit that is hard to get away from particularly on a still humid summer night.

Some resorts and apartments state that some of the units or rooms have air con. You may get a choice when you book, or you may need to make a specific request. In these cases, you will most likely pay more to help offset the cost of the air-conditioner, maintenance and the running cost.

The other question is do I need air conditioning whilst staying at the Gold Coast? In my opinion, you definitely need air conditioning during the hotter and more humid months, especially if you are not used to the humidity. Air con units are often reverse cycle in that they can heat as well as cool. Maybe because I am a local and have become a bit soft, but we use our aircon for heating at times during the months June, July and August.

I always go for air conditioning personally, for the convenience and comfort. I am on holiday after all!

Another bonus for having air conditioning, especially if you are staying in a busy area, near restaurants or a road. Is that in the high rise units, noise seems to amplify as you go up the building. So, having your windows open on a hot humid night, can end up being a noisy affair. Aircon allows you to stay cool and get a good night's sleep.

Just my thoughts!

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Beachfront

My definition of beachfront sometimes appears different to the marketing materials about some accommodation. See if you agree with my definition!

Beachfront apartments in Gold Coast. That sounds to me like the apartments or hotel is right on the beach or sea front. You know, you walk out of the hotel or resort right onto the beach. No roads to cross, no streets to navigate down, right there at your feet.

Call me old fashioned, but that is what I think beachfront means!

For a start, there is no absolute beachfront accommodation in the centre of Surfers Paradise, but there are quite a few options where you only have to cross the road to get onto the beach.

There is some absolute beachfront accommodation in both Main Beach, Broadbeach, South Stradbroke Island and some of the southern suburbs.

Other accommodation may be a few minutes stroll to the beach and that can probably be termed beachside. Especially if you don't have to cross any major roads to get to the beach.

So if this is important to you check this carefully.

The key is not to assume either. Some websites for accommodation I have seen have rather deceptive photos which suggest that the accommodation is on the beach when it is in fact no where near it! Or even worse they show a beach in the photo that is not the beach right by the accommodation!

A great way to check out exactly where you plan to stay is to get the actual street address of the accommodation and plug it into google maps. You can then see exactly where it is and even check out the satellite photos. Personally, I have found this the best way to check out where things are, and I don't even get sucked in to using the user created maps on google, as I have found some of those to be blatantly wrong as well. Go with reliable information and you should be on the right track.

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Car Parking

Driving to the Gold Coast or hiring a car within the Gold Coast did you know some accommodation charges for car parking?

Car Parking can end up a hidden extra cost.... or worse still don't have any car parking.

The main centres such as Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and Broadbeach have very strict parking regime with lots of patrols to check expired meters etc. And it can be difficult if almost impossible to find free street parking.

If you hire a car or drive yourself, you really need to make sure that your accommodation has parking for you. And if there is parking what the cost and restrictions might be.

Getting The Best Deal

I find it time consuming trawling the internet for the different deals! So I have incorporated the tool I use to search and book accommodation anywhere in the world into this website.

You can search the top online booking engines and compare online rates all in one spot. You can even filter results by star rating, price, location and facilities. I find it saves so much time!

It isn't just for the Gold Coast you can use it to search for accommodation around the world, you can use it to search and book all your accommodation! It's great!

If you are just after a great deal for Gold Coast accommodation you can do a Gold Coast search and then head for the cheapest deal! Or use the global version where you can search for deals for any city in the world. Check out other Australian cities, other countries or even look for hotels by name and don't forget to use the filters to narrow down your choices.

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Extra Bedding

When booking accommodation I always check the bed configuration. Sometimes you will see that an apartment can have 4 people, but what is not clear is that 2 people get a proper bed whilst the other two are on a sofa bed in the living room. This is particularly common for the smaller apartments like the 1 bedroom ones.

So whilst some rooms have proper beds for their extra beds, others have foldaways or rollouts. This may not pose a problem for you, but at least you know what to expect if you do your research.

If you are staying for more than a night or two a proper bed is pretty important in my opinion! It is for me! When I am on holiday I don't want to be grumpy from a bad night's sleep! Or be with grumpy fellow holiday makers!

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Location

Location, location, location! Ways to check out where you accommodation really is.

Sometimes (and I don't know why) the information on websites can be misleading or confusing as to where accommodation is actually situated!

If in doubt use something like google maps to pinpoint the location. That way you can see for yourself how far away from the beach or the main action you planned accommodation really is or if you are going to be right next to a large highway or noisy 4 lane road!

On google maps you can search using street address and even switch over to satellite mode and in some cases street view to see what it looks like!

One word of caution though about using google maps, I have found quite a few user maps for the Gold Coast are not accurate. Again, I don't know why that is and it does frustrate me.

The best way to be sure is to get the official street address of what you are looking for and plug it into Google maps. I have even used street view to verify locations, you can sometimes see the name of the accommodaiton on the sign or the attraction if you look around! Very powerful.

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Room Rates

Trying to compare apples to apples with room rates is often exactly what the marketers are banking on.

Many room rates are quoted for 1 or 2 adults even if the room or accommodation can take more people. Check the small print for extra costs for children.

There is no standard way that accommodation charge for rooms so you have to read carefully any conditions when booking. You don't want to arrive and then be charged extra for the additional people that you assumed were covered in your booking.

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Room Servicing

In hotels you usually get room servicing and room service. By room service I mean meals and snacks delivered to your room! Whilst room servicing is the making and changing of beds, changing towels and cleaning bathrooms and general cleaning of the rooms.

If you opt for an apartment in a resort or other types of accommdation, room servicing usally isn't daily, unless you pay for it.

When booking resort apartments I know I have sometimes fallen into that trap. I look at all the facilities and the standard of the accommodation and assume it will be like a hotel but with more space for the family.

However, most apartment pricing includes a weekly service rather than a daily one. The good news is that you can usually pay extra for a more frequent service, either daily or twice weekly.

As much as it is nice to save the money, this is supposed to be a family holiday! Do consider that keeping the apartment tidy and clean can end up being a transfer of your usual household chores to a holiday location. Opt for an extra servicing a week at least to give yourself a real break!

Gold Coast Accommodation Tips - Swimming Pools

Are swimming pools necessary? Well it depends upon you really. We love accommodation with swimming pools even in a resort and beach location like the Gold Coast.

Going for a dip in the pool after being out and about sightseeing all day can be refreshing and relaxing. So I tend to choose accommodation with a pool. But I go one step further.

I discovered that not all swimming pools are equal, even on the Gold Coast.

Some things to look out for are that some swimming pools in resorts and hotels get shadowed by buildings around them, espeically the high rise buildings. This can mean that they are in shadow for much of the day. Being in shadow can have its advantages, such as being out of the scorching sun, but it also means the pool isn't going to be that warm. I know that is the Gold Coaster in me talking, but even as a visitor I was put off by the temperature of a shadowed pool and it was really hard to spend anything other than a few minutes in there with our really young children.

I check out the pool and will often go so far as to seek out options where there is a heated spa or heated indoor pool to ensure we can enjoy a swim without discomfort.

Heated pools are a must in the winter. Unless you are particularly hardy, you won't be spending much time frollicking in a resort pool that has been in shadow most of the day especially as there is likely to be more shadow during winter when the sun is lower in the sky.

I always opt for either an indoor pool or a heated pool in the winter. Especially important if you are travelling with children.