Best of the Gold Coast: Top 10 luxury hotels
THE Gold Coast is known for its range of accommodation options – but what are the favourites at the high end?
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THE Gold Coast is known for its range of accommodation options – but what are the favourites at the high end? These are the top 10 most popular luxury places to stay as voted by you.
10 PEPPERS RUFFLES LODGE AND SPA
Willow Vale
Ideal for a short escape or complete getaway, discover indulgent Gold Coast Hinterland accommodation on this scenic ridge overlooking the coastal flats below. Dine on the region’s finest produce, dip into the infinity pool and follow mountain trails from your villa door in this private and romantic haven.
9 HILTON
Surfers Paradise
The central location of these trendy twin towers puts all of Surfers Paradise’s attractions at guests’ fingertips. Inside, enjoy restaurants and bars including Luke Mangan’s Salt grill restaurant, FIX lounge bar and European-style delicatessen The Food Store.
8 INTERCONTINENTAL
Sanctuary Cove
Located on the calm northern end of the Gold Coast, InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort boasts an elegant and stylish design, with architecture based on the classic Queenslander style. The resort’s 243 rooms and suites are set against a backdrop of picturesque fountains, lush gardens, a marina, golf course and a spectacular one acre beach lagoon pool.
7 SOFITEL
Broadbeach
Only 200 metres from the beach, beachside parks and Broadbeach’s array of shops, cafes and restaurants, Sofitel is perfectly positioned — that is, if you care to walk away from the on-site dining options and pool, spa and relaxation options.
6 PEPPERS
Broadbeach
Soaring high above Broadbeach’s shopping and dining precinct, Peppers Broadbeach offers a chic haven for those seeking luxury, sophistication and relaxation. With two architecturally impressive towers, each designed to reflect its beach and surfside surroundings, every unit is self-contained — although with a plethora of dining options available, you probably won’t want to self-cater.
5 PEPPERS SOUL
Surfers Paradise
The definition of world-class luxury, Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise rises 77 levels above the sandy beaches and blue waters of Surfers Paradise. This icon of contemporary style delivers a curated collection of first class experiences — from fine apartments with uninterrupted ocean views to exceptional dining at hatted restaurant Seaduction.
4 QT HOTEL
Surfers Paradise
Nostalgic Surfer chic meets Miami catwalk cool at the QT Hotel. Setting a new standard of designer Surfers Paradise accommodation, the QT is deliberately intended to inspire conversation. For guests and locals alike, QT Gold Coast is an entertainment destination. The Baja California cool of Stingray Lounge has become one of the premier hangouts on the Gold Coast’s crowd and the marketplace style dining at Bazaar is reason enough for many guests to return.
3 MARRIOTT RESORT
Surfers Paradise
Swim and snorkel with tropical fish at the Marriott Resort’s spectacular saltwater lagoon in the heart of Surfers Paradise. With white sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls, quiet pool zones and unique aquatic experiences, the pool is a drawcard for locals and visitors alike. Indoors, relax in the plush accommodation before heading out for a bite cuisine at Misono, Citrique or the Lobby Lounge Bar.
2 SHERATON MIRAGE
Main Beach
The Gold Coast’s only 5 star beachfront resort, the Sheraton Mirage is set amongst six hectares of sparkling lagoons and tropical gardens. The newly refurbished resort, developed by Christopher Skase in the late 1980s, features 295 rooms and suites. As well as its signature beachfront pool, fitness centre and spa facilities, the resort also has plenty of dining options, including the Oyster Bar, Terraces Restaurant, the Oasis Pool Bar or the Pearls Bar. Guests can also enjoy retail therapy at Marina Mirage shopping centre, accessible via the hotel skybridge.
1 PALAZZO VERSACE
Main Beach
It’s the five star hotel designed to woo the six senses.
Designer by name and by nature, Palazzo Versace has long been the base both for visiting celebrities and for locals who want to feel like a star for the night.
General manager Subash Basrur says the resort is over the top in every way — from extreme luxury to total pampering.
“We don’t believe in treating just the five senses of touch, taste, sight, smell and sound but also the sixth sense of emotion,” says Subash.
“It’s the way something makes you feel that is so powerful — it’s what draws those other five senses together. We want every guest, no matter who they are, to feel like the most important person in the room. They are five-star guests to us.
“That’s what branding is all about, the emotional connection you have — that’s the DNA of your brand.
“The DNA of Versace is extremely unique — it’s sexy, vibrant, colourful and out-there. Which is also a very good description of the Gold Coast.
“Versace and the Gold Coast have really been joined at the hip for the last 15 years since we opened. Both has put each other on the map.”
Subash, who joined the hotel almost one year ago, says the iconic resort has recently undergone its own renaissance.
He says he has been working closely with the House of Versace to oversee its transformation.
“I think in the last few years Versace had a little dip in its standard, but now we are back where we should be,” he says.
“I sat down with the House of Versace CEO in Milan and we talked about our action plan.
“It’s not just the facelift we have given the hotel but re-introducing our mission to not just meet expectations but to surpass them.
“All hotels are beautiful on the inside with chandeliers and glass and marble, but I believe the heart of a hotel is the people — and that is where our true rebirth comes from.
“The truth of luxury is that people will forget what you give them, the bouquet of flowers and the box of chocolates, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Subash says the hotel’s connection with the people of the Gold Coast is integral to its success.
He says while the resort prides itself on its many VIP guests, it delights in treating locals to the finer pleasures.
“About 70 per cent of our guests are domestic, many from this city,” he says.
“We love that this is the place people go when they want a taste of luxury. They save up to treat themselves or a loved one to the most special of occasions.
“We treat that privilege very seriously. On Friday nights we provide live opera in the lobby under the grand chandelier, with performers from Opera Queensland. It’s an amazing experience to listen — there are no microphones, it’s just live, raw emotion.
“We also help our guests organise the most important occasions in their life — like engagements. We have two custom Rolls Royce Phantoms and guests are welcome to use them as part of popping the question.
“I don’t think anyone could say anything but ‘yes’ in a romantic situation like that.”
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