Hilton Residences Surfers Paradise

[Princess Fiona]

Wondering if any AFF'ers have stayed here and would recommend.
Heading on our usual family pilgrimage to Noosa in Jan and thought might stay here for a couple of nights beforehand.
I cannot seem to be able to book the hotel for Jan despite website stating taking bookings from Oct but the residences are available.
Have stayed in HSW Apartments before and was satisfied with the standard.
Any comments appreciated

 

[straitman]

Wondering if any AFF'ers have stayed here and would recommend.
Heading on our usual family pilgrimage to Noosa in Jan and thought might stay here for a couple of nights beforehand.
I cannot seem to be able to book the hotel for Jan despite website stating taking bookings from Oct but the residences are available.
Have stayed in HSW Apartments before and was satisfied with the standard.
Any comments appreciated

I didn't think the Hilton was open yet.

Oops.

The residences are open and the hotel opens on 1st October.

 

[GCC]

I have booked to stay 10 - 15th August in the Residences. I got a good deal on the "getaway" offer $224 for 1 br apt with breakfast in a cafe downstairs, and a guaranteed upgrade to a 2br for being HH Gold. I contacted the property direct to book and the staff were great.
After booking I happened to be in Surfers last week for the first time in about 10 years and checked it out from the outside.
Trip Advisor reviews are all positive, & it is a brand new building.
Note though that this property is right in heart of surfers, next to Cavill Avenue (ie schoolies, footy teams, drunken teens etc) - so it is not a terribly peaceful setting, and if you enjoy Noosa you may not like it here.

 

[Travel Guru]

Thankfully August and January are both non-schoolies times (November), but you're right its right in the thick of things and Surfers tends to get a bit on the seedy side after dark, definitely not somewhere I'd choose to stay especially with a family.

TG

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thankfully August and January are both non-schoolies times (November), but you're right its right in the thick of things and Surfers tends to get a bit on the seedy side after dark, definitely not somewhere I'd choose to stay especially with a family.

TG

I'm HH Gold and will be sure to ask for a high floor
Problem is the little Shreks are bored with Sunshine Beach by day 2, hoping to tire them out before we get there

 

[GCC]

It is not such much the noise as the surrounding environment,as Travel Guru says.
I booked AP, as it was a new Hilton, had good reviews on Trip Advisor, and because I get HH points & amenities. I am at a conference for 3 days and then Mrs G and baby g are joining me there for a long weekend.
Now that I've visited the location I actually regret having booked here - I would definitely look a few km's further up or down the Gold Coast if I had the option.

 

[Travel Guru]

It is not such much the noise as the surrounding environment,as Travel Guru says.
I booked AP, as it was a new Hilton, had good reviews on Trip Advisor, and because I get HH points & amenities. I am at a conference for 3 days and then Mrs G and baby g are joining me there for a long weekend.
Now that I've visited the location I actually regret having booked here - I would definitely look a few km's further up or down the Gold Coast if I had the option.

I would too, the only thing worth going into Surfers for is Alfresco Restaurant on the GC Highway (great italian).

I'd stay in Broadbeach or if you have a car even Burleigh, really nice area, less touristy and only 5-10mins from Surfers.

TG

 

[Princess Fiona]

It is not such much the noise as the surrounding environment,as Travel Guru says.
I booked AP, as it was a new Hilton, had good reviews on Trip Advisor, and because I get HH points & amenities. I am at a conference for 3 days and then Mrs G and baby g are joining me there for a long weekend.
Now that I've visited the location I actually regret having booked here - I would definitely look a few km's further up or down the Gold Coast if I had the option.

I too saw the location during construction in January and agree. The reason I would like to stay there is because of Hilton benefits and it's also one of the few decent properties which can actually hold a family of 6 without booking multiple rooms.
We will be doing the parks during the day and mostly self catering and should hopefully avoid the local streetlife, mind you after experiencing La Ramblas I don't think my kids are shocked by much

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would too, the only thing worth going into Surfers for is Alfresco Restaurant on the GC Highway (great italian).

I'd stay in Broadbeach or if you have a car even Burleigh, really nice area, less touristy and only 5-10mins from Surfers.

TG

Thanks TG, I think you are spot on with Burleigh. We have stayed there several times, and the last couple of visits to GC we have booked a privately owned canal front house in Mermaid Waters.
I suppose I thought Hilton as it's only a short stay, gets the HH benefits and will probably be our first (and last maybe ) stay in Surfers.
Will interesting to know how you find it GCC ?

 

[GCC]

I will post after our stay. Who knows, it may bring out my inner schoolie.
I will probably go for Broadbeach - maybe Peppers - if we are on the GC again.

 

[nonpop]

We stayed 3 nights in June with the Mrs & I.
As a HH Silver they even upgraded us from 1br to 2br ocean view high floor with 2 bathrooms.
Our package came with the breakfast hamper (think continental breakfast).
Parking was approx $15 per day (we hired a car).

In short ... great experience. Hotel looked after us very well.
Room was almost new and 'untouched'.
Cleaned daily and a good job of it.

The beds are comfortable.

The hotel has a good indoor pool and spa and huge sauna + gym room. It also has out door space on the same level as the pool.

The residences did feel more like residences than a true hotel. The apartment had full cooking facility and a good size normal fridge + proper freezer. There was a stove, microwave and dishwasher and from memory a clothes washer / dryer.

A flat screen TV was in the lounge and bedroom. The lounge had a DVD player.

The balcony had chairs & table - great for afternoon drinks.

However with the balcony door open it can be a bit noisy. But I this is the same for every property in the centre of the tourist area.

The staff ... except one minor incident (see below), the staff were great. There were two 'young-ish' lads at the desk acting as concierge and they were fantastic. Always saying hello as you exited the elevators (the elevators open right onto the narrow reception area) plus just generally checking on you as you passed through. May be because it is new they still have some enthusiasm - just wait until they become worn down by the constant requests and the DYKWIM comments.

Check-in and check-out was efficient.

Now for the bad ... the only thing we can think of was when we rang the front desk evening before checking out and requested an extended check-out (as a HH Silver). We were very bluntly told NO and we'd have to pay by the hour (can't remember the charge). So we waited until next morning and then repeated the cycle. We got a better response.

The other minor bad ... the room curtains don't easily 'join' at the edges when you draw them for the night. So you seem to get light creeping in. I like a super dark room to sleep in. But this was minor.

Anyways, if you want to know more, just ask. We give our stay a 8.25 / 10. We will stay again given the chance.

(pardon my spelling as am writing from mobile device)

 

[GCC]

Hi all

Just stayed 2 nights.
As a HH Gold was guaranteed upgrade from 1br to 2br ocean view high floor, rate included (good) breakfast in a cafe on the ground floor. Given 3 beers as a welcome amenity.

The main thing to note is that plenty may change as the property is still not complete. It will be quite different in January.

I stayed in a "residence" in one of two towers, the second tower is due to open soon and will have the Hilton Hotel rooms along with some more residences. At the time of my stay there were no restaurants open yet.

The property is great, the apartment was brand new and hard to fault and a good deal for what I received for the rate. The apartment had full cooking facilities, microwave and dishwasher and washer / dryer.

One thing to note is that the design is quite open plan (think Hilton), and 1 of the 2 bedrooms in my apt was actually created by closing sliding screens. The master BR has 2 glass walls to capture the views (which are spectacular), so as per previous poster it isn't very light proof even when curtains are closed. Not sure how this would go accommodating a family, or whether the design is different in the larger 2br or 3 br apartments.

The staff are excellent, and helped me out of a jam as I had an AP booking, my family weren't able to join me as planned and I had to check out 3 days early. If you do go, contact property direct & let them know you are HH elite.

There was an indoor lap pool and spa, sauna & gym. There is also an outdoor BBQ area space on the same level as the pool.

So, it is a great property. It is just a pity they built it at Surfers. I really don't recommend Surfers as a place to stay, especially with a family. It is just trashy, really quite nasty at night on weekends, and has no redeeming features that I could find in 2 recent stays. To be honest, as above my wife and mini G weren't able to join me for the weekend as planned, and instead of being disappointed (as I would be if were talking about, say, Sheraton at Noosa) I was actually quite relieved.:shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks nonpop and GCC for the reviews. I wasn't sure if upgrades applied to residences but that's good to know.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I can see no reason why someone would want to stay at surfers paradise. It's full of bogans who save their money to stay at the Hilton and the like.

I thought we were back in certain parts of Sydney.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I can see no reason why someone would want to stay at surfers paradise. It's full of bogans who save their money to stay at the Hilton and the like.

I thought we were back in certain parts of Sydney.

I hope you told them that.

HSP can be exactly as you describe but it can also be very acceptable. I'm annoyed as I never know which it'll be and I've told them that as well. Trouble is, SP was obviously in need of a Hilton (since Conrad moved on) as they're now regularly full and the rates are pretty ridiculous right now for what you may or may not get. Perhaps it's an indication of a much needed increase in Hilton group properties Australia wide but everyone should make their grievences with poor HSP performance heard loud and clear or it runs the risk of becoming the norm.

EDIT: Just re-read you post. Are you referring to the Hilton or just Surfers Paradise in general?

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm there again from the 16th this month
Wasn't too bad last time except for the feral nightlife in Cavill Ave and we were high enough not to hear it if in our apartment

 

[Sprucegoose]

I guess Christmas period brings out the worst. Seriously I thought I was in western Sydney.

The Hilton isn't 5 star. The kids can't cope in the peak and GC doesn't supply the best workforce. I have some inane conversations here.

I do enjoy our unit though. 2br residences in the 01 config. Every room has a window

The traffic flows better in New York.

How could anyone live here is beyond me.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It's full of bogans who save their money to stay at the Hilton and the like.

The Hilton isn't 5 star......and GC doesn't supply the best workforce.

Both points were raised in a letter I sent them a few months ago. I've placed an edited copy here on AFF if you wish to read it.

 

[dk4]

Well, as there don't seem to be any pics in here yet, here are some of a two bedroom apartment... (Can't remember which floor, was a few months back now, only booked a hotel room and ended up with this.)

 

[dk4]

And some of the views...