Property: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
Status: Platinum
Dates: 22-29 Jan 2023
Booked: King Ocean View 1 BR Suite
Rate: Member Flexible Rate (avg. ~$1,000 p/n)
Received: as booked
Highly occupied at this popular, pricey beachfront resort near the end of the summer school holidays for NSW, and over the Australia Day '4-day weekend' for many.
No upgrade was available again (I'm 0 for 3, here!). We were allocated the same suite we've had the last two times. Thankfully a few improvements had been made, with carpets and some painting in common areas on the floor we stayed on, and the A/C must also have been cleaned / conditioned, as it had lost a previously musty smell that we were not looking forward to. Parking under the property was included (usually $20 p/n) as we were staying 7 nights, though I recall last time they also gave that to me as I was a Platinum Elite member. Early check-in not needed. Late check-out was requested for 12:30PM and given without question.
Chose breakfast as my Elite welcome gift, which is a solid saving in this place. That would have been $672 over the week (and that's with a son who eats free). A rather underwhelming amenity of a ~$15 bottle of Tempus Two sparkling, & a white rocky road bar were placed in the room, and remained
in situ until we checked out.
Standards and service have not much improved since our last stay in April 2022, and we again had issues with in-room dining, where the kitchen missed an instruction and/or inclusion with every order. These were largely dietary type things, so you'd think they could deal with them better as the kitchen of a 5-star resort. Dishes were credited after complaints, but really, we just want what we ordered, not to get the wrong thing(s) for free. Spent much more time away from the hotel to dine on this stay as a result. Ladybird Bar & Restaurant across the road in Marina Mirage - near the Palazzo Versace - is highly recommended! I'll say though that the breakfast at Terraces is quite good, but also popular, and you'll need to deal with some queuing on arrival and at the hot buffet / egg chef area.
This was my last stay (anywhere) as a Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, after reduced travel and some straying from the chain means I'll drop down to Gold Elite soon, for the first time in 7 years. I don't expect to even make Silver in 2023. I think next time we head to 'the Goldie', we'll do so without any status shackles on, and check out the new
Langham Gold Coast, between Surfers and Broadbeach, which also backs right onto the beach, and looks very nice [for a price!].
Cheers,
Matt.