Main Beach Accommodation

As one of the few places in the world where people don't wipe the sand off their feet before they jump in their Ferrari, Main Beach epitomises the Gold Coast's charm. It's a trendy island of boutique shops and fine dining, with more millionaire residents per square metre than Manhattan, but you don't need a truckload of bling for them to let you in; in fact, a pair of boardshorts and a beach towel will do just fine.

Book online and compare prices in Main Beach

Our Gold Coast accommodation section includes a detailed comparison table of all the main booking websites, you can book virtually any Main Beach apartment or hotel from there.

While Main Beach is home to the six star Palazzo Versace resort, the beachfront Sheraton Mirage and the most expensive restaurants in Southeast Queensland, you'll also find that it's home to the Coast's most popular caravan park, the $30 seafood platter for two at the local surf club (although don't quote us on that of course) and some of the best fish and chips you'll find anywhere. On a section of land the size of a few football stadiums you'll find a bigger variety of accommodation than anywhere in Australia.

What types of accommodation are available in Main Beach?

You've heard the usual speel: "town X has accommodation options to suit all budgets", and while we're loath to resort to the cliche, the old adage couldn't be more true than in Main Beach. You really can find a place to stay for anywhere between $20 and $2000 a night.

Luxury accommodation

Is six stars enough for you? Probably not if you're a property developer in Dubai, but the name Palazzo Versace should tell you something, even if you haven't heard of it before. Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton and Sir Anthony Hopkins have all reportedly been guests and if the Queen came to the Gold Coast, this is where she's undoubtedly bunk down. Rooms officially start at around $500 a night, but you can get them cheaper if you use a discount booking service like RoamFree. We won't go into a list of features here because it would take up the rest of the page, but it's six stars OK, what more could you want?

The Sheraton Mirage is across the road from Palazzo Versace, it's not as flash (read: Versace-inspired garish) but it is the Gold Coast's only major five star hotel on the oceanfront - they don't quite have their own private beach because that would be illegal, but it's as close as you're going to get on the Gold Coast. With five ample stars of it's own, a room at the Sheraton will cost you upwards of $300 a night and the sunrise view is to die for.

Mid range accommodation

There are no cheap hotels in Main Beach, but there are plenty of apartments, ranging from older style one or two storey buildings, right up to luxury towers with 30 levels of penthouse suites. For the best deal on Main Beach apartments try an independent booking service like RoamFree, or an apartment management company like Stella Resorts. Both services offer a secure online booking system and allow you to compare a range of apartments against each other.

Budget accommodation

If you're on a tight budget then The Surfers Paradise YHA in Main Beach Backpackers Resort is the obvious starting point - it's in the coast's favourite summer party spot on Fisherman's Wharf just north of Main Beach and a room in a shared dorm will set you back about $18. If you're looking for somwhere quieter (The British Arms isn't exactly a monastery) then The Gold Coast Tourist Park on the beach charges $28 a night for a powered site, but you will need your own tent or caravan. It's only a few metres from the beach though. A two-bedroom, air conditioned cabin in the caravan park will cost you about $110 a night, or $185 in summer (you'll need to book well in advance though as there's only six cabins).

More information

• Use our interactive Main Beach map to find every single apartment in town, and check out our Main Beach virtual tour to see what all the fuss is about.