Gold Coast Accommodation - Hotels in Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise Hotels
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The first Surfers Paradise hotel (aptly named 'The Surfers Paradise Hotel') was built by entrepeneur Jim Cavill back in 1925 and it proved an immediate hit among Brisbane holiday makers who took advantage of its position within walking distance of the ocean and the Nerang River. There wasn't much else in the area back then, but by the 1950s Surfers Paradise had become one of the main holiday regions of Queensland and by the 1970s it was the holiday capital of Australia.
There are now 88 hotels and motels in downtown Surfers Paradise and choosing between them isn't an easy task. Trusted last minute booking services like Need it Now and hotel reservations specialists like Rates to Go provide secure online booking systems which allow you to organise and pay for your stay at pretty much all Surfers Paradise hotels with availablilty, but sometimes all the maps, pictures and descriptions in the world aren't enough to make an informed decision on which is the best hotel for you. Hopefully this guide will help you decide.
Where's the best location?
Surfers Paradise has the distinct advantage of being flanked by a beautiful river and the Pacific Ocean. The beachfront has been developed over a long period of time and is generally divided into smaller blocks of land unsuitable for a large modern hotels, so almost all Surfers Paradise hotels (as opposed to the smaller apartments) are situated a few blocks back from the beach and away from the heart of town (view our interactive Surfers Paradise map and you'll see exactly how big each landholding is).
Since no street in Surfers is more than a few minutes walk from the beach don't get too hung up on distance to the surf as it appears on the map - you're never going to be far away. In fact, the best located hotels are the ones on the river, since that end of town is much quieter than the beachfront esplanade, and the views are usually better because you can see the mountains without interruption, and, depending on your room, you can still check the surf anyway.
When is the best time to stay in Surfers?
Surfers Paradise is a year-round destination, so the attractions aren't seasonal, and the weather tends to be pretty agreeable most of the time. Summer (December to February) is obviously the busiest time of year and school holidays always boost the numbers of people in town, although by world standards it's nowhere near as busy as many popular holiday spots.
Indy weekend in late October, and schoolies week in late November are best avoided if you don't like thousands of petrol heads and teenagers. No matter what time of year it is, you will never have trouble finding somewhere to park your beach blanket, but if you avoid can book in the off-season you'll obviously have more space to yourself.
How should I book Surfers Paradise hotels, and how much should I pay?
If you can book your hotel well ahead through one of our Surfers Paradise accommodation booking links you'll generally get a good price during the off-season and you'll have more choice if you're booking in busier times. By October most hotels will be starting to fill up their summer allotments, so get in early to avoid disappointment. On the flip side, if you're staying in the off-season, or can afford to book two weeks out, last minute accommodation websites like Need it Now will often have the best deals available (in fact Rates to Go actually guarantees the lowest public rate against their competitors and have a team monitoring prices across the web to make sure they are the cheapest).
Expect to pay anywhere between $60 for a three star hotel room, and up to a few thousand dollars a night for a penthouse suite in a five star resort like the Marriott. Generally speaking though, if you can get a room for less than $90 a night you're doing well.
More Information
- View our interactive Surfers Paradise map for a better overview of where everything is
- Surfers Paradise apartments are a popular alternative to hotels