Family Travel Reviews - Paradise Island Resort Gold Coast

Tammy
July 2005

I would like to contribute feedback on our experience at the Paradise Island Resort, Gold Coast. My eight year old son and I spent five days there last week.

The resort is advertised as 4.5 star resort accommodation with kids club, swimming pools (plural), watersports, restaurant and cocktail bar. This was attractive, as we believed there would be lots of kids' activities and the bar would provide for adult entertainment after child sleep time. We booked a "one bedroom courtyard apartment". However, our experience did not match what was advertised.

The "courtyard apartment" was actually on the third floor and had a small balcony with no natural sunlight. The room itself could not have realistically achieved a rating of more than 3 stars. It was one bedroom by virtue of a built in venetian partition across the middle of a hotel sized room. The apartment was not set up for my child, so I had to call for linen on my arrival and make up the sofa bed myself. Blankets were not brought with the linen, but there was a blanket in the linen closet which I was able to use. When I went to bed myself, I found that there was no blanket on my bed either. It was too late to call for one, so I had to wait until the next day (I know it's Queensland, but it is still the middle of winter and overnight temperatures are quite low!). A blanket was sent up on Tuesday, which was still not entirely adequate and it was with some reluctance that I was permitted one more the next day (and refused any more!).

The kids' club operated only from 9 am to 2 pm and the outdoor equipment was closed for use by any other children during those hours, even when not being used by the kids' club. This equipment and the pool were the only kids' facilities. We didn't see any sign of watersports.

I went down to the bar shortly after 8 pm on the evening of our arrival. The restaurant was already closed by this time and I was only able to have a single drink before the bar was closed, at around 8.30 pm.

A full buffet breakfast was included with our stay. The only healthy, unprocessed food available at breakfast comprised a bowl of oranges and apples. Cereals available were rice bubbles, cocoa pops, corn flakes and Nutri-grain (no muesli or other healthier options). Hot food comprised tinned whole tomatoes, tinned baked beans, tinned spaghetti, pancakes, fried and scrambled eggs, and bacon rashers. There was also white, wholemeal and fruit bread/toast, tinned fruit, muffins and/or scones, reconstituted juice, teabags and coffee.

Finally, on the day of departure, the front desk staff directed me to the wrong bus stop to the airport, with lots of extra luggage-laden walking.

Caroline
September 2004

We (my husband and I and two kids aged 8 and 6) stayed at this resort in September 2004 during the school holidays. We were quite surprised (and pleased) at how relatively quiet the resort was, although during the second week of our holiday it did get more crowded as the Sydney schools broke for their holidays. We found the resort fine, but nothing special and rather in need of some renovations to make it more modern. We had a two bedroom apartment which was spacious with good balconies overlooking the pool and TVs in both the kids room and the lounge room which was great to avoid fights about who wanted to watch what! The kitchen facilities were rather cramped although everything, including a dishwasher was included in the kitchen but pots/pans/dishes were a bit limited so only relatively simple meals could be cooked. The hotel had a restaurant but it was not open at lunchtime which was a pity. The food was actually quite reasonable, both in price and quality and the breakfasts were great - our holiday included a breakfast voucher for 2 adults so we stuffed ourselves - but it was frustrating that the hotel didn't include a voucher for the kids breakfast in the package - although it wasn't expensive to purchase their food. The pool area was a bit tired and the pool heating broke while we were there and it was freezing - and there are no kids facilities at the pool - no slides or anything. Whilst the resort advertised a 6 day a week kids club it was in fact only open 3 days a week which we found annoying. The staff were a bit slow but reasonably friendly especially the manager who was very helpful. Our stay was a little marred by the fact that my husband's wallet was stolen from our apartment which does not say much about security and some friends of ours had a nasty experience with bed bugs in their apartment but to the resort's credit they dealt with both events reasonably well. The resort is reasonably priced and very well located for the beach if you don't want to pay obscene beach front prices. It is an easy - 5 mins walking distance to the beach and to Cavill Mall.

Tracy
May 2004

We have just returned from Surfers 28th May 2004 after staying for 8 days @ Breakfree Paradise Island Resort with our 3 children aged 16,14 & 11. I am writing as we had one of the best holidays as a family we have ever had. The resort is wonderful good accommodation, good food, people were very helpful and friendly. We were concerned as our children are older that they would be bored, but the had a terrific time and only 5 minute walk to Cavill Mall if they grew tired of the pool which they didn't. The restaurant is open for buffet breakfast which was excellent every morning and prices are very reasonable $6.50 for kids and $13.00 for adults if not included in your accommodation price. The rooms were terrific good size with 2 bathrooms, 2 TVs etc...Good size heated swimming pool, spa, sauna gym etc... I can't say how impressed we are, this is one of the better resorts I have been to in Surfers with the kids and by far price wise one of the most cost efficient.

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Breakfree Paradise Island Resort Gold Coast

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