QT Hotel - Gold Coast
The QT Gold Coast in the heart of Surfers Paradise is certainly no secret and not your ordinary style of hotel. With 297 spacious guestrooms overlooking the Gold Coast, it is an eclectic mix of art and design, luxury and style, with a generous serving of quirkiness from a bygone era. Think surfer chic from the Fifties meeting Miami catwalk cool – captures it perfectly! The hotel’s location is a stone’s throw from the golden sands of Surfers, close enough to hear the soothing sound of breaking waves. From the balcony of an Ocean View Room you can enjoy views all the way up and down the coastline.
The hotel lobby has an instant vibe. It’s double height and open, with large LED pieces of art work lit up like Times Square. In fact, any time of the day or night that you transcend through the lobby you feel like a celebrity on a movie set.
‘Take one’ – the retro looking and funky Fixx Café for a coffee or an organic smoothie and sweet treats. ‘Take two’ – the Stingray Lounge for a cocktail – one of the most popular night time bars in all of Surfers Paradise. ‘Take three’ – the in-house market place style restaurant aptly named Bazaar puts you in a gastronomical frenzy from morning through to night or roll up to the famous Yamagen Teppanyaki BBQ Grill for some performance art sushi.
Their luxurious designer SpaQ has an extensive list of treatments and waiting area to chill out in with a herbal tea or a ‘G and T’ while reading a magazine. Then for some retail therapy there is QTique on the ground floor where all of the quirky designer art pieces that adorn the hotel rooms are available for sale. Individually styled by Sydney designer Anna Roberts, each guestroom has an inventory of unique elements and artefacts. Some items of memorabilia are more popular than others, like the thick and thirsty QT Rocky-style satin edged bathrobe in black or white, a Cockatoo table lamp – two very hot items, so I am told. QT also has a very modern iPad concierge, with one swipe of the finger you can be anywhere and do almost anything you want during your stay.
Every element of this hotel in parts makes up the quintessential holiday destination. The fun Fifties larger-than-life graphics in each elevator put a happy smile on your face no matter what your mood. The recipe on the bedside table along with a selection of utensils to mix your own fresh lemonade – just dial 4 and the ingredients will be delivered right to your room and perfectly complement an unexpected snack from the Quick Bites menu. QT bathroom essentials by MALIN + GOETZ will put a zing in your step and an edge of quirk in your shower – a peppermint shampoo, cilantro hair conditioner and Vitamin B5 body moisturiser.
At a glance
Category: Quirky Coastal Hotel.
Room reviewed: King Ocean View Room.
What’s great: The upbeat vibe, the look and the people, 24-hour reception and a great business events team. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
What’s not so great: The rooms are long and narrow and the king-sized bed takes up a lot of space but clever décor and floor plan opening out onto a private deck and ocean view makes it feel more spacious. The outdoor swimming pool is on the
small side.
Editor’s tip: Book an Ocean View Room as high up as you can go for impressive views up and down the coastline. All the quirky extras that decorate and theme the rooms are for sale and make great gifts or mementos of your stay. Just decide which pieces of QT memorabilia take your fancy and collect it from the QTique when you check out.
Rate: From NZ$350 per room per night for a King Ocean View Room.
Website: www.qtgoldcoast.com.au
Janice Burmaz
Author