This is our one-page super-guide to finding the right place for you and where to get the best possible deal. Included is a guide to the suburbs and areas to choose from, the different styles of accommodation, the best times to find discount rates, our hand-picked lists of top places, and the latest booking sites where you can hunt down amazing local deals.
Our Top 6 Accommodation Picks for 2026 on the Gold Coast
We love these personal picks for their amazing value, great service, good locations, and easy transport connections.
Meriton Suites – Southport – 5-Star Meriton Suites is a modern building located 5 min from Australia Fair Shopping Centre featuring 1, 2 or 3 bedroom suites plus a fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzi, and sauna
Crowne Plaza – At the Broadbeach end of Surfers Paradise – 4-Star Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise features 2 pools, a spa, the famous revolving restaurant, and a 24-hour fitness centre. It’s a short walk to the beach and has a GLink tram station nearby.
Dorsett Gold Coast – Broadbeach – 4.5 Star – superbly located at The Star Gold Coast this new hotel offers just about everything at an incredible price point. Easy access to the Star, and Pacific Fair Shopping Center, while just across the road, is Broadbeach with its array of dining options and beautiful beachfront.
voco Gold Coast – Broadbeach – Years ago it was called the Watermark, an all-time favourite. it was renovated sometime back, renamed voco and is still a superb option with a great location.
Woodroffe Hotel – Surfers Paradise – 4-Star – A modern boutique hotel located right beside the park of the same name in Southport and just minutes from Australia Fair Shopping Centre, and, a G:Link tram station. Broadwater Parklands is not far away either.
Vibe Hotel Gold Coast – Surfers Paradise – 4.5-Star boutique style Vibe Hotel has a great location in Surfers Paradise within walking distance to Cavill Avenue, numerous attractions, and the Surfers Paradise beach. The hotel has the beautiful Nerang River at its back door and also offers a nice swimming pool.
If you are looking for value luxury then check out the Imperial Hotel Gold Coast. Formerly the Palazzo Versace, in it’s heydey it hosted famous guests such as Beyoncé, Jay Z, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Rod Stewart, and inummerate millionaires and billionaires. While its opulence has barely declined, it’s been replaced by newer offerings and now offers great value for what was once such an iconic location.
Our Personal Picks by Suburb and Type of Stay
Here are our top choices based on personal experience as locals, previous visitor reviews and ratings, value for money, and location.
- The Top 15 Gold Coast Luxury Hotels
- The Top Gold Coast Spa Hotels
- The Top 10 Surfers Paradise Hotels & Resorts
- The Top 12 Mermaid Beach Hotels & Resorts
- The Top 12 Coolangatta Resorts and Hotels
- The Top 11 Hotels & Resorts in Main Beach
- Pet-Friendly accommodation options
- The Big List of Family Accommodation Options
- The Big List of Hotels & Resorts with Beach Access
Low and High Seasons on the Gold Coast
When you choose to have your holiday can have a big impact on room rates, with rates discounted by 60% or more during off-peak times. Sometimes, unfortunately, there’s not much choice as to when you can go, in which case the best suggestion is to be the early bird and catch the best rates.
An approximate guide to the low and peak periods:
- Late January to late March – Low
- Early April to Early June – Mid
- Mid-June to late September – Low
- Early October to mid-November – Mid
- Early November to late December – Low
- Late December to mid-late January – Peak
There are also peaks around major events such as the GC 500, Magic Millions Horse Racing Carnival, and so on. There are localised peaks too, for example, rates in the suburb of Broadbeach will go up during a big event, or conference at the Convention and Exhibition Center. And of course, there are peaks during the school holiday breaks, particularly if both NSW and VIC are off at that same time.
Where to Search for Hotel Specials
The beauty of these sites is that you can easily search and compare rates, specials, and features and get insight via guest reviews. The prices change daily and it’s all relative to occupancy rates. Booking.com probably has the best coverage and also features an indicator as to how sold-out the rooms are in the area for the dates you want to travel. The top top three hotel booking sites in Australia are 1. booking.com · 2. agoda.com · 3. expedia.com.au, you can compare all three to find the best deals.
If you are looking for luxury with breathtaking ocean and beach views it’s hard to go past the Surfers Paradise Hilton.
Flight + Hotel Packages
Various airlines are servicing the Gold Coast and they occasionally offer special deals on hotel and flight packages. That can include flights from local destinations such as Sydney to Gold Coast, Melbourne to Gold Coast, etc., and also from international destinations such as Tokyo to Gold Coast, Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast, Auckland NZ to Gold Coast, Singapore to Gold Coast, Wuhan China to Gold Coast, to name just some. Currently only Jetsar are offer package deals, see: Jetstar Hotel & Flight Packages
Online Hotel Auctions
Another place to hunt for deals is via online auction sites, where you will find a mix of people who are offloading unwanted bookings, travel agencies, and property managers posting offers. For that try eBay but do be aware of prices that seem way too cheap as you’ll find you are only buying a voucher that can be used to pay the final price.
Alternative Accommodation Options
Resorts and hotels aren’t the only options, there are loads of other experience-based options and value options.
AirBnb
Has a big array of options including studio apartments, cabins in the Hinterland, beachside penthouses, and family homes. Sometimes the prices are quite attractive to and it’s proabably the go to place if you want to break free from the generic Gold Coast style holiday apartments and hotel rooms. See: Airbnb
Cabins and Cottages
For cabins check out the Camping and caravan park listings below, for a cottage experience among the beauty of a National Park check out Witches Falls Cottages.
Private Holiday Houses
Another interesting option is holiday houses and private homes. Some homes are dedicated to this purpose and some are simply people renting their house out while overseas etc. Check the papers, real estate sites for listings, and Airbnb.
Caravan and Camping
The very first visitors to the Gold Coast were campers and caravaners, such that the caravan parks we see today retain their amazing locations, many being beachside or within walking distance of the beach. More here
Houseboats
It’s hard to imagine a better way to relax than cruising the peaceful waters of the Gold Coast in your own houseboat. Check out Coomera Houseboats
Farm Stays
If you’re looking for a true nature experience and an insight into farm life check out Mystery Mountain or Paradise Country.
Retreats
Set among truly scenic and serene, peaceful locations you can find a number of retreats and wellness destinations on the Gold Coast. The top picks are Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Pethers Rainforest Retreat, Songbirds Rainforest Retreat, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, and Mouses House Rainforest Retreat.
Bed & Breakfast
There are several ‘Bed and Breakfast’ operators on the coast. One with amazing views of the Hinterland and the Gold Coast is the Hillside Bed and Breakfast and Gumnut Cottage.
Backpackers & Hostels
There are plenty of options for international backpackers and hostel-style accommodation, More here
Which Suburb to stay in?
Having lived on the coast for more than ten years, here’s my personal guide to choosing a place to base your holiday. By far, the most popular suburbs are Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, but if you are looking for value then you may try around Southport, and from Miami along the beach to Coolangatta. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the area that’s right for you.
For travellers and holidaymakers, the region features a large range of quality self-contained apartments and resort-style apartments, which is a legacy of the building booms that have been a feature of the local property market. Many of these apartments are self-contained featuring kitchens and laundry facilities, which is a bonus for those on a family holiday.
The city has a growing selection of hotels, mostly centred around Surfers Paradise. There are several well-known global chain hotelier brands in operation, providing that style and level of service that many prefer.
The city also has several caravan parks, many with great beachfront locations. Not only for caravaners and campers, but they also have cabins that are nicely appointed. There are several backpacker hostels mostly located in Surfers Paradise and in Southport.
Choosing the right place to stay for your holiday, or a visit to the region, for the most part, may depend on how you plan to spend your time, your tastes, and your budget. For example, if you simply want to enjoy the sunshine, sand, and surf, you may find a great deal at Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, or Coolangatta. It’s away from the hustle and bustle, close to the beach but also close to public transport if you need to go somewhere.
Alternatively, if you are planning on being out and about, taking in all the attractions and sights, or perhaps painting the town red, you will probably want to consider the hotels and resorts in Surfers Paradise.
Some accommodation buildings are located right on the Gold Coast Highway which can be convenient in some respects, although, if you were looking for tranquility you may prefer to be a block back from the highway itself. Places at Tugun can also experience noise from the airport, although some of them offer great deals, good service, and direct access to the beach.
If you are not concerned about being close to the beach, or in the heart of the nightlife, don’t forget the options at the northern suburbs including Southport, Labrador, and Runaway Bay. And of course, if you are looking for luxury accommodation then around Main Beach or Hope Island will probably be the suburbs for you.
If you’re looking for nature or eco-escape, then the Hinterland area is the place to look, including Mt Tamborine, Springbrook National Park, and Lamington National Park.
Luckily, no matter your budget or taste, there is an abundant range of holiday accommodations on the Gold Coast.
Listings by Suburb
A guide to the suburbs including a map of accommodation locations and links to where more info and deals for each hotel or resort in the suburb.
Broadbeach – Burleigh – Chevron Island – Coolangatta – Currumbin –Kirra – Main Beach – Mermaid Beach – Miami – Mount Tamborine – Nobbys Beach – Palm Beach – Runaway Bay – Sanctuary Cove – Southport – Surfers Paradise – Tallebudgera
See here for a full list of suburbs.
This page was first published on: Feb 1, 2012 and last updated: Nov 2025. Disclosure: Whilst we don’t have any affiliation with any of the businesses listed, and can offer a truly independent view, we may receive a commission from Booking.com, if you choose to book through that service, which helps us keep the lights on! Thank you 🙂