Overall rating 4 ½ stars
It’s a luxurious upmarket apartment block, but is certainly not a resort hotel. The rating is relative to other holiday apartments. As it was originally built as a residential apartment block it does lack some of the facilities typically found in holiday apartments. It still very modern having only been completed in November 2010. It’s definitely the highest quality accommodation in Broadbeach, and has very few competitors in the rest of the Gold Coast. I have stayed at the property three times and will be returning this December.
Position
There are two very tall tower buildings, one behind each other in line with the beach. Even from the second building it is only a block and half from the beach and less than a 5 minute walk. The two buildings together with the shops and restaurants on the ground floor are known as the Oracle.
Accommodation
Accommodation ranges from one bedroom apartments on the lower floors to three bedroom penthouses. The buildings include permanent residents and some of the apartments can be let from holiday rental agents.
The apartments are large by normal standards and huge compared to other holiday apartment resorts. They have been built for people to live in with copious cupboard space and full size kitchen’s and big bathrooms. The finishes are luxurious and on the higher floors (from about 20 up) in both buildings have sweeping views. They also have big balconies. I have always stayed in a two bedroom ocean apartment which is large enough for a family of five when a roller way bed is added.
Facilities
Each building has its own facilities. You can only use the facilities of the building you are staying in. I suppose this has something to do with the residential nature of the buildings.
The swimming pool area consists of a lap pool linked to a reasonable size children’s pool and a spa. Overall the pool and pool area is relatively small compared to others. There is a barbeque area, but no bar, shop or restaurant in the hotel so it’s very much DIY. There are however a good selection of take away and full sit down restaurants downstairs on Oracle Boulevard.
The gym is relatively small and includes bikes, treadmills, step machines and combo weight machines. There are no free weights, benches or foam rollers.
There is also a theater which can reserve for free and watch a DVD on a big screen. This is great for kids on a rainy day.
Service
Staff are friendly and always say hello when you walk past reception. The apartments are serviced every day which is a bonus as so many places these days only offer service once or twice a week.
Reservations
Book direct through peppers website. You will receive a 10% discount if you have the Entertainment Book and enter the promo code.
You can book rates at up to 50% off mostly off season at departurelounge. Again you will need a promo code from the Entertainment book to gain access to the site and rates.
Generally there is a three day minimum booking period, however I found that needitnow which is not linked to any of the major online booking sites offers single nights.
Gold Coast Luxury Resorts rents apartments in both buildings. It is however important to be aware that their apartments are not serviced and you do not have access to the Peppers reception. Apartments are also not like for like. They have converted a number of 1 bedroom apartments into tight two bedroom apartment by enclosing the study in the 1 bedroom apartment. So they may seem cheaper but that is not neccesarily the case.
