
Saltwater lagoon with tropical fish
Seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life? With its idyllic beachside location and only 50 minutes drive from Brisbane, Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa is the perfect weekend getaway. Featuring its own saltwater lagoon complete with tropical fish, sandy beaches, waterfalls and award winning restaurants, it’s a resort in the true sense of the word. This is 5 star luxury without the hefty price tag!

Grand first impressions!
First Impressions
Let me start by saying I absolutely love this hotel! In fact, my first stay at this hotel was for my honeymoon several (ok-well many) years ago. We re-visit every anniversary, and quite frankly, any other time we can find justification for a weekend away. Our latest excuse was “well it has been a long year, and Christmas is going to be hectic – why don’t we go for a quick break beforehand? Done!
Arriving to a warm reception and a cold glass of bubbly, the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa certainly knows how to impress! Ok well it might have been a bit early for the bubbly, but the complimentary chocolates went down a treat. Although official check in time is 3pm, unlike many other hotels, the Marriott provides you with a pool pass so you can start enjoying the facilities straight away. Knowing this ahead of time, I’d already packed our ‘day’ bag for a morning lazing around the pool. All the staff we encountered were amazing. From check in to check out everything was seamless. The Marriott succeeds in striking that perfect balance of friendliness and professionalism.

Waterfalls in the lagoon
The Rooms
There are several room types to choose from. The Ocean High floor rooms command sweeping ocean views right up the incredible coastline. The rooms all have balconies where you can sit out and breathe in the fresh sea air. The amenities are what you would expect from a 5 star resort with a few added bonuses:
- complimentary wifi
- floor to ceiling soundproof windows
- marble bathroom with generous size separate tub & shower
- robe\slippers
- lighted make up mirror
The rooms are a generous size, however for extra room and comfort they do have four different suite types available. We’ve stayed in both the ocean and hinterland rooms and in my opinion both are more than adequate. While I do love watching the rolling waves ,I also enjoy the hinterland view, particularly at night watching the sun setting over the mountains.

Ocean King High Floor room – photo courtesy of Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa

Hinterland High Floor Twin room –photo courtesy of Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa
The Bites
Unlike many other 5 star hotels, you are not forced to eat à la carte, unless of course, you want to. The hotel boasts four different types of dining options:
- Citrique – award-winning restaurant – impressive breakfast and seafood dinner buffets plus à la carte option.
- Chapters & Verse Bar & Lounge – ‘grab & go’ breakfast options, high teas and delicious affordable bar snack menu.
- Misono Japanese Restaurant – claim to fame – the largest teppanyaki restaurant in Australia.
- Pool Bar – affordable fresh meals overlooking the pool and lagoon.
Breakfast

Just one of the breakfast bars

Fresh tropical fruit

Healthy fresh salad

Something for the sweet tooth – delicious pastries
Lunch

Fresh barramundi & chips poolside
Dinner
- Black Angus Fillet of Beef

Rack of saltbush lamb

Room service – stir fry Hokkien noodles with prawns
Activities
As you can see there is a lot of eating to be had but don’t worry the Marriott has you covered exercise-wise. Admittedly I didn’t actually venture into the gym on this occasion, however, did make it onto the basketball court a couple of times. They also have tennis, bike hire and several exercise classes available.
The Verdict

Main beach Gold Coast – what’s not to love!
If you’re looking for a 5-star resort with fabulous food, pools and activities, I highly recommend Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. Centrally located on the Gold Coast, close to the beach and shops but far enough away from the busyness of Surfers, it has everything you could want in a resort. In fact, I’m just thinking of my next excuse to book!
*Tip – Join the free Marriott rewards programme and enjoy special member discounts including free buffet breakfasts, free valet parking and more.

Pristine beaches Gold Coast

Amazing surf beaches Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa
158 Ferny Avenue Surfers Paradise, Queensland 4217
Tel +61 7 5592 9800