The most visited holiday destinations in Queensland are the beach locations on the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. The Cairns – Port Douglas region is another popular holiday centre . Almost all holiday accommodation at these locations comprises apartments  (condominiums) that are fully equipped for self catering.

Some properties may label themselves as a resort , but the days when a resort provided a wide assortment of in-house guest facilities is now mostly a thing of the past. The cost of indemnity insurance has all but wiped out the ability of resorts to continue to offer these facilities.  There are exceptions such as the Barrier Reef resorts, but places like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Port Douglas basically provide just accommodation with a pool(s) and gym.

Most modern buildings have air-conditioning as standard whereas some older properties rely on ceiling fans. These units range from of 1 to 4 bedrooms, with equipped kitchens and all linen included.  Ensuite bathrooms to the main bedroom is the norm.   Guests only need to bring their personal effects and foodstuffs.

Your holiday apartment will typically include :

• Electric stove with oven plus a microwave 
• All kitchen crockery, cutlery, cookware and glassware
• Electric jug and/or kettle
• Bedroom linen, bathroom towels and kitchen linen
• Clothes washer and dryer
• Clothes iron and ironing board
• BIC’s and clothes hangers
• All cleaning equipment
• Colour TV & video player
• Cable TV service (not in all areas)
• Hi-Fi equipment
• Clock radio

The greatest demand is for accommodation in Queensland is centered on holiday accommodation on the Gold Coast and also for Sunshine Coast accommodation. The more popular centres on the Gold Coast such as Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and Burleigh Heads all see a high demand for beds in the school holiday periods and advance bookings are absolutely essential, especially during the Xmas – New Year high season.

Holiday apartment style accommodation usually has a 2 or 3 night minimum stay in low season and 7 night minimums in high season. For single night stays, hotels and motels are the only real option .

An excellent choice for family holidays at these holiday locations is the Breakfree accommodation properties whereas the Mantra Hotels and Resorts cater for the luxury end of the market .

Outside of the beach holiday market, Queensland’s major centres all have traditional hotels and there is a small number of boutique hotels in the big cities such as Brisbane.  Once you get into the rural areas the usual fare for accommodation is motels and motor inns.

Getting to and from your accommodation usually involves an airport transfer. Transfers may involve significant costs as distances to some of the accommodation properties can involve a trip of some considerable distance .

Bed and breakfast properties are not as numerous in Queensland as they are in the southern states. There are a small number B&B’s in the suburbs of Brisbane and the majority are located in the hinterland areas of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, the Darling Downs and the Atherton Tableland inland from Cairns.

So that’s what you can expect when you visit Queensland… happy travelling!