Seven-odd in the evening, we stepped out of the autumn cold and into Islander Resort Hotel’s unusually quiet lobby. It was a Saturday, and the backpackers the hotel is known to cater to (I might have read one too many reviews) were nowhere to be found. The calm was a respite for we were all deadbeat. Our car had broken down earlier in the day, thankfully at a servo near one of Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival’s stages which was what we were in Gold Coast for.

Encumbered by luggage plus several loose items taken out of the car (towed to a mechanic), we trudged towards the front desk. “Good evening, how can I help you?”, delivered in an accent I can’t put my finger on. I like that. I like how hearing foreign accents make me feel like I am some place farther than where I really am.

“I have a reservation.”, I replied with a weary smile.

Checking in was a breeze. Within three minutes, we got our keys (also the parking entry code) and soon after, we caught a lift to our floor. We were booked in a one bedroom apartment with one king bed plus one single bed in the lounge area. Both rooms, the bedroom and the lounge are spacious. The bathroom is quite big as well and it was spotless when we arrived. The kitchen’s self contained. We didn’t get to cook as there are plenty of restaurants within the vicinity, but we were able to use the microwave to reheat some leftover Thai.

The lounge and the bedroom opens out to a balcony which has a view of the pool below and a teensy portion of the ocean beyond Surfers Paradise’s main beach (which we obviously were only able to see the morning after) to the right.

Islander Resort Hotel offers these other rooms as well:

Standard Hotel Room (1 Queen bed and 1 Single bed or 1 King bed)
Two Bedroom Apartment

Also, inquire about private dorm rooms with bunk beds at Islander Backpackers Resort (at the rear of the building) if on a budget. This is why some people think the hotel is a backpackers’ hostel. Don’t get the two mixed up.

All hotel rooms include:

Private balcony with city or mountain views
Air conditioning
Ensuite shower
Tea and coffee facilities
In-room safe
Small fridge
Telly
Iron, ironing board and hair dryer available upon request
Rollaway bed available upon request (charges may apply)

All apartments include all of the above plus a self-contained kitchen.

Facilities available to all resort guests:

24-hour reception (really convenient!)
Outdoor pool and sun deck
Heated spa and steam room
BBQ area
Restaurant, bar and gaming lounge
Tour desk and car rental
Complimentary undercover parking (limited)
Guest laundry (coin operated machines and dryers)
Dry cleaning and laundry service
On-site bottle shop (Woohoo!)
Free 30 minutes WiFi (and $5 per 24 hours — a competitive rate)

The decor is contemporary. The furniture in the room and throughout the hotel may have seen their heyday, but this iconic building in the heart of Surfers Paradise is set to be transformed in the coming months to a beautiful boutique 4.5 star hotel with fully refurbished rooms. That certainly is something to look forward to. Especially the building, given its location (a block from Cavill Avenue and a block from the beach) and genuinely warm staff, has so much potential.

We watched the flurry of activity on the ground from our balcony that night. A bunch of guests playing beer pong on the deck by the pool, youngsters skateboarding their way through pedestrian traffic, Asian tourists in packs dodging the city train (that runs in front of the hotel), and skimpily-clad club-goers teetering in heels looking very cold. That’s the kind of show Surfers Paradise puts on — which was what I actually missed about the place — and it was there for us to take in whilst enjoying the comforts of our bedroom.

Around the same time last year, we were living by the Esplanade in one of the oldest (second oldest, I believe) structures in Surfers Paradise and we witnessed the same type of spectacle everyday. As you can imagine, it was a bit of a déjà vu moment for me: Old building. Coastal party vibe. If you’re visiting Gold Coast and looking for some tranquility, the hotel may not be ideal for you (or central Surfers Paradise in general). Islander Resort Hotel’s pulse beats like Surfers Paradise’s. It lives in a culture and area that are both bustling and vibrant.

Islander Resort Hotel amenities and facilities may have shortcomings, but the staff tries to make do of what they got for the guests until the refurbishments are completed hopefully by the end of 2017. We had a comfy stay (the bed was perfect for my back). In fact, it was above satisfactory because we had set our expectations right. For the price, with its winner location, I reckon you get what you pay for. And perhaps even more, depending on what you’re looking for.

Can hardly wait to see its renovated self next year.

Islander Resort Hotel
3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast
Queensland, Australia
www.islander.com.au